Budget Amendment ID: FY2017-S4-49

OTH 49

Permanent Annual Sales Tax Holiday

Messrs. O'Connor, Tarr, Fattman and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting, after section __, the following new section:-

"SECTION 1. Chapter 64H of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 6, the following:-

Section 6A. The commissioner of revenue shall annually designate, by July 15 of each calendar year, a two-day weekend in August during which no excise shall be imposed upon non-business sales at retail in the commonwealth of tangible personal property, as defined in section 1 of this chapter, but for the purposes of this section, tangible personal property shall not include telecommunications, gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, boats, meals, or any single item whose price is in excess of $2,500.

For the days designated by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of this section, a vendor in the commonwealth shall not add to the sales price or collect from any non-business purchaser an excise upon sales at retail of tangible personal property, as defined in section 1 of this chapter. The commissioner of revenue shall not require any vendor to collect and pay excise upon sales at retail of tangible personal property purchased on said designated days. Any excise erroneously or improperly collected during the designated days shall be remitted to the department of revenue. This section shall not apply to the sale of telecommunications, tobacco products subject to the excise imposed by chapter 64C of the General Laws, gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, or any single item whose price is in excess of $2,500.

When choosing the designated days, the commissioner shall take into consideration the observance of any religious and secular days of observation occurring therein; provided further, that the commissioner shall designate such days so as to maximize the economic benefit to the commonwealth.

Reporting requirements imposed upon vendors of tangible personal property, by law or by regulation, including, but not limited to, the requirements for filing returns required by chapter 62C of the General Laws, shall remain in effect for sales for the days designated by the commissioner.

On or before December 31 of each year, the commissioner of revenue shall certify to the comptroller the amount of sales tax forgone, as well as new revenue raised from personal and corporate income taxes and other sources, because of this act. The commissioner shall issue a report, detailing by fund the amounts under general and special laws governing the distribution of revenues under this chapter which would have been deposited in each fund, without this act.

The commissioner of revenue shall issue instructions or forms, or promulgate rules or regulations, necessary for the implementation of this act."