Massachusetts Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Massachusetts sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.25%, and Massachusetts has no local sales tax on general purchases. Free calculator.
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Pre-filled: Tax Foundation
Total with Tax
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Total Sales Tax
$6.25
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How This Calculator Works
Calculation methodology and assumptions
Massachusetts's general sales tax rate is 6.25%, and no county, city or town adds a local sales tax to it on general purchases, so 6.25% is the rate on most purchases. Cities and towns that accept the local option add a 0.75% local tax on restaurant meals (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 64L § 2) and may add up to 3% on marijuana sales (ch. 64N § 3). Massachusetts exempts most groceries (unprepared food for home consumption) from state sales tax. Prepared/restaurant food is still taxable. Massachusetts exempts the first $175 of each clothing item's price from sales tax — only the amount above $175 per item is taxed. Select "Groceries" or "Clothing" as the item type above to apply these rules automatically. Sourced from Tax Foundation's state sales tax data, ITEP's State Tax Watch, and primary state Department of Revenue guidance, verified 2026-07.
Key State Information
Massachusetts state sales tax: 6.25%. There is no local sales tax on general purchases. Cities and towns that accept the local option add a 0.75% local tax on restaurant meals (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 64L § 2) and may add up to 3% on marijuana sales (ch. 64N § 3). Massachusetts exempts the first $175 of each clothing item's price from sales tax — only the amount above $175 per item is taxed. Massachusetts exempts most groceries (unprepared food for home consumption) from state sales tax. Prepared/restaurant food is still taxable.
Example Calculation
What would you pay in sales tax on a $500 purchase in Massachusetts?
On a $500 purchase in Massachusetts, the calculator multiplies by the combined state + average local sales tax rate. Massachusetts's state rate of 6.25% is the whole rate here, with no local add-on, sales tax would be about $31 for a total of $531.
Result: The difference between the highest and lowest taxable states matters most for big purchases. On a $30,000 car, sales tax alone can range from $0 in no-sales-tax states to well over $2,500 in the highest-rate states. Five states have no state sales tax: Oregon, Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Alaska (though Alaska allows local taxes).
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StateCalc Team
Editorial Team
The StateCalc team builds free financial calculators using data from official government sources including the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and state revenue departments. All formulas are validated by an automated test suite and cross-referenced against published data.
Our editorial standardsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax rate in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's general sales tax rate is 6.25% everywhere in the state; there is no local sales tax on general purchases. Cities and towns that accept the local option add a 0.75% local tax on restaurant meals (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 64L § 2) and may add up to 3% on marijuana sales (ch. 64N § 3).
Does Massachusetts tax groceries?
Massachusetts exempts most groceries (unprepared food for home consumption) from state sales tax. Prepared/restaurant food is still taxable.
Does Massachusetts tax clothing?
Massachusetts exempts the first $175 of each clothing item's price from sales tax — only the amount above $175 per item is taxed.
Are there sales tax holidays in Massachusetts?
Yes, Massachusetts offers annual sales tax holidays, typically in late summer for back-to-school shopping. During these periods, qualifying items like clothing, school supplies, and sometimes electronics are exempt from sales tax.
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