Massachusetts sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 6.25% |
| Average combined rate | ~6.25% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 35 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Generally exempt |
| Major cities | Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in Massachusetts
Using the average combined rate of 6.25% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.56 | $26.56 |
| $100 | $6.25 | $106.25 |
| $500 | $31.25 | $531.25 |
| $1,000 | $62.50 | $1062.50 |
| $10,000 | $625.00 | $10625.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Massachusetts compares with other states
The states closest to Massachusetts on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this page) | 6.25% | $62.50 |
| South Dakota | 6.4% | $64.00 |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | $63.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 6.34% | $63.40 |
| Vermont | 6.24% | $62.40 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's average combined rate of 6.25% sits close to the all-state average of 6.61% (rank 35 of 51). Sales tax here is neither a reason to cross a border nor a penalty for staying — on a $10,000 purchase the tax is about $625, within $36 of what the average state would charge. Local variation inside Massachusetts matters more than the state figure: city and district layers move the rate more than the state ranking does.
Groceries for home consumption are exempt, so the weekly food shop is largely outside this tax. A state that taxed a $150 weekly basket at Massachusetts's combined rate would collect about $487.5 a year from it; in Massachusetts that charge falls only on non-food items and prepared food. Sellers should still check category rules — the exemption covers food, not everything in a supermarket.
How to calculate Massachusetts sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 6.25% state rate, then add your county, city and any special-district rates for the exact purchase location.
- Multiply. Tax = taxable price × (combined rate ÷ 100). Shipping and discounts change the taxable base in some cases — discounts usually reduce it, delivery charges vary.
- Add (or extract). Total = price + tax. Working backwards from a tax-inclusive price: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100). Our calculator does both directions instantly.
Groceries and exemptions in Massachusetts
Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ. Most clothing items under $175 are also exempt. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Sales tax in major Massachusetts cities
Combined rates inside Massachusetts are set city by city:
Selling into Massachusetts? Read this
If you sell online and ship to Massachusetts, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your Massachusetts sales pass the state's threshold (commonly $100,000). You collect at the rate for the buyer's delivery address — which is why combined-rate accuracy matters more than the state base rate. The full calculator lets you test any rate, extract tax from totals, and model VAT for international sales.