Massachusetts Residents Come to New Hampshire To Avoid Sales Tax

Massachusetts Residents Visit New Hampshire To Avoid Sales Tax

By Jim on August 2nd, 2009

Well the invasion of MA residents has begun since their sales tax went up to 6.25% yesterday:

All roads leading from Massachusetts into New Hampshire were jammed yesterday morning — not so unusual for a hot, sunny summer Saturday. But along with the seasonal vacationers heading north of the border were Bay Staters looking, once again, for tax relief.

It’s a trend that’s likely to catch on even more, now that sales tax in Massachusetts has jumped 25 percent — from 5 to 6.25 percent — and now includes liquor sales for the first time.

“Let me tell you something,” said Jann Hogle of Billerica, Mass., loading a case of Jose Cuervo tequila into the trunk of her car outside the crowded Liquor and Wine Outlet on Route 28, just over the Massachusetts state line.

“I’m not buying my stuff in Massachusetts; I’m buying everything here,” Hogle said. “Why should I pay more? This tax is going to affect lots of people. Not just liquor sales, either. I work in cosmetics, and people are going to come up here for everything — including groceries. I’m, worried about my job. I think a lot of people are.”

Her 92-year-old aunt, Vi DeFlumeri of Burlington, Mass., said in her experience as a lifelong resident of “Taxachusetts,” once a tax arrives, it never goes away.

Welcome Massachusetts shoppers! We are happy that you are coming up to buy your stuff. Some helpful hints:

1. Use cash. Massachusetts requires its prisoners citizens to pay some kind of strange “use” tax on out of state purchases. Given how desperate that state is for money to pay off its corrupt politicians and greedy unions they may try to get a hold of credit card records at some point to discourage out of state, tax-free purchases. So don’t use credit cards, use cash instead. Plus the credit card companies are pond scum anyway. Don’t support them if you can help it.

2. For those who are wondering (I see somebody did a Google search on it) it is not illegal for you to buy booze and other types of goods in NH and bring it back to Massachusetts.

3. Please drive with courtesy. No need to rush around, take your time and enjoy being in New Hampshire. Use your signals when changing lanes and please treat other drivers politely.

4. If you are a smoker please do not throw your cigarette butts out your car window. It’s nasty and gross. Please dispose of them properly.

5. If you see someone with a gun on their hip, don’t panic. Guns are a way of life in New Hampshire. Open carry (carrying a firearm openly in a holster on your person) is completely legal in New Hampshire and many people do it. Feel free to ask the person with the gun what kind of gun it is and how they like it and that sort of thing. If you have a question about guns in New Hampshire you can post a message in the NH section of the Northeastshooters forum.

6. If you aren’t sure where to go to buy booze from a New Hampshire liquor store you can always visit the NH State Liquor Commission site. You can get email updates on special deals and lot of other helpful information.

Again, welcome to sales-tax-free New Hampshire! We are very happy to have your business. And while you’re coming up for your purchases, you may also want to check out the Visit New Hampshire site for lots of information about fun stuff to do in our state.