Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Set for August 9 & 10, 2025

 

The MA House of Representatives and State Senate today adopted resolutions (H.4220 & S.2530) setting the date for this year’s annual Sales Tax Holiday weekend, for August 9 & 10, 2025.

The sales tax exemption applies for those two days to any retail purchase made in the Commonwealth, both in-store and online, of $2,500 or less, with certain exceptions.  While the rules of the holiday weekend remain the same as in recent years, members are encouraged to closely review these helpful FAQs from the MA Department of Revenue (DOR).  Note, the FAQs link refers to the 2024 dates but will soon be updated. 

For more information, the specific rules governing the Sales Tax Holiday can be found in the DOR regulation, 830 CMR 64H.1.8: Sales Tax Holiday.

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ACTION REQUESTED: Company Letter Supporting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act – Sign before July 14

 

As support for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act continues to grow in Congress – now with over 100 cosponsors in the House and 25 in the Senate -- NRF is preparing to deliver an updated company letter supporting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 to Congress. NRF is asking that retailers use this form to add their company’s name to the list of signatories.
 
To date, approximately 180 companies have signed the letter, including retailers of all sizes and in every state. Every company signatory helps demonstrate the broad support this bill has across the retail industry. For this letter, we are only seeking to add company names and not association names.  Please help us grow this number over 200+ by our deadline of July 14. 

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Support Small Businesses;
Contact your Legislators Today!

 

RAM urges members to contact their elected officials to request that they make lowering mandated costs a priority this session.  At a time when most retailers continue to experience flat or down sales while business costs continue to increase, it is imperative that policymakers at the state and federal level reform those areas of existing law that are contributing to the cost problems facing businesses in Massachusetts.  At the federal level, regulation is needed to reign in the ever increasing interchange fees being charged to merchants by credit card companies, while the three areas of focus in Massachusetts state law include small business health insurance, energy pricing, and unemployment insurance. 

 
Federal Action: Click here to send a message to federal policymakers regarding interchange fees and the Credit Card Competition Act. 

State Action: Click here to send a message to state policymakers regarding state mandated operational costs.

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RAM IN THE NEWS:

Boston Globe Op-Eds:

Small businesses in Massachusetts are entering the danger zone

Four small business owners on why they’re struggling

 

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Click image to read new blog on healthcare costs.

 

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View Survey Results

 

 

 

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RAMAES are coming soon! Submit your nominations today! 

 

The Retailers Association of Massachusetts Awards of Excellence (RAMAEs) honor small and large retailers, rookies and veterans, identifying hidden gems from all corners of the Commonwealth. 

You could be one of this year's recipients. Submit a nomination for your business.  Tell us what makes you unique.  

As an expert, you can also help us identify additional businesses who deserve to be recognized for their resilience, innovation, customer service or going above and beyond to make the retail  and dining experience memorable.

There is no limit to the number of businesses you can nominate.  So nominate your business and all those you love as well. There are so many incredible retail stores and restaurants in MA who could be deserving of this recognition.  Help us find our 2025 winners!

The winners will be celebrated at a luncheon on November 19 in Waltham, and all RAM members are invited to attend!

 

Click here to submit your nominations.

 

RAMHIC continues to partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to offer members access to the carrier's entire portfolio of high quality, small group health insurance plans.  

We are excited to announce we have enhanced our Multiple Employer 401k (MEP) program. Available only to our members, we have a new partner, Transamerica Retirement Services. Transamerica is an industry leader in retirement plan marketplace and an expert in Multiple Employer 401k Retirement Plans.

In addition to Transamerica, you also have professional fiduciary investment management provided by Atlas Fiduciary Services, Inc., and outsourced fiduciary plan administration through Atlas Pension Administrators Inc. All of this and you can work with an advisor of your choice.

Adopting members will experience:

• Fewer plan administration duties
• Reduced fiduciary liability
• Streamlined costs.
• Flexible plan design
• Online account management
• Employee education and communication support

 

Now has never been a better time to set up a new 401k plan for your business! The federal government has tremendous tax credits for newly established plan, virtually making the prospects of offering a plan free.

If you already have a plan, a quick evaluation can help determine what your saving might be under our MEP 401k plan with our complementary benchmark analysis.

 

Click here to request information

Massachusetts Child Labor Law Reminder

With the summer season fast approaching, thousands of summer jobs are set to be filled by our youth as the Commonwealth’s school year comes to an end.  Retailers are reminded of the state’s child labor laws enforced by the Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.   

For a complete list of restrictions contained in the law please visit the Attorney General’s website.

 

FY26 State Budget Negotiations Head to Conference Committee

The MA House of Representatives and the MA Senate have now each advanced their own version of the FY26 state spending plan, endorsing competing proposals with a roughly $61.4 billion price tag.  A conference committee comprised of three members from each branch must now hash out the differences between the two bills and present a compromise budget to their respective branches for final adoption.

 

RAM applauded the House for their rejection of Governor Maura Healey’s proposed slate of tax increases.  Gov. Healey had sought to remove the sales tax exemption on candy and confectionary products, making them subject to the 6.25% sales tax.  She had also proposed taxing synthetic nicotine products at 210% of the wholesale cost, and proposed a “pharmacy assessment,” or a $2 per prescription tax on all scripts filled in the state.  The House rejected all of these tax increase provisions, which were then off the table for possible consideration in the Senate.