Boston sales tax guide
Shopping in Boston means paying one of the higher combined sales tax rates in Massachusetts: 6.25%, against a statewide average combined rate of 6.25%. Among the 30 major US cities we track, Boston ranks 27 by combined rate. This guide shows how the rate is built and what it adds to real purchases.
How the Boston rate is built
No local sales tax — a flat statewide rate. Groceries are exempt, and clothing is exempt up to $175 per item (only the amount above $175 is taxed).
No single government sets the 6.25% figure. The state of Massachusetts sets the base rate of 6.25%, and county, city and special-district taxes stack on top of it. That stacking is why the rate can change across a city boundary — and why the address of the sale, not the seller's home address, decides the tax on most transactions.
What the rate does to real purchases
| Purchase | Tax at 6.25% | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 purchase | $1.56 | $26.56 |
| $100 purchase | $6.25 | $106.25 |
| $500 purchase | $31.25 | $531.25 |
| $1,000 purchase | $62.5 | $1,062.5 |
| $10,000 purchase | $625 | $10,625 |
| $35,000 car (where vehicles are taxed at sale) | $2,187.5 | $37,187.5 |
Groceries: Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ. Most clothing items under $175 are also exempt. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate in most jurisdictions, even where groceries for home consumption are exempt or reduced.
Boston vs other major US cities
Boston is the Massachusetts city we track in detail. Set against the extremes of the 30-city dataset (average 7.93%), its position is clear:
| City | Combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (this guide) | 6.25% | $62.5 |
| Seattle — among the highest | 10.35% | $103.5 |
| Chicago — among the highest | 10.25% | $102.5 |
| Portland — among the lowest | 0% | $0 |
| Louisville — among the lowest | 6% | $60 |
What this means in Boston
On planned purchases the rate is a line item, not a rounding error: $625 on $10,000, which is $0 more than the same purchase at the Massachusetts average rate. Households near a lower-rate city boundary sometimes route vehicles, appliances and furniture purchases accordingly; on weekly spending, the difference is a few dollars a month and rarely worth a trip.
Selling in Boston
If your business delivers into Boston, the rate your customer pays is generally the combined rate at their address. Once your Massachusetts sales pass the state's economic-nexus threshold you must register, collect and remit — the threshold and filing basics are covered on the Boston sales tax page, and the statewide picture is in the Massachusetts tax guide.
Sales tax · combined rate
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
Boston sales tax FAQs
What is the sales tax rate in Boston?
The combined sales tax rate in Boston is approximately 6.25%, made up of the Massachusetts state rate plus county, city and district taxes. No local sales tax — a flat statewide rate. Groceries are exempt, and clothing is exempt up to $175 per item (only the amount above $175 is taxed).
How much tax do I pay on a $100 purchase in Boston?
At 6.25%, a $100 taxable purchase in Boston carries about $6.25 in sales tax, for a total of $106.25. On $1,000 the tax is $62.5; on $10,000 it is $625.
Why is the Boston rate different from the rest of Massachusetts?
Sales tax is stacked: the state sets a base rate and local governments add their own. Boston adds local layers that bring the combined rate to 6.25%, compared with a statewide average combined rate of about 6.25% — a gap of 0 points.
How does Boston compare with other US cities?
Boston ranks 27 of the 30 major cities in our dataset by combined rate (dataset average 7.93%). The highest is Seattle at 10.35% and the lowest is Portland at 0%. Against the all-state average combined rate of 6.61%, Boston is 0.36 points lower.
Are groceries taxed in Boston?
Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ. Most clothing items under $175 are also exempt.
Where can I verify the exact rate for a Boston address?
The 6.25% figure is the typical combined rate inside city limits; district taxes can shift it block by block. Verify the rate for a specific address with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue before a major purchase or a filing.
Reviewed by Tahir Shehzad, ACMA · State tax data reviewed November 2026 against official sources — see our Methodology and Editorial Policy. Figures are educational estimates, not tax or financial advice. For a filing decision, confirm with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.