Tax free weekend

[Moliphino]

NH has no sales tax on anything. We lived on the border growing up and always went when my parents made major purchases. MA doesn’t tax shoes or clothing, but they tax everything else (we pay sales tax on the value of our vehicles every year, not sure how many states do that). I ordered a few things online, I figured stores would be busy.

Except food. Only prepared food is taxed.

 

[Mle8308]

Except food. Only prepared food is taxed.

Does any state tax food bought in the grocery store? I, perhaps incorrectly, thought that was not taxed. Restaurant or prepared I know is taxed, I was not aware food from the grocery store was taxed in some states.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

It is tax free weekend here in Massachusetts. Figured I would mention it in case others weren’t aware. We may go look for a dishwasher or washing machine tomorrow. We need to replace both and saving 6.25% can’t hurt.

We also live in Massachusetts and bought a Mac mini (graduation gift) and a new iPad for my son. Not a bad weekend.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Wish that they did that in California. California has never met a tax it didn't like, and there are NEVER tax holidays.

Massachusetts has such a big surplus in tax revenue that (by law) they actually have to refund the residents for some of it.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Does any state tax food bought in the grocery store? I, perhaps incorrectly, thought that was not taxed. Restaurant or prepared I know is taxed, I was not aware food from the grocery store was taxed in some states.

Alabama does, not sure about other states.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

NH has no sales tax on anything. We lived on the border growing up and always went when my parents made major purchases. MA doesn’t tax shoes or clothing, but they tax everything else (we pay sales tax on the value of our vehicles every year, not sure how many states do that). I ordered a few things online, I figured stores would be busy.

Us Mass folks come up to NH for the no sales tax on tobacco and alcohol. Can be a significant savings.

 

[Mle8308]

Alabama does, not sure about other states.

That’s crazy! I’m actually surprised MA doesn’t tax groceries.

 

[Mle8308]

Us Mass folks come up to NH for the no sales tax on tobacco and alcohol. Can be a significant savings.

I’m a MA folk! And yes on the savings!

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Well when you normally pay sales tax on stuff it's mighty nice to at least get a break on part of it. We don't have it in KS (just can't seem to get passed) but MO does. I live near the border and it's easy for many to go to the other side. Theirs was early August.

It's not about a sale a store puts on but rather your tax burden. I generally don't find sales to be worse during any tax free weekends probably because they occur right when school is starting back up when you already have back to school sales. If I can just cross state lines and pay less on an identical item purely because the sales tax will be even more less than normal I'd take it.

For MO theirs was

• Back to School Clothing – any article having a taxable value of $100 or less
• School supplies – not to exceed $50 per purchase
• Computer & technology software – taxable value of $350 or less
• Personal laptops/computers – not to exceed $1,500
• Computer peripheral devices – not to exceed $1,500
• Graphing Calculators – not to exceed $150

1500$ on computers? So Missouri doesn't believe that anyone in their state buys an Apple computer?

 

[Moliphino]

Does any state tax food bought in the grocery store? I, perhaps incorrectly, thought that was not taxed. Restaurant or prepared I know is taxed, I was not aware food from the grocery store was taxed in some states.

Apparently a bunch still do, not all at the full regular sales tax rate.

https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/states-that-still-tax-groceries

 

[Genie+]

Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia - the 13 states with grocery taxes as of Jan ‘23


This is from ‘21

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

1500$ on computers? So Missouri doesn't believe that anyone in their state buys an Apple computer?

I actually think that's super generous. Computers cost a heck of a lot less than they used to. Back when I got a laptop for the first time it was a Toshiba and it cost $850. The laptop I'm using right now, an Acer, cost about $300 a few years ago. You don't need an Apple computer.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I actually think that's super generous. Computers cost a heck of a lot less than they used to. Back when I got a laptop for the first time it was a Toshiba and it cost $850. The laptop I'm using right now, an Acer, cost about $300 a few years ago. You don't need an Apple computer.

Fair point, Windows machines are much cheaper than previously. Although, for those in the arts professions, Apple is our go to (for the most part, there are artists who do prefer other platforms). I couldn't imagine trying to do the work I do on a Windows machine. I suppose they feel that if you can afford to spend more than 1500$ on a computer then you can afford the tax on it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Fair point, Windows machines are much cheaper than previously. Although, for those in the arts professions, Apple is our go to (for the most part, there are artists who do prefer other platforms). I couldn't imagine trying to do the work I do on a Windows machine. I suppose they feel that if you can afford to spend more than 1500$ on a computer then you can afford the tax on it.

Nearly all computers are cheaper and we've had a variety of them over the years. Toshibas don Apple is expensive purely because it's Apple, I get what you're saying about art stuff but that's a subset of people who will also use probably more specialized software too. Majority of students (which is primarily what the tax free weekend is you know for) will do perfectly fine with a $1,500 limit. To your last point yeah no...

Have you checked out Macs by the way? I'm seeing on Best Buy for example half of their Macs are under the $1,500.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Nearly all computers are cheaper and we've had a variety of them over the years. Toshibas don Apple is expensive purely because it's Apple, I get what you're saying about art stuff but that's a subset of people who will also use probably more specialized software too. Majority of students (which is primarily what the tax free weekend is you know for) will do perfectly fine with a $1,500 limit. To your last point yeah no...

Have you checked out Macs by the way? I'm seeing on Best Buy for example half of their Macs are under the $1,500.

A large population of the students I teach use Apple products. There are Apple notebooks within that range but that's the starting price, when you start to add more memory or storage space, it goes up fast. Granted not everyone has the computing needs of someone like myself, I just haven't bought a 1500$ laptop in years!! LOL

I did work in IT in my previous life and serviced Windows computers so I'm a little biased - the Windows machines were horrible to work on; tons of bugs, malware, and so susceptible to viruses and I never ran into those issues on the Apple platform so I've stuck with it for 20+ years. I know folks who swear by both so I think it's just a matter of preference and budget.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A large population of the students I teach use Apple products. There are Apple notebooks within that range but that's the starting price, when you start to add more memory or storage space, it goes up fast. Granted not everyone has the computing needs of someone like myself, I just haven't bought a 1500$ laptop in years!! LOL

Ahh...so that's why you were kinda coming off that way I kid but no I detected something with your other comment about Apple.

Tax free weekends aren't going to work for everyone. They aren't supposed to otherwise what have a limit at all? You can find models of all sorts of different companies that are more than a macbook, it's not a good case to say it should be just whatever computer you want irrespective of the cost. The vast majority of students will be perfectly fine

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Ahh...so that's why you were kinda coming off that way I kid but no I detected something with your other comment about Apple.

Tax free weekends aren't going to work for everyone. They aren't supposed to otherwise what have a limit at all? You can find models of all sorts of different companies that are more than a macbook, it's not a good case to say it should be just whatever computer you want irrespective of the cost. The vast majority of students will be perfectly fine

"Coming off that way?" Not sure what you mean. My point was that 1500$ (based on my own needs) seemed a little low. Very true that students don't need an Apple device (nor can some afford them) but it is my own preference based on years of experience (and the fact that my IT department tends to have more issues with students' windows laptops than the Apple counterparts).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

"Coming off that way?" Not sure what you mean. My point was that 1500$ (based on my own needs) seemed a little low. Very true that students don't need an Apple device but it is my own preference based on years of experience.

Yes, half in jest half serious you're coming off with respects to your preferred brand and needs meanwhile talking down about other things.

So Missouri doesn't believe that anyone in their state buys an Apple computer?

Windows machines are much cheaper than previously

those in the arts professions, Apple is our go to

I couldn't imagine trying to do the work I do on a Windows machine.

I suppose they feel that if you can afford to spend more than 1500$ on a computer then you can afford the tax on it.

No it's not that the state doesn't believe no one can purchase an Apple computer..no it's not that windows machines are much cheaper...just about all (I first bought a computer in 2006) are, you can purchase specifically Mac for under the dollar threshold (I just selected one store out of many different places), different computers are built for different things, doesn't make a "Windows machine" somehow less than, and no it doesn't have to do with if you can afford that high you can afford tax. I understand you may have been slightly joking in your first comment but you kept doubling down. If you lived in MO (or were near the border) it wouldn't work for you, that's okay

 

[darnheather]

Virginia stopped doing this.

 

[tvguy]

Massachusetts has such a big surplus in tax revenue that (by law) they actually have to refund the residents for some of it.

California went from a $47 billion surplus in 2021 and a $55 billion dollar surplus in 2022 to a projected $32 billion deficit in 2023. People had a lot of disposable income when the pandemic and it's relief programs where in full effect. Now back to reality.