Lawmakers Unveil Plan Calling for Next Sales Tax Holiday on August 13
       Shopping for a new computer? Costly sports equipment?If you have faith in Beacon Hill, you may want to wait a few weeks. On Saturday, August 13, consumers could get pricey products for less under a plan advanced by Beacon Hill lawmakers Tuesday that would eliminate the 5 percent state sales tax on purchases up to $2,500.
        The proposal mirrors last year’s first-ever sales tax holiday, which state revenue officials say saved shoppers about $10.1 million that summer day. If approved by the Legislature, shoppers would get a one-day break on all purchases except cars, boats, gasoline, meals or any single item costing more than $2,500.
        Shoppers would save $125 on a $2,500 purchase.
       The state Senate included the 2004 tax holiday as part of its 2003 economic stimulus plan. Senate President Robert Travaglini said in a statement he supports giving shoppers another tax holiday.
       "We offered the sales tax holiday last year as a way to thank consumers for supporting the state's economy by continuing to spend during the downturn,” he said. “But it turned out to be a huge success for retailers and small businesses generating more than $400 million in one-day revenues. That's a success story worth repeating."
       Retailers, who typically experience their slowest day of sales on the second Saturday in August, embrace the proposal. According to the Massachusetts Retailers Association, retailers reported a 500 percent surge in sales last August 14 holiday. Many businesses called it “the best day ever” for sales.
       Gov. Mitt Romney also backs the plan, his spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said. Romney included a sales tax holiday in his $600 million economic stimulus plan filed in March.