Massachusetts Sales Tax Calculator 2026 — 6.25% Rate
Calculate Massachusetts sales tax on any purchase instantly. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, and the average combined rate (state + local) is 6.25%. Enter your purchase amount to see state tax, local tax, and the total amount due — all calculated privately in your browser.
The Massachusetts sales tax calculator is a free, browser-based tool that works out sales tax on any purchase at the state's flat 6.25% rate. Massachusetts has no local sales taxes, so 6.25% applies everywhere, and the calculator also handles the clothing rule that taxes only the amount above $175 per item.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Rate: 6.25% Flat Statewide
The Massachusetts state sales tax rate is a flat 6.25% — unlike most U.S. states, MA does NOT allow counties or cities to add their own general sales tax. A $100 purchase costs $106.25 statewide, whether you shop in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, or Cape Cod. The only local exception is an optional 0.75% meals tax in cities that adopted it (most major MA cities did). Massachusetts is also one of only two states with the unique $175 clothing exemption — the first $175 of every clothing item is tax-free, and only the amount above $175 is taxed at 6.25%.
What Is and Isn't Taxed in Massachusetts
Massachusetts exempts most unprepared grocery items from state sales tax, which helps reduce the cost of essential food purchases. Clothing and footwear are exempt up to $175 per item; above that only the amount over $175 is taxed at 6.25%, so a $200 jacket carries $1.56 of tax rather than $12.50. Prescription drugs are also exempt from sales tax in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Holidays
Massachusetts holds a Sales Tax Holiday weekend in August (most items under $2,500). During a sales tax holiday, qualifying items are sold without collecting state sales tax — and sometimes local sales tax too. Check the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website for exact dates, eligible items, and price limits each year.
The $2,500 Holiday Limit Is a Cliff, Not a Threshold
Massachusetts applies two very different price rules, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake shoppers make here. The everyday clothing rule works as a threshold: apparel is exempt up to $175 an item and only the excess is taxed, so a $200 jacket carries 6.25% on $25, or $1.56. The sales tax holiday limit works as a cliff: the exemption is limited to eligible items costing $2,500 or less, and if an item costs more than $2,500 the entire amount is subject to sales tax, not just the part above the limit. A $2,499 sofa bought during the holiday is completely tax-free; a $2,600 sofa carries the full $162.50. On a single big-ticket purchase that is a $162 swing on a $101 price difference, which is why splitting a large order into separate qualifying items — where they genuinely are separate items rather than components of one — is worth thinking about before you get to the till. Two further points. The holiday runs as a two-day weekend in August each year, with the exact dates set annually, so confirm them before planning a purchase around it. And it covers retail items of tangible personal property bought for personal use, which leaves business purchases, meals, motor vehicles, boats, tobacco, marijuana and alcohol outside it regardless of price. Current dates, eligible items and the full rules are published by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue in its sales tax holiday FAQ and in 830 CMR 64H.1.8. Updated 2026-08-20.
How to Calculate Massachusetts Sales Tax
To calculate Massachusetts sales tax: multiply the purchase price by the applicable rate. For the state rate only: price × 6.25% = tax. For the combined rate: use 6.25% for an average estimate, or enter the exact local rate from your receipt or the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website. Example: a $200 purchase at the 6.25% combined rate = $12.50 in tax = $212.50 total.
Tips for Accurate Sales Tax Calculations
Always confirm the exact local rate for your specific city or county — the combined average (6.25%) is a statewide mean and may differ from your actual checkout rate. Large purchases like vehicles, appliances, or electronics are where the difference between state-only and combined rates matters most. Keep receipts that show the tax rate used; this helps verify correct tax was charged and supports any refund claims for exempt purchases. If you are making a business purchase, check whether your state offers a sales tax exemption certificate to avoid paying tax on resale items.
Massachusetts Clothing $175 Rule & Special Rates
Massachusetts has a unique clothing rule. Per the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (mass.gov/dor): clothing and footwear under $175 per item are tax-exempt; above $175, only the amount OVER $175 is taxed at 6.25%. Example: a $200 jacket is taxed on $25 ($1.56), not the full $200. Other rules: restaurant meals are taxed at 6.25% state + up to 0.75% local option meals tax (in cities that adopted it, e.g., Boston, Cambridge, Worcester); motor vehicles use a separate 6.25% sales/use tax at registration; alcohol package store sales are taxed at 6.25%. Massachusetts is one of the only states with NO local general sales tax — the 6.25% state rate is the combined rate everywhere.
MA Sales Tax on Cars, Marijuana, and High-Value Items
Motor vehicles in Massachusetts pay a separate 6.25% sales/use tax at registration, applied to the higher of the purchase price OR the NADA "Book Value" (this stops below-market private-sale prices from cheating the tax). A $30,000 car = $1,875 sales tax, due at the RMV. Recreational marijuana follows a stacked formula: 6.25% state sales tax + 10.75% state cannabis excise tax + up to 3% optional local excise tax = up to 20% total. A $100 cannabis purchase in Boston (which adopted the full 3% local) = $20 total tax. Medical marijuana is exempt from all three. Boats and aircraft taxed at 6.25% at registration. Jewelry, electronics, appliances all taxed at the flat 6.25% with no special exemption. Used items from private sales (Craigslist, eBay): no sales tax on private-party transactions EXCEPT for motor vehicles, boats, and aircraft, which always owe sales/use tax at registration. Updated 2026-07-13.
Amazon, Wayfair, and Remote Sellers: When MA Sales Tax Applies to Online Purchases
After the 2018 US Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Massachusetts requires out-of-state online sellers to collect the 6.25% sales tax once they exceed the state's economic nexus threshold: $100,000 in gross Massachusetts sales OR 100 separate transactions per year (per Massachusetts DOR Directive 17-1 and TIR 19-4). This means Amazon, Wayfair, Etsy, and Shopify merchants shipping to a Massachusetts address collect 6.25% at checkout automatically. If you buy from a smaller out-of-state seller that does NOT collect MA tax, you technically owe use tax at the same 6.25% rate — reportable on Massachusetts Form 1 Schedule ULT. Common misconception: buying a $500 laptop tax-free from a New Hampshire seller does not exempt you — MA use tax still applies unless the item is legally exempt (groceries, clothing under $175, prescriptions).
Massachusetts vs New Hampshire & Rhode Island Sales Tax in 2026
Cross-border shopping between Massachusetts and its neighbors comes with real trade-offs the calculator can help you quantify. New Hampshire has no statewide general sales tax — the reason NH border towns like Salem and Nashua dominate outlet shopping. Buying a $1,200 TV in NH saves $75 vs the same purchase in MA — but MA still assesses use tax at 6.25% on items brought back for MA use, and audit enforcement has tightened since 2023 for high-dollar items registered in MA (cars, boats, aircraft, high-value jewelry). Rhode Island charges 7% (per the RI Division of Taxation), higher than MA, and taxes clothing over $250 (vs the MA $175 threshold). Connecticut charges 6.35% on general goods but 7.75% on luxury items above set thresholds. If you register a car bought in NH within one year of MA residency, you owe the full 6.25% MA use tax — enforcement runs through RMV registration matching. Use this calculator alongside neighbor-state calculators to model the full landed cost.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Calculator in Reverse: Back Out Tax From a Total
To find the pre-tax price from a Massachusetts receipt total, divide by 1.0625 — never subtract 6.25%. Subtracting takes the percentage off the larger, tax-inclusive figure and removes more than was ever added: on a $106.25 total, subtracting 6.25% leaves $99.61 instead of the correct $100.00. Set Calculation Mode above to “Remove tax from a total (reverse)” and the calculator applies total ÷ (1 + rate) for you. It also handles the awkward case generic reverse calculators get wrong: on clothing, only the amount over $175 per item was ever taxed, so the pre-tax price is (total + $175 × 0.0625) ÷ 1.0625. The per-item clothing rule is set by 830 CMR 64H.6.5, issued by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax rate in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts state sales tax rate is 6.25%. Massachusetts is one of the few states with NO local general sales tax, so the state rate is the combined rate everywhere in MA. (Source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, 2026.)
Does Massachusetts tax groceries?
Massachusetts exempts most unprepared grocery items (bread, milk, produce, raw meats) from sales tax. Prepared food, candy, and soft drinks ARE taxed at 6.25%. Restaurant meals are taxed at 6.25% state plus an optional 0.75% local meals tax in cities like Boston, Cambridge, and Worcester.
Is clothing taxed in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a unique clothing rule. Clothing and footwear under $175 per item are EXEMPT from sales tax. Above $175, only the amount OVER $175 is taxed at 6.25%. Example: a $200 jacket = $25 taxable × 6.25% = $1.56 tax. A $150 jacket = $0 tax. Pick the Clothing / footwear option in the calculator above and it applies the $175 per-item exemption for you — most generic sales tax calculators charge 6.25% on the full price and overstate the tax.
What is the combined sales tax rate in Massachusetts?
The combined sales tax rate in Massachusetts is 6.25% — the state does NOT allow local jurisdictions (counties or cities) to add their own general sales tax, so the state rate IS the combined rate. The only local option is a 0.75% meals tax on restaurant food in adopting cities.
Does this calculator handle the Massachusetts clothing, meals and grocery rules?
Yes. The What Are You Buying? dropdown switches the rule applied: general goods at 6.25%, clothing and footwear with the first $175 per item exempt and only the excess taxed, restaurant meals at 6.25% (or 7% in cities that adopted the 0.75% local meals tax such as Boston, Cambridge and Worcester), and unprepared groceries or prescription drugs at zero. Because Massachusetts allows no local general sales tax, the item type — not the city — is what changes your bill.
How do I calculate sales tax in Massachusetts?
Multiply the purchase price by 0.0625. Example: $50 × 0.0625 = $3.13 tax, total $53.13. For clothing: subtract $175 from the per-item price first, then multiply only the excess by 0.0625. For restaurant meals in adopting cities: use 0.07 (6.25% + 0.75% local meals).
Is this Massachusetts sales tax calculator free?
Yes — 100% free, no sign-up, no data leaves your browser. Use it for as many purchases as you want and bookmark the page for future receipts.
Does Massachusetts have a sales tax holiday?
Yes. Massachusetts holds an annual Sales Tax Holiday weekend (usually mid-August) where most retail items under $2,500 per item are exempt from the 6.25% state sales tax. Exceptions: vehicles, boats, meals, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, telecom services, and utilities are NOT eligible. The legislature confirms the exact dates each spring.
How much is sales tax on a car in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts charges 6.25% sales/use tax on motor vehicles at registration. The tax is applied to the HIGHER of the purchase price or the NADA Book Value — so a low private-sale price will not lower your tax owed. A $30,000 car = $1,875 in MA sales tax, paid at the RMV when you register. Boats and aircraft follow the same 6.25% rate. Used cars from private parties also owe the full 6.25% — unlike most general goods, private-party vehicle sales are NOT exempt.
What is the total tax on marijuana in Massachusetts?
Recreational marijuana in MA is taxed at three levels: 6.25% state sales tax + 10.75% state cannabis excise tax + up to 3% optional local excise tax = up to 20% total. A $100 cannabis purchase in Boston (which adopted the full 3% local rate) costs $120. Medical marijuana with a valid registration card is exempt from all three taxes. The local excise rate varies by city — check the dispensary receipt for the exact stacked rate.
Do I pay MA sales tax on Amazon or online purchases?
Yes for most sellers. Since the 2018 Wayfair Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts requires out-of-state online retailers to collect 6.25% sales tax once they exceed $100,000 in MA sales OR 100 transactions per year. Amazon, Wayfair, Etsy, and most large marketplaces collect at checkout. Buying tax-free from a smaller out-of-state seller? You owe use tax at 6.25% on Massachusetts Form 1 Schedule ULT.
How do I get a Massachusetts sales tax refund on an item I returned?
The retailer refunds sales tax with your return — the same 6.25% comes back on the amount refunded. For clothing over $175: only the excess over $175 was taxed, so only that portion is refunded. For tax paid in error (e.g., exempt buyer, wrong rate), file Form ST-9 (Abatement of Sales Tax) with the Massachusetts DOR within 3 years of the original transaction date.
Should I buy in New Hampshire to avoid Massachusetts sales tax?
For small everyday items, NH's 0% sales tax offers a real saving vs MA's 6.25%. But if you bring the item back to MA for personal use, MA use tax at 6.25% still applies — and enforcement runs strongly on registered items (vehicles, boats, aircraft) via RMV cross-matching. Buying a $30,000 car in NH and registering it in MA within one year of residency triggers the full $1,875 MA use tax. For general shopping under a few hundred dollars, MA rarely audits — but the legal obligation exists on Form 1 Schedule ULT.
How does Massachusetts sales tax compare to Rhode Island and Connecticut?
Massachusetts is 6.25% flat, Rhode Island is 7% flat, Connecticut is 6.35% general and 7.75% luxury. Massachusetts is friendlier on clothing (exempt under $175 per item vs RI's $250 threshold and CT's flat rate on all clothing). New Hampshire has no general sales tax at all. If you shop cross-border regularly, the calculator plus each neighbor-state's rate can help you compute the true landed cost after adding MA use tax on items brought home.
What happens if an item costs more than $2,500 during the Massachusetts sales tax holiday?
The whole item becomes taxable, not just the amount above $2,500. The holiday exemption is limited to eligible items costing $2,500 or less, so a $2,499 purchase is completely tax-free while a $2,600 purchase carries the full 6.25%, or $162.50. This is different from the everyday clothing rule, where only the amount above $175 per item is taxed.
Is the Massachusetts clothing exemption the same as the holiday limit?
No, and they behave in opposite ways. Clothing is exempt up to $175 per item all year and only the excess is taxed, so a $200 jacket carries 6.25% on $25. The August holiday limit is a cliff: exceed $2,500 on a single item and the entire price is taxed. Keep the two rules separate when planning a large purchase.