State lawmakers agreed Monday to set Aug. 13 and 14 as the dates for this year’s annual sales tax holiday, but legislative leaders wouldn’t say whether any sort of reduction in or expanded break from the 6.25 percent sales tax will feature into their relief plans.
Developing a cost-effective system that would allow businesses to pay sales taxes owed to the state on a daily basis is “not feasible” under the timeline envisioned by the Legislature, the Department of Revenue has determined.
Consumers will get no break on the sales tax from the state of Massachusetts this summer, as lawmakers opt for the second year in a row to forego a tax holiday weekend.
Today, Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation designating Aug. 19-20, 2017 as Massachusetts’ sales tax holiday weekend to renew a tax-free weekend that generally occurs every year in the commonwealth.
Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on Wednesday implored the business community not to pursue a cut in the state sales tax on the 2018 ballot, arguing that it would further compromise the state’s fiscal health.
The MBTA faces an additional financial hurdle this year as projected sales tax revenue for the transit agency has dropped about $32 million, increasing the urgency to find new cost savings.
