Tax Deadlines Extended For Those Affected By Bombing

State and federal authorities say they want to give individuals impacted by the bombing more time to file their taxes.

Due to the Boston Marathon bombing, two deadlines to file income taxes have been extended for the Boston area.  The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has extended the deadline to file income tax returns to April 23, according to the DOR. The extension applies to anybody impacted by the bombing. The DOR extended the deadline saying they wanted to give anybody impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings more time to file. The original deadline was Tuesday, April 16. Also, the federal Internal Revenue Service has extended its income tax return filing deadline to July 15, according to its website. The extensions applies to Suffolk County residents, victims, victims’ families, first responders and individuals who live outside of Suffolk County …

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Mass. Tax Plans: Too Much, Too Soon? Or Too Little, Too Slow?

Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?

Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …

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Andrew Sylvia

9:26 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

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Massachusetts' Most and Least Taxed Municipalities: Did Chelmsford Make The List?

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue just released their latest figures, what they they found could surprise you.

As 2013 begins, property tax rates are increasing for residents across Massachusetts, and they will be in Chelmsford as well, with residential, commercial and industrial property tax rates rising from $17.49 to $17.95 per thousand dollars of appraised value Statewide, the average residential rate was $14.38, the average commercial rate was $17.94 and the average industrial rate was $17.69. Compared to other 334 communities in the Commonwealth with set tax rates for the 2013 Fiscal Year, Westford had the 292th lowest residential rate, the 207th lowest commercial rate and the 208th lowest industrial rate. Here's how the towns adjacent to Chelmsford as well as the communities on the list with the highest and lowest rates. (NOTE: We've checked…

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Amazon.com Will Collect State Sales Tax in 2013

The Internet retailer said the collection would begin in time for next year's holiday shopping season.

Checking out at Amazon.com will be a little pricier starting next November. Gov. Deval Patrick's office announced the deal Tuesday, stating the company would be adding jobs to Massachusetts in the next few years, WBZ reported. Amazon.com and Patrick said they would work together to support a federal bill allowing individual states to collect sales tax in states where they have no physical location. "I value the contributions large and small employers alike make to Massachusetts' economic vitality, and this agreement captures that," Patrick said in a statement. "We are thankful Amazon was willing to come to the table and we will continue our conversations with them about creating jobs here. This agreement is a win for all sides, and I am …

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MarkG

10:37 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013

You do realize that in theory you're supposed to pay taxes on those purchases, just like you're supposed to pay taxes to MA for things purchased in NH, right?   more ›

The Fiscal Cliff: What Deal Would You Cut?

Massachusetts Democrats in Congress want to avoid cuts in benefits as part of any deal, but proposals such as raising the eligibility age for Medicare are still on the table. What would you do?

As Congress negotiates a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1, Massachusetts' congressional representatives have voiced their opposition to any cuts in benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the Boston Globe reports. However, there are proposals still on the table that would change those benefit programs, including linking Social Security benefits to a more conservative inflation index that would slightly reduce annual increases, or raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. The Globe reported that while the Bay State's legislators were united against changes to Social Security, there's some wiggle room on Medicare. Rep. Ed Markey opposes raising the Medicare eligibility age; Rep. Michael …

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Tax to Travel: How Would You Pay for Mass' Transportation System?

Gov. Deval Patrick plans to ask lawmakers to raises taxes to make up for the shortfall in Massachusetts' transportation system. What options should they consider and what's off the table?

Would you be willing to pay more at the pump, have a tracking system on your car that taxes you by the mile, or see tolls on state highways? Those are just some of the possibilities looming as Massachusetts looks to erase the state's transportation system's deficit. The Boston Globe reported that Gov. Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to raise taxes in order to pay for a transportation system—from the MBTA to roads and bridges—that continues to operate in the red. The administration will present a specific proposal by Jan. 7. One option is raising the gas tax, a route Patrick sought in 2009 only to be rebuffed by the legislature. Patrick sought a 19 cent increase while business groups endorsed a 25 cent increase. Ultimately, the state …

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Would You Go Out to Eat on a Meals Tax Holiday?

Despite the setback last legislative session, a restaurant alliance will try again to get the holiday approved in Massachusetts.

  Would you be more likely to go out to eat if the state suspended its meals tax? The Restaurant and Business Alliance thinks so, and is gearing up to try again to get it passed in the State House. Unlike the sales tax holiday, which is offered one weekend out of most summers, the meals tax holiday would benefit workers in Massachusetts since the amount restaurant workers make is usually tied to how many customers come in, according to Vincent A.J. Errichetti, the alliance's spokesman. Both the sales tax and meals tax are 6.25 percent in Massachusetts in towns that have not adopted an additional .75 local option meals excise tax, where the meals tax is 7 percent. "They understand that not only would it help waiters, waitresses and …

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Chelmsford Municipal Election

Taking it to the Streets: How Do You Feel About the Proposed Fire Station?

Residents weigh in on Chemsford's only ballot question.

With today's election featuring only one contested race, the big issue revolves around the ballot question, which polls voters about a proposed $9.1 million center fire station. Patch asked voters at precincts 1 and 9 to find the pulse of the town on the issue. While it seems that an overwhelming majority were for the measure, there were quite a few who were against it, whether because of the cost, the location of the proposed building, or perceived corruption with town officials. More often than not, however, these people wished to remain off the record, or declined to have their picture taken. 

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Potential Planning Board Recall Stirs Up Residents and Selectmen

Planning Board also hears and voices opinion about recall, upcoming ballot questions.

Even though discussion about the Nov. 2 ballot questions was scheduled for later in the evening, several residents voiced their concerns about the initiatives during open session of the Board of Selectmen meeting. Salim Talbit, an Andover resident, spoke in support of question three, a measure to lower the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. The state had recently raised sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent in order to increase state revenues, specifically when faced with budget shortfalls during the recession. Talbit's concerns were that border towns, or Massachusetts cities near sales tax-free New Hampshire, are seeing a drop in business as residents travel across the border for purchases. Studies have shown that as much …

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