Tax Credits

Massachusetts’ many tax credits and attempts at bringing them to light.

Dems feel Baker knew of looming tax-break blockbuster

'Eye-opening' April collections caught guv's attention, but apparently not lawmakers'

By Michael P. Norton taxes 0 Comments Aug 3, 2022

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS THEIR CAREFULLY crafted plans for tax relief and massive spending outlays began to slip away with last Thursday’s stunning news about a 1986 tax law, frustrated Democrats on Beacon Hill went into spin mode. First, late Friday afternoon, Rep. Christine Barber of Somerville took to the House floor to suggest(...)

Tax tutorial by Sen. Adam Hinds

State flush with cash, but he sees need for millionaire tax

By Bruce Mohl Massachusetts Legislature, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Jun 7, 2021

THE STATE IS FLUSH with cash right now, but Sen. Adam Hinds of Pittsfield said he doesn’t think that will stop the Legislature this week from passing and sending along to voters a constitutional amendment placing a 4 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million. Hinds, a leader on Beacon Hill on tax and revenue(...)

Tax breaks not on House budget chief’s radar

Michlewitz served on tax expenditure commission

By Bruce Mohl Massachusetts Legislature 0 Comments Apr 14, 2021

THE HOUSE’S TOP budget official said his spending plan for fiscal 2022 doesn’t address outdated or ineffective tax breaks highlighted in a recent commission report and he doesn’t plan to push for separate legislation to deal with them. Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of Boston, the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, served on the(...)

Accountability needed for state tax breaks

Annual caps on these expenditures would be a good first step

By Suzanne Bump and Adam Hinds Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Apr 9, 2021

ACCOUNTABILITY IS A PRINCIPLE embedded in the process of government budget-making. The Governor proposes a spending plan and the Legislature examines it, determines how to meet the needs of the public, and how much revenue is needed to do it. Those programs then can be audited by the state auditor. There is another spending program,(...)

Don’t undercut brownfields tax credit

Changes threaten renaissance of Gateway Cities

By Tim Murray Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Apr 5, 2021

WHEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL remediation program has thrived for a quarter-century — converting abandoned industrial sites into engines of job creation that address the ravages of environmental contamination — turning our backs on that progress seems unwise. Nevertheless, the state is on the precipice of making an unfortunate error in ending decades of success under the(...)

Film tax credit backers say they have the votes

Dispute findings of tax expenditure commission

By Bruce Mohl Film tax credit, Massachusetts Legislature 0 Comments Mar 26, 2021

SUPPORTERS OF THE state’s film tax credit, which came under fire this week from a commission examining Massachusetts tax breaks, say they have the votes to pass legislation that would make the tax credit permanent. The credit, which under current law is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2023, provides a tax credit equal to(...)

Film tax credit sunset looms

Rodrigues: ‘I still have concerns about the cost’

By Bruce Mohl Film tax credit, Massachusetts Legislature, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Nov 11, 2019

THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS Committee sounds as if he is in no hurry to eliminate the sunset provision contained in the state’s film tax credit law. The tax credit, launched in 2006 and scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2022, has been the focus of a number of attempts to eliminate(...)

Netflix, Showtime to film series in Mass.

New productions come on heels of Castle Rock

By Bruce Mohl Film tax credit 0 Comments Jun 5, 2018

A PANEL DISCUSSION exploring the benefits of the state’s film tax credit turned into a press conference of sorts on Tuesday when a couple of the panelists disclosed new series coming to shoot in Massachusetts. Gary Crossen, the general manager of New England Studios in Devens, said Netflix will be filming a series at his(...)

Spring 2018

Hollywood haves and have-nots

Film tax credit economic benefits flow primarily to Greater Boston

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Legislature 0 Comments Apr 10, 2018

NEW BEDFORD MAYOR JON MITCHELL thinks his city, with its gritty harbor, its cobblestoned streets, its mill buildings, and its sweeping ocean views, has Hollywood appeal. Hollywood also appeals to him, not because he has any red carpet aspirations himself, but because of what he thinks a movie or a TV series could do for(...)

CT Lottery taps MA film tax credit

Bonehead move, or smart money-saving strategy?

By Bruce Mohl Connecticut Lottery, Film tax credit, Tax Credits 0 Comments Mar 15, 2018

LEAF THROUGH THE LIST of recipients of Massachusetts film tax credits and one name comes up year after year: the Connecticut Lottery. One might think the lottery, created by the state of Connecticut, would want to do business as much as possible with companies in Connecticut. In a way, that’s the whole point of the(...)