Candy Would Lose Sales Tax Exemption Under Massachusetts Governor's Budget Proposal

CBS Boston

January 23, 2025

BOSTON - Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey released her $62 billion budget plan on Wednesday, proposing big investments in transportation and education. And in a potential change that shoppers could notice at the grocery store, the governor is seeking to cover a small portion of the spending by removing the sales tax exemption from candy purchases.

The budget seeks to change state law to exclude candy from the category of "essential" foods like fruit, meats and vegetables that are exempt from the 6.25% sales tax.

"All we're doing with candy, to be clear, this isn't about a new tax," Healey told reporters at a news conference. "What this is doing is simply saying when you go to the grocery store, instead of having candy treated like a purchase of bread and eggs and milk, essential groceries, that candy is now going to be treated in the same way as when you go to the bakery in the back of the grocery store and pick up cupcakes for your kids."

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