Get ready for Mass. tax holiday

If you're interested in taking maximum advantage of the upcoming Massachusetts tax holiday, do your homework.

That's the advice from the president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Jon Hurst.

Hurst, who heads the trade group of about 3,000 merchants across the state, says that to get the best deals, consumers should do some comparison shopping and check out store circulars and websites.

Many retailers, Hurst says, will pile promotional discounts on top of the tax break to ensure that bargain hunters don't stay home this weekend. These merchants fret that a 5-percent discount may not be enough to gin up high excitement in the true bargain hunter.

Governor Deval L. Patrick recently signed a bill that exempts shoppers from the state's 5 percent sales tax on most purchases up to $2,500 on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12; it's the fourth year in a row that the state has granted a sales tax holiday, the AP has reported.

Retailers like August tax holidays because they jump-start sales during a slow time of year, and tax holidays evoke a "Boston tea party mentality" in consumers, who love sticking it to the tax man, suggested Hurst.

In addition to discounts, some retailers are extending hours. For example Best Buy Co., the consumer electronics chain, said local store hours will be extended - open tomorrow from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Some bargain hunters may be already heeding the call. Hurst visited a mall last weekend, and he reported that window-shoppers appeared to be out en masse, seemingly on reconnaissance missions for the upcoming tax holiday.

"There's already been a lot of browsing," he said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)