It’s nearly that special time of year again when, for a brief 48-hour window, Massachusetts becomes a little bit more like New Hampshire.

This weekend and this weekend only the state will pause its 6.25% tax on qualifying purchases, bringing it temporarily more into line with its permanently tax free neighbor to the north.

“As Citizens for Limited Taxation use to say, every tax cut is a pay raise. For one short weekend, Massachusetts taxpayers can take advantage of the benefit New Hampshire taxpayers enjoy every single day,” Paul Craney, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance told the Herald. “There is nothing gimmicky about Massachusetts taxpayers saving some more of their hard earned money. No one knows how to better spend their own money, than the taxpayers.”

First tried for a single day in 2004, the practice became an annual full weekend holiday in 2018 with an aim toward boosting consumer spending, even if at the expense of millions in sales tax revenue.

According to Gov. Maura Healey, speaking after signing the state’s budget Wednesday, the annual practice is good for businesses.

“It’s great, especially for our small businesses, and we’re an administration that champions small business. We want to encourage people — hopefully the weather holds — to be out there and supporting our small businesses,” she said.

There are some exclusions to the holiday, both on what is excluded and how much.

Most goods that cost under $2,500 and purchased Saturday or Sunday which are normally subject to the sales tax will instead be tax free.

But purchases of cars, boats, meals, utilities, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol are still taxed. Gasoline is not normally subject to the state sales tax and so is not affected by the holiday. Business purchases are still taxable.

Clothing under $175 is generally not taxed, but during the holiday more expensive duds up to $2,500 will be tax free.

Rentals of up to 30 days that are normally subject to sales tax are tax-free if paid for during the holiday. This does not include car and boat rentals.

A single item that costs $2,500 would see a tax savings of $156.25. An item costing even one dollar more would be subject to the full tax amount, plus the 7 cents for the extra dollar.

Massachusetts retailers must, by law, participate in the holiday if they are open for business during the scheduled weekend. Any purchase made during that weekend that is charged a sales tax must see the tax refunded by the retailer, according to information provided by the Department of Revenue.

Residents who want to do their shopping online may do so as well, as long as their purchase is made during the sales tax holiday weekend.