The Massachusetts sales tax rate is 6.25%. This is a flat statewide rate with no additional city or county taxes layered on top. Unlike states where the rate varies by municipality, every transaction in Massachusetts uses the same percentage.

Clothing gets a partial exemption that trips up many retailers. Individual items priced at $175 or less are not taxable. A $150 pair of shoes has no sales tax. A $250 jacket gets taxed only on the $75 above the threshold. This applies per item, not per transaction, so a customer buying five $100 items owes nothing in sales tax.

Grocery food is exempt. Prepared food sold for immediate consumption is taxable at 6.25%. A loaf of bread at a grocery store has no tax. A sandwich from a deli does. Coffee beans sold retail are exempt. A brewed cup of coffee is taxable. The distinction matters for any business selling food products.

Most professional services are not subject to sales tax in Massachusetts. Consulting, legal services, marketing, accounting, and similar work don’t require collection. Telecommunications services and certain fabrication work are exceptions, but the majority of service businesses don’t need to worry about collecting sales tax on their core offerings.

Software and SaaS products are taxable. Massachusetts requires sales tax on prewritten software whether it’s delivered on a disc, downloaded, or accessed through a subscription. Many tech companies miss this and end up owing back taxes plus penalties. If you sell software to Massachusetts customers, you should be collecting.

Businesses selling taxable products or services need to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue before making their first sale. You’ll collect tax at the point of sale and remit it on a schedule based on your volume. Most small businesses file quarterly, but higher volume sellers file monthly.

The 6.25% rate applies to sales made in Massachusetts, but the picture gets complicated if you sell to customers in other states. Each state has different rules about nexus, different rates, and different exemptions. A business shipping products from Andover to customers across the country could have sales tax compliance obligations in a dozen or more states based on where their customers are located.

Being near the New Hampshire border adds another dynamic. New Hampshire has no sales tax, which affects buying patterns for consumers who can easily cross state lines. This doesn’t change your collection obligations in Massachusetts, but it’s worth understanding if you’re pricing products or services for a regional customer base.

The rate itself is straightforward. The complexity comes from knowing what’s taxable, tracking exemptions correctly, and staying compliant as your business grows or sells into new states. Merrimack Valley bookkeepers familiar with Massachusetts requirements can help you set up your systems correctly from the start so sales tax doesn’t become a problem down the road.