
The highest FY2025 commercial tax rate is Holyoke ($38.55) and the lowest is Edgartown ($2.65). The greatest dollar increase from FY2024 in a commercial tax rate is Sandisfield ($4.69), while the greatest dollar decrease is Needham ($3.66). The graph below shows property tax levies for residential and open space (RO) classes as well as commercial, industrial and personal property (CIP) classes for FY2015 to FY2024.
Will I or my heirs have to pay inheritance and estate tax in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a flat income tax rate of 5%, but charges a 4% surtax on income over $1 million. The state’s income tax rate is only one of a handful of states that levy a flat rate. Massachusetts has always been known for its unique approach to state taxes, and 2025 brings some important updates that every resident, newcomer, and business owner should understand. Whether you are a recent immigrant settling in Massachusetts, a long-time resident, or an employer helping new arrivals, knowing the current income tax rates and the new surtax rules is essential. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, what actions are required, and how these rules might impact pending applications or future plans. Massachusetts’ income tax rates were last changed two years prior to 2021 for tax year 2019, and the tax brackets have not been changed since at least 2001.

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In addition to taxes, various deductions may apply to your paycheck. Pre-tax deductions, such as contributions to retirement plans and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), reduce your taxable income. While the decedent’s gross estate at death is less than $1,000,000, the sum of recording transactions the decedent’s gross estate at death and the adjusted taxable lifetime gifts is $1,990,000 ($990,000 plus $1,000,000). Therefore, a Massachusetts estate tax return is required because the sum of the decedent’s gross estate at death and the adjusted taxable lifetime gifts exceeds $1,000,000.
- The standard 5% tax rate remains unchanged, but the MA millionaire tax, introduced in 2023, continues to impact high earners.
- As a result of this update, the Massachusetts personal income tax will now conform to federal tax law changes affecting the determination of Massachusetts gross income and deductions that have been enacted since 2022.
- The state’s income tax rate is only one of a handful of states that levy a flat rate.
- For precise tax calculations or financial advice, please consult with a qualified tax professional or financial advisor familiar with Massachusetts tax laws.
- However, Massachusetts’ millionaire tax makes it less attractive for high earners compared to states like Florida or Texas, which have no income tax.
- Details reveal that the tax levy increased in 334 communities and decreased in nine communities.
Are pensions or retirement income taxed in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a flat personal income tax rate of 5% on your federal adjusted gross income. However, if you’re earning more than $1 million, there’s an additional 4% tax—often called the “Millionaires Tax.” Massachusetts has its own estate tax, which applies to any estate above the exclusion amount of $2 million. If the estate has a gross value (before any deductions) over that level, a Massachusetts estate tax return must be filed. Massachusetts is considered a relatively high-tax state, primarily due to its income tax rates and property taxes.
What are the electronic filing and payment requirements that apply to taxpayers subject to the 4% surtax?
You pay through withholding and making estimated tax payments on any income not subject to withholding. If you are unsure about your tax situation or how the Massachusetts income tax rates and surtax apply to you, visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for official information, or speak with a qualified tax professional. Taking these steps now will help you avoid surprises and stay on the right track for 2025 and beyond. She works for a local company and also receives rental income from a property in Brazil.
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However, the surtax can have a big impact on those with very high incomes, including immigrants who may have global income sources. Staying informed and seeking help when needed is the best way to avoid problems. The Federal Income Tax, by contrast, has different tax brackets for Single, Married Filing Jointly, and Head of Household taxpayers. Understanding how Massachusetts’s tax brackets work can help you better plan your finances and potentially identify tax-saving opportunities. The calculator will automatically estimate your take-home pay after federal taxes, Massachusetts state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare deductions. You can contact the Massachusetts Department of Revenue directly for assistance if you have any specific questions or concerns about your Massachusetts state income tax refund.
- Notably, employees and employers share the responsibility of contributing to these programs.
- Please see “What happens if the return is late?” for more information on interest rates.
- As a result, any tax payments made for the nonresident with the composite return should be reflected on Form 1-NR/PY to reduce the nonresident’s total tax.
- For purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on “ordinary income,” which is the income that you earn from work or from your small business, as well as rental income, interest, royalties, and retirement income.

Early in 2024, DOR made multiple clarifying updates to the Circular M’s withholding rules for supplemental wage payments, including bonuses. DOR acknowledges that some employers making supplemental wage payments early in the 2024 calendar year may not have had sufficient time to reflect the updates in the tax withheld on those payments. In such cases, DOR expects to be lenient in its imposition of penalties for underpayment of withholding tax. All taxpayers subject to the 4% surtax must file their returns and make all payments electronically. The returns listed below allow taxpayers to include the 4% surtax in the calculation of total tax.
- In the Bay State, estates are taxed at rates ranging from 0.8 percent to 16 percent, depending on the value of the estate.
- This guide provides a detailed breakdown of Massachusetts’ income tax structure, filing thresholds, and strategic ways to minimize tax burdens, especially for high-income earners.
- Massachusetts has a flat income tax rate of 5%, but charges a 4% surtax on income over $1 million.
- Massachusetts has some of the highest cigarette taxes in the nation.
- The standard deduction, which Massachusetts does not have, is a deduction that is available by default to all taxpayers who do not instead choose to file an itemized deduction.
- Massachusetts does not impose a separate state income tax on LLCs.

Both forms have a line Bookkeeping for Startups where you can write in an additional dollar amount to withhold from each paycheck. If you aren’t sure how much to withhold, use our paycheck calculator to find your tax liability. Massachusetts taxes residents on all income, including income earned in other states. However, it offers a credit for taxes paid to another state to avoid double taxation. The amount of your paycheck that goes to taxes in Massachusetts depends on your income, deductions, and credits. The state’s progressive tax system means higher-income earners pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes.

Tax burdens in 2020, 2021, and 2022 are all higher than in any other year since 1978. Other important Massachusetts state tax return information and tax rate in massachusetts other related features (e.g. tax extension, amendment, etc.) are listed here as well. Rachel is a Senior Content Writer at Unbiased, producing content across a range of different sectors, including personal finance, retirement, and investing. At the annual classification ma income tax rate hearing, mayors, city/town councils and boards of selectmen decide how to further distribute the tax levy.
