Panel to consider Mass. sales tax holiday

July 25, 2011

Shoppers could be enjoying another Massachusetts sales tax holiday this summer.

A legislative committee has scheduled a public hearing Monday on a bill that would waive the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on most items sold during the weekend of Aug. 13-14.

Previous sales tax holidays have been popular with shoppers and retailers, but costly in lost revenue. Officials said Massachusetts consumers saved nearly $20 million during a tax-free weekend last August.

Momentum has been building for another sales tax holiday in recent weeks as state tax collections continue to exceed benchmarks. Senate President Therese Murray said last week that there was “mostly a consensus’’ among legislative leaders and Gov. Deval Patrick for another tax-free weekend this summer.

Under the bill, sales taxes would still be imposed on single items priced above $2,500

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