Weeks after most states announced their sales tax holiday for 2011 (or lack of one), Massachusetts was still hedging.

FORBES: Massachusetts Joins States Offering Sales Tax Holidays

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation Aug. 1 making Massachusetts the 17th state to officially announce a back-to-school season sales tax holiday for 2011.

FORBES: Massachusetts State No. 17 With 2011 Sales Tax Holiday

Now, with just a little less than a month to go before school starts, Gov. Deval Patrick has announced a two day sales tax holiday in the Commonwealth.

FORBES: Massachusetts Joins States Offering Sales Tax Holidays

And each state provides a different sales tax holiday.

FORBES: Marketplace Fairness Act Adds Automation to Tax Confusion

Last year, Gov. Patrick signed the sales tax holiday law on July 31, the last day of the legislative session, giving taxpayers two weeks official notice before it started on Aug. 14th.

FORBES: Massachusetts State No. 17 With 2011 Sales Tax Holiday

North Dakota and Illinois affirmatively voted to drop sales tax holidays while efforts to push a sales tax holiday through in states like Georgia, Indiana, Kansas and Rhode Island seem to have floundered.

FORBES: Back to School Sales Tax Holidays On Tap For Many States

Two senators have suggested a ten-day national sales-tax holiday.

ECONOMIST: The economy: Hey, big spender | The

The company warned shortly after the New Year that a bad season of holiday sales will lead to lower than expected adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

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While the stock could continue its roller coaster ride given the concerns of iPhone supply, gross margins and tax gain selling to capture a lower capital gain tax rate before year end I believe that the shares will rebound when investors focus on holiday sales.

FORBES: Can Holiday Sales Rally Apple's Shares?