BOSTON, MA – Today, Marine Corps Veteran, successful business leader, and proven government reformer Brian Shortsleeve, Republican candidate for governor, announced his strong support for rolling back the Massachusetts sales tax from 6.25% to 5%, calling the tax cut a much-needed step to relieve the burden on working families.
“Massachusetts families are being crushed by inflation, rising costs, and a government that keeps taking more of their hard-earned money,” said Shortsleeve. “It’s time to give them a break. Rolling back the sales tax to 5% is long overdue.”
Today the Joint Committee on Revenue is holding a hearing on Rep. Marc Lombardo’s H.3170 and Senator Bruce Tarr’s S.2086. These bills would roll back the sales tax from 6.25% to 5%.
Shortsleeve emphasized that the current sales tax disproportionately affects lower- and middle-income residents, who spend a higher percentage of their income on taxed goods.
“A lower sales tax means lower costs at the register for everything from school supplies to household essentials. This is real relief that people will feel immediately,” said Shortsleeve.
The proposed rollback would return the tax rate to what it was prior to the 2009 increase during the last major recession. Shortsleeve believes that this cut would help boost the state’s sagging economy by keeping more sales in Massachusetts.
“Every day shoppers flee to New Hampshire to avoid our high sales tax. By lowering our tax, we will be helping local businesses and keeping more dollars in the Commonwealth. It is time to end our reputation as Taxachusetts letting people keep more of their hard earned dollars,” said Shortsleeve.
Shortsleeve has also called for the elimination of the Massachusetts state income tax on tips, offering direct relief to thousands of workers in the restaurant, hospitality, and personal service industries across the Commonwealth.