Frequently Asked Questions - Massachusetts State Income TaxesHealth Care Mandate InformationIndividu...

1. Frequently Asked Questions - Massachusetts State Income
Taxes
Frequently Asked Questions - Massachusetts State Income Taxes
Health Care Mandate Information
IndividualsInsurance CarriersEmployersHealth Care Reform Regulation and TIRsHealth Care
Reports
Filing Questions? ?
When am I required to file a tax return in Massachusetts?What are my filing options?What can I do
to make sure my refund is processed as quickly as possible?Can I get an extension if I am not ready
to file my 2013 Massachusetts income tax return by the due date of April 15, 2014?Should I still file
by the due date of April 15, 2014, if I cannot pay the amount due with my return?Will I owe interest
and penalties if I file my return and pay my taxes after the due date?What should I do if I moved
after filing my return?How do I file my tax return if my spouse died in 2013?What should I do if I
have already filed my return but receive another W-2, or if I did not receive a W-2 from my
employer?Should I be paying estimated taxes if I had income this year from which no Massachusetts
tax was withheld?What should I do if I received a notice that my refund was intercepted?What do I
need to do with my Form 1099G?What is the tax impact on same-sex marriage?Are there special tax
return filing provisions for military personnel serving in a combat zone?Frequently Asked Questions
Nonresidents and Part-Year Residents
Tax Questions - Massachusetts Law
16.? ? What's new for tax year 2013?
17.? ? What are the Massachusetts income tax rates for tax year 2013?
18.? ? Who qualifies for the "Circuit Breaker Credit" for the elderly and what are the amounts for
2013?
19.? ? Who qualifies for the Earned Income Credit (EIC) and what are the amounts for 2013?
20.? ? How do I report income from shares in a mutual fund, which are invested in government
obligations?
21.? ? Which pensions are exempt from Massachusetts's taxation?
22.? ? Is Social Security taxable in Mass.? Is the Medicare tax withheld from my Social Security
benefits deductible on my return?
23.? ? Is the scholarship I am receiving taxable?
24.? ? How do I compute Use Tax due?
25.? ? How does the Taxes Paid to Other Jurisdictions Credit work?
26.? ? How do I determine the amount of taxable IRA distribution in Massachusetts?

2. 27.? ? Are the requirements for the Mass. student loan interest deduction different from the ones for
the federal based deduction?
Tax Questions - Massachusetts Law tied to Federal Law
28.? ? Does Massachusetts follow the Internal Revenue Code for Qualified Tuition Programs?
29.? ? Does Massachusetts follow the Internal Revenue Code for the treatment of qualified pension
plans?
30.? ? Where can I find information on additional tax topics?
Filing Questions1. When am I required to file a tax return in Massachusetts?
A Massachusetts full-year and/or part-year resident is required to file a tax return with the state of
Massachusetts if his/her Massachusetts gross income is in excess of $8,000.
A Massachusetts nonresident is required to file a Massachusetts nonresident tax return if his/her
Massachusetts source income exceeds the smaller of $8,000 or the prorated personal exemption.
The prorated personal exemption is the personal exemption times the Massachusetts source income
over the amount that would be Massachusetts gross income if the taxpayer were a full-year resident.
A more in-depth explanation of Filing Requirements is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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2. What are my filing options?

3. Filing your taxes electronically means faster refunds. Many taxpayers can now e-file their
Massachusetts income tax return directly with the Department of Revenue. You may either:
file using the Department's FREE WebFile for Income program; orfile electronically through an
approved tax practitioner.
Usually, you will receive your refund within four days. Online filing also allows you to use DOR
approved commercial tax filing websites or software products.
If you prefer to file using a paper copy, you need to use a product that incorporates 2-D barcodes
into their software which will expedite the processing of your returns.
Otherwise, you may still submit a paper Form 1? or Form 1-NR/PY? . Additional information is
available regarding Filing Options.
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3. What can I do to make sure my refund is processed as quickly as possible?
a) E-File your return to get a speedy refund.
b) File as early in the tax season as possible but not before receipt of all relevant tax statements (W-
2s, 1099s etc.) and, because errors can delay processing of your refund, be sure to double-check the
following before mailing your paper tax return to DOR:
name, address and Social Security number. Joint returns must list both Social Security
numbers;arithmetic;filing status box at the top of the return; andnumber of exemptions.
In addition:
Make sure you have enclosed the state copy of your Form W-2 and all applicable schedules.If your
filing status is Married Filing Separate and you are claiming more than the maximum rental
deduction of $1,500 enclose a statement signed by your spouse, listing his/her name, address, Social
Security number and the amount of rental deduction being taken by each of you.Make sure you have
signed your return. Both spouses must sign a joint return. Unsigned returns will be returned for
signatures.Remember to mark an "X" in any form or schedule box that shows a loss.If the paper was
generated using a software package be sure your form contains the required 2-D barcode.
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4. Can I get an extension if I am not ready to file my 2013 Massachusetts income tax return by the
due date of April 15, 2014?
Yes. If you are unable to meet the income tax filing deadline, you can apply for an automatic six-
month extension of time to file your Massachusetts personal income tax return and to make
payments.
The federal automatic extension of time to file is also six months.
You may request an extension by filling out a Form M-4868, Application for Automatic Six-month
Extension of Time to File Massachusetts Income Tax Return, using one of the following methods:
via the web using DOR's WebFile for Income.by completing a paper Form M-4868? .
Taxpayers who do not owe money with their extensions, so-called zero extensions, are not required
to file Form M-4868. This applies to taxpayers who have calculated a refund or have paid 100
percent of their taxes through withholding, credit forwards and estimates, and who expect to owe
nothing more when the return is filed. Please refer to TIR 06-21 for more information on this change

4. to income and corporate extension requirements.
Any extension request and payment made by or on behalf of a taxpayer filing Form 1 or 1-NR/PY
must be made using electronic means if a payment of $5,000 or more accompanies the extension
request. See TIR 04-30 and TIR 05-22 for detailed information.
Regardless of the mode of filing, for an extension to be valid, a minimum of 80 percent of your total
tax liability for the year must be paid by April 15, 2014. For a valid extension, interest only will be
charged on any tax not paid on or before the original due date. Invalid extensions result in both
penalty and interest charges from the original due date.
The Automatic Extension of Time to File is generally limited to the six-month period. An exception to
allow an extension beyond the six-month period may apply to certain taxpayers who reside abroad
and qualify for a longer extension under U.S. Guidelines as detailed under Internal Revenue Code
section 6081. Such a request is filed in duplicate on Form M-4868 on or before the original due date
and is accompanied by any estimated tax due. This non-automated extension is generally limited to
two months when granted in writing by the Commissioner.
An additional extension may also apply to military personnel stationed in a combat area. The combat
area qualified extension will generally correspond to the U.S. Extension Guidelines.
TIR 04-5: Massachusetts Income Tax Filing Extensions for Military Personnel in a Combat Zone
provides a detailed explanation of the special extension available to qualified individuals in a
designated combat area.
Form M-8736? , Application for Extension of Time to File Fiduciary, Partnership or Corporate
Trust Return, is the required application for extension of time to file for certain business or trust
returns. These returns include: Form 2, Massachusetts Fiduciary Income Tax Return; Form 3,
Partnership Return of Income; Form 3F, Income Tax Return of Corporate Trusts; and Form 3M,
Income Tax Return for Clubs and Other Organizations not Engaged in Business for Profit. Beginning
with tax year 2002, Form M-4868 also extends the time to file an individual use tax return. Form-
4868 is due on or before April 15 and will be considered void if 80% of the total income tax and use
tax liability is not paid by the original due date of the return.
? More in-depth explanation of Extensions and the TIRs mentioned above are available in the Guide
to Taxes.
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5. Should I still file by the due date of April 15, 2014, if I cannot pay the amount due with my return?
Yes. If you do not have the money to pay the total amount you owe on your return and cannot pay
the minimum 80 percent required to qualify for an extension, you are still required to file on time
and pay what you can. By filing on time, you will not be billed for any late filing penalties. DOR will
bill you for the balance due, plus interest and late payment penalty.
If you are unable to pay in full the tax bill you receive and the amount due is less than $5,000, you
may set up a payment agreement. To determine if you qualify, you may access the online Payment
Agreement application. Alternatively, you can contact DOR's Customer Service Bureau for a small
payment agreement. Affected taxpayers are encouraged to act on this opportunity quickly in order to
avoid collection activity, including the levy of bank accounts and wages. Setting up a small payment

5. agreement will allow you to make monthly payments to meet your tax obligation. Please be advised
that, during the payment agreement period, interest and penalties will continue to accrue on any
unpaid balance.
Keep in mind also that you cannot request a payment plan until the Department of Revenue has
billed you. However, you can make online payments via our WebFile for Income prior to receiving a
bill. Once you have received the bill, you can apply for the payment agreement online, or by calling
DOR at 617-887-MDOR or toll-free in Massachusetts at 800-392-6089 twenty-four hours a day.
Please have a copy of your bill handy when you place the call.
Touch-tone callers who qualify for a small payment agreement using our automated system may be
eligible to pay their entire liability using Electronic Funds Withdrawal or a Credit Card (VISA,
MasterCard, Discover or Novus brand card).
Please note: if the amount of tax that you owe is $5,000 or more, your payment agreement request
should be directed to the Collections Bureau at 617-887-6400.
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6. Will I owe interest and penalties if I file my return and pay my taxes after the due date?
Yes. Interest and penalties will be charged if you file and pay after the due date (April 15, 2014),
unless you have a valid extension on file with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. With a
valid extension, interest only will be charged on any portion of the tax that is not paid by the original
due date but is paid by the extended due date. Interest will be compounded daily and based on the
federal short-term rate plus four percentage points. Invalid extensions result in interest and penalty
charges back to the original due date of the return.
If you do not have a valid extension and do not file your return by the due date, you will be charged a
late file penalty of 1 percent per month on the unpaid tax. In addition, any portion of the tax not paid
by the due date is subject to a late payment penalty of 1 percent per month on the unpaid tax. Both
late file and late payment penalties are capped at 25 percent of the unpaid tax.
It is also important to note that individuals whose expected tax due on taxable income not subject to
withholding exceeds $400 are required to make estimated tax payments during the year, with Form
1-ES? , Estimated Tax Payment Vouchers.
If you do not pay the total amount that you owe when you file your return, DOR will bill you for the
balance due, plus interest and penalties. If you are unable to make full payment, you may be eligible
to pay in monthly installments. To request a monthly payment agreement for amounts of $5,000 or
less, call 617-887-MDOR (6367) or toll-free in Massachusetts at 800-392-6089. For amounts over
$5,000, call 617-887-6400. Please be advised that, during the payment agreement period, interest
and penalties will continue to accrue on any unpaid balance.
A more in-depth explanation is available in the Assessments, Interest and Penalties section of the
Guide to Taxes.
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7. What should I do if I moved after filing my return?

6. If you move after filing your Massachusetts income tax return, be sure to leave a forwarding address
with your local Post Office. To change your address, we recommend that you use WebFile for Income
or call the Department of Revenue at 617- 887-MDOR or toll-free in Massachusetts at 800-392-6089
(our automated phone change of address system is available after regular business hours for your
convenience).
The U.S. Postal Service generally forwards checks. However, if you want to determine the status of
your refund or whether your check has been returned by the Post Office as undeliverable, you can
do so by calling our automated refund line at 617-887-MDOR or toll-free in Massachusetts at 800-
392-6089, 24 hours a day or by accessing the WebFile for Income application.
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8. How do I file my tax return if my spouse died in 2013?
A final income tax return must be filed by the due date in 2014 for a taxpayer who died in 2013. As
the surviving spouse, you may file a joint return. Be sure to fill in oval 1 if the taxpayer who was
listed first on last year's income tax return is deceased or oval 2 if the taxpayer who was listed
second on last year's income tax return is deceased. Any income received for your deceased spouse
for 2013 and for any succeeding taxable years until the estate is completed, must be reported each
year on Massachusetts Form 2? , Fiduciary Income Tax Return.
A more in-depth explanation of Filing Status is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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9. What should I do if I have already filed my return but receive another W-2, or if I did not receive a
W-2 from my employer?
After filing your Massachusetts income tax return, if you receive an additional tax statement such as
a W-2 or Form 1099, or discover that an error was made, do not submit a second tax return. If
corrections are necessary, you must file an amended tax return. The fastest and easiest way to make
this correction is by using WebFile for Income. Otherwise a Form CA-6 , Application for
Abatement/Amended Return, should be filed.
If a W-2 is not received, you should first contact your employer to verify whether the W-2 statement
was mailed to the correct address. You may also call the IRS at 800-829-1040 after February 15 to
request a U.S. Form 4852, Substitute for Missing Form W-2, if necessary to meet the filing deadline.
Substitute forms should be requested only after all reasonable attempts have been made to get the
document from an employer. The state tax withholding must be verified with a copy of the
employee's final pay stub. This amount should be included on the form in an unused box and titled as
Massachusetts state tax withheld.
A more in-depth explanation is available in the Wages, Salaries, Tips and Other Employee
Compensation section of the Guide to Taxes.
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10. Should I be paying estimated taxes if I had income this year from which no Massachusetts tax
was withheld?

7. Generally, a taxpayer is required to make estimated payments if the expected tax due after credits
and withholding exceeds $400 (effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2005;
additional detailed information can be found in TIR 04-25: Effect of Recent Legislation on the
Personal Income Tax, Withholding of Tax, and the Declaration of Estimated Tax by Individuals.) To
avoid penalty charges, taxes on this income must be paid in quarterly installments using Form 1-ES,
Estimated Income Tax Vouchers for Individuals or Form 2-ES, Estimated Income Tax Vouchers for
Fiduciaries, Corporate Trusts and Other Unincorporated Organizations. You may make estimated
payments using one of the following:?
WebFile for Income;Using Form 1-ES? , Estimated Income Tax Vouchers for Individuals orForm 2-
ES? , Estimated Income Tax Vouchers for Fiduciaries, Corporate Trusts and Other Unincorporated
Organizations.You may also view or verify any estimated tax payments you may have made to the
DOR via WebFile for Income.
To learn more about whether you are subject to estimated taxes, please refer to the Department's
publication, Should You Be Paying Individual Estimated Taxes?
More in-depth explanations of Estimated Tax and the TIR mentioned above are available in the
Guide to Taxes.
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11. What should I do if I received a notice that my refund was intercepted?
The notice provides specific information about the intercept, including the name of the agency which
intercepted the refund (e.g., IRS, Child Support Enforcement, etc.) plus an address and/or telephone
number to call. Taxpayers should follow strictly the instructions contained on the intercept notice
and meet all time deadlines.
If a refund on a married joint tax return was intercepted by the Department of Revenue to satisfy a
liability incurred solely by one spouse, the nondebtor spouse may file Form M-8379? "Nondebtor
Spouse Claim and Allocation for Refund Due." However, this form is not applicable if your joint
refund was applied to satisfy a past due tax owed jointly to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Please note also that submission of Form M-8379 with the filing of a married joint tax return does
not prevent the intercept from taking place. This form should only be submitted after receipt of the
intercept notice.
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12. What do I need to do with my Form 1099G?
A Form 1099G notifies you of your 2012 Massachusetts income tax overpayment paid in 2013. This
overpayment amount may be considered income required to be reported on your 2013 Federal 1040,
line 10, Taxable Refunds, if you itemized your deductions on Schedule A in 2012 and the amount you
claimed for state income taxes was the withholding amount and/or total estimated payment amounts
made in 2012.
A more in-depth explanation is available in the 1099G Massachusetts Income Tax Overpayment
section of the Guide to Taxes.
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13. What is the tax impact on same-sex marriage?

8. Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to be married, and they may either file as married filing
separately or married filing jointly in Massachusetts.? As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court
decision, United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), same-sex married couples from now on
will file their federal tax returns as married persons,? jointly or separately.? See Rev. Rul. 2013-17
and any subsequent federal? guidance. Same-sex married couples will no longer be required to
combine amounts from two separate federal returns in order to file a Massachusetts joint return, but
instead will simply carry information from the federal return to the state return according the rules
for married filers.
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14. Are there special tax return filing provisions for military personnel serving in a combat zone?
DOR follows the federal rules for granting an extension of time to file income tax returns and to pay
taxes due for those serving in a combat zone, or hospitalized as a result of such service, during the
period designated as the period of combatant activities. This extension applies to members of the
armed forces, as well as individuals serving in support of the armed forces, serving in a combat
zone. The extension period is for the time of service in the combat zone area or hospitalization
attributable to such service plus 180 days. Additional detailed information can be found in TIR 04-
05.
No interest or penalties will be charged during the extension period on taxes due for the tax year.
The extension of time to file returns also applies to spouses of personnel serving in combat areas if a
joint return is filed. Taxpayers claiming an extension of time to file a return or pay tax under this
provision of law should write "COMBAT ZONE" on the income tax envelope and on the top of the
income tax return that they submit to the Department of Revenue. If filing electronically, taxpayers
should write "COMBAT ZONE" next to their name, or if necessary, on one of the address lines on the
form, along with the date of deployment.
A more in-depth explanation is available in the When is a Return Due section of the Guide to Taxes.?
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Tax Questions - Massachusetts Law15. What's New for Tax Year 2013?
Please refer to:
Guide to Taxes Tax Changes for 2013 ;? orForm 1 Instructions? ; orForm 1-NR/PY Instructions?
file size 1MB .
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16. What are the Massachusetts income tax rates for tax year 2013?
The tax rate on Part (B) income, which includes income such as wages, pensions, business income,
rents, etc. as well as Part (A) interest and dividend income is 5.25 percent;The tax rate on Part (A)
income, which includes short term capital gains, long term gains resulting from the sale of
collectibles and pre-1996 installment sale is 12 percent;Note: A 50 percent deduction is allowed on
gains from the sale of collectibles and pre-1996 installment sales.The tax rate on Part (C) income,
which includes long-term capital gains, except for collectibles and pre-1996 installment sales is 5.25
percent tax. You may refer to question 17 for further details regarding long term gains taxation in
Massachusetts.
Recent legislation has also given taxpayers the opportunity to elect to voluntarily pay tax at a rate of
5.85 percent on taxable income which would otherwise be taxed at 5.25 percent. This option is not
applicable to short term gains and gains on collectibles.

9. Additional information about Tax Rates is available in the Guide to Taxes.?
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17. Who qualifies for the "Circuit Breaker Credit" for the elderly and what are the amounts for 2013?
If you are 65 or older before January 1, 2013, you may be entitled to the Circuit Breaker Credit if all
of the following conditions are met for tax year 2013:
you own or rent residential property in Massachusetts and occupy the property as your principal
residence;
your real estate's assessed valuation does not exceed $700,000;
you are not the dependent of another taxpayer;
your filing status cannot be "married filing separate;"
you do not receive a federal or state rent subsidy;
your total income (including such items as social security, pensions, tax-exempt interest & dividends,
IRAs, certain capital gains/losses and certain other types of income identified as income cannot
exceed $55,000 if you are a single filer; $69,000 if you file as head of household; or $82,000 if filing
jointly.
For tax year 2013, the maximum credit is $1,030.
If you are an eligible homeowner, you may claim a credit equal to the amount by which your
property tax payments in the current year, including 50 percent of water and sewer use charges,
exceed 10 percent of your total income.
If you are an eligible renter, you may claim a credit in the amount by which 25 percent of your
annual rental payment exceeds 10 percent of your total income.
Eligible taxpayers are required to enclose Schedule CB? , Circuit Breaker Credit, with their tax
return. Taxpayers not otherwise required to file a personal income tax return are entitled to obtain
the credit by filing a return and claiming a refund.
A more in-depth explanation of the Circuit Breaker Credit is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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18. Who qualifies for the Earned Income Credit (EIC) and what are the amounts for 2013?
This is a refundable credit paid to certain low income taxpayers who qualify for and claim the federal
Earned Income Credit allowed under the Internal Revenue Code. You may claim the credit even
though you do not owe any taxes nor have any income taxes withheld from your pay. To receive the
credit, you must file a tax return and claim the credit. This refundable Massachusetts credit is 15
percent of the federal credit. The IRS provides an Earned Income Credit table based on the credit
available for modified adjusted gross income. The maximum credit allowed is 1) $73.05 with no
qualifying children; 2) $487.50 with one qualifying child; and 3) $805.80 with two qualifying

10. children; and 4) $906.60 with 3 or more qualifying children.
A more in-depth explanation of the Earned Income Credit is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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19. How do I report income from shares in a mutual fund which are invested in government
obligations?
Interest or dividends from mutual funds which invest in U.S. or Massachusetts's obligations (e.g.
treasury bills, bonds, notes, savings bonds or other obligations of the United States or
Massachusetts) are exempt from taxation in Massachusetts. The statement issued by the mutual
fund should include what percentage, if any, may be from tax exempt obligations, interest or
dividends from state or local governments other than Massachusetts are fully taxable. Certain
obligations which may be insured by the U.S. government but are not a debt obligation of the U.S.
government are not exempt. Such obligations include Government National Mortgage Associate
(GNMA), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
Unlike the federal government, interest or dividends from non-Massachusetts obligations are subject
to tax in Massachusetts.
It is important to note that capital gains from the sale of government obligations are generally
taxable in Massachusetts. The capital gain is reported on Schedule B if the obligation is for one year
or less. If held for more than one year, it should be reported on Schedule D. For more information,
please refer to TIR 80-2: Income Tax Treatment of Interest and Gains on Certain Bonds, and TIR 89-
8: Income Tax Treatment of Interest and Gains on Federal Obligations: IRA Distributions Consisting
of Interest Derived from Federal Obligations.?
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20. Which pensions are exempt from Massachusetts's taxation?
Income received from a contributory annuity, pension, endowment or retirement fund of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its political subdivisions or the U.S. government is exempt
from taxation in Massachusetts.
Income from a contributory public employee retirement plan of another state received by a
Massachusetts resident may be deducted from Massachusetts adjusted gross income if the other
state grants reciprocal treatment to retirees from Massachusetts living there. Certain other states
may allow a partial exclusion for such pension income. The entire contributory public retirement
pension received from another state as a resident is reported on the pension line and the exempt
portion is deducted on Schedule Y. For further information, refer to TIR 95-9: Income Taxation of
Contributory Public Employee Pensions of Other States.
Noncontributory military pension income and survivorship benefits received on or after January 1,
1997 from the U.S. uniformed services are exempt from taxation in Massachusetts. U.S. uniformed
services are defined as the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, commissioned corps
of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Generally,
pensions associated with service in the Massachusetts National Guard do not qualify for this
exclusion.
Please note that private pensions are generally taxable following federal guidelines.

11. A more in-depth explanation of Pensions and the TIR mentioned above are available in the Guide to
Taxes.
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21. Is Social Security taxable in Massachusetts? Is the Medicare tax withheld from my Social
Security benefits deductible on my return?Massachusetts does not tax benefits received from U.S.
Social Security, Railroad Retirement (Tier I and II), Public Welfare assistance, Veterans'
Administration payments or workers' compensation. Any portion of such income, which may be taxed
under federal law, is not subject to Massachusetts's income tax. Since Massachusetts does not tax
Social Security benefits, the deductions related to that income such as Medicare tax withheld are
not allowed. In addition, it is to be noted that total Social Security benefits will be included in the
income calculation on Schedule CB for purposes of claiming the Circuit Breaker Credit.
A more in-depth explanation of Social Security (FICA) and Medicare deductions is available in the
Guide to Taxes.?
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22. Is the scholarship I am receiving taxable?
Massachusetts generally follows the federal rules governing scholarships. If you receive a
scholarship or fellowship grant, you may be able to exclude from income all or part of the amounts
you receive. Only a candidate for a degree can exclude amounts received as a qualified scholarship.
A qualified scholarship is any amount you receive that is for either tuition and fees to attend an
educational organization or fees, books supplies and equipment required for courses at the
educational institution.
Scholarships and fellowship amounts used for room and board do not qualify. However, scholarship
and fellowship amounts received by a nonresident, which are specifically designated for use as living
expenses would not be subject to Massachusetts personal income tax.
Please note: since the federal line item references for Form 1040NR and 1040NR-EZ on line 3 of
Massachusetts Form 1-NR/PY include qualified scholarships, taxpayers need to exclude the
applicable amounts on Massachusetts Form 1-NR/PY when computing the deduction and exemption
ratio.
A more in-depth explanation about Scholarships and Grants is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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23. How do I compute Use Tax due?
Individuals who purchase taxable tangible personal property for use in Massachusetts from out-o-
-state businesses that do not collect Massachusetts sales and use tax must self-assess their use tax
liability and remit the amount directly to the Department of Revenue. Examples of taxable items
include computers, furniture, jewelry, cameras, appliances and any other item that is not exempt.
The Massachusetts use tax is 5 percent of the sales price or rental charge of tangible personal
property on which no Massachusetts sales tax was paid, where the property was purchased to be
used, stored or consumed in the Commonwealth.

12. To compute the amount of use tax due, taxpayers may either:?
Compute the actual amount due with respect to such purchases by using the Form 1, line 33 or Form
1-NR/PY, line 38 worksheets; orUse a schedule to identify a "safe harbor" amount of use tax that
they can self-assess when filing their income tax returns, based on the taxpayer's Massachusetts
adjusted gross income. If this method is used, however, the estimated liability is only applicable to
purchases of any individual item having a total sales price of less than $1,000. These purchases are
not part of the safe harbor estimate and must be calculated separately.
A more in-depth explanation about Use Tax is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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24. How does the Taxes Paid to Other Jurisdiction Credit work?
A Massachusetts full-year and/or part-year resident is entitled to claim a credit for incomes taxes
paid to other states on income reported and taxed in Massachusetts. No credit is allowed for city,
local, property, excise taxes as well as for taxes paid to the federal government. The credit is,
however, allowed for income taxes paid to the following jurisdictions:?
Any territory or dependency of the U.S including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the District
of Columbia; andThe Dominion of Canada.
The credit is the smaller of the apportioned Massachusetts tax and the tax paid on such income to
the other jurisdictions.
Note: A part-year resident is only allowed credit for taxes paid on income earned and/or received
during the Massachusetts residency period; nonresidents are not eligible for this credit.
A more in-depth explanation of the Taxes Paid to Other Jurisdiction Credit and examples for filling
out the worksheets is available in the Guide for Taxes.?
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13. 25. How do I determine the amount of taxable IRA distribution in Massachusetts?
Non-Roth IRA distributions received by a full-year and/or part-year resident are not taxed in
Massachusetts until the original contributions that were previously taxed by Massachusetts are fully
recovered. Only those contributions that have been made by taxpayers while Massachusetts
residents are considered.
Nonresidents are not subject to tax on these distributions, nor are they taxed on rollover amounts
into Roth IRAs in Massachusetts. Massachusetts follows the federal rules concerning rollovers from
existing IRAs to Roth IRAs. However, similar to the Massachusetts treatment of IRA distributions,
the amount includible on the Massachusetts return by a Massachusetts full-year and/or part-year
resident will only include the amounts in excess of the original contributions that were previously
taxed by Massachusetts.
An IRA/Keogh Plan and Roth IRA Conversion Distributions Worksheet Example is available in the
Guide to Taxes.
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26. Are the requirements for the Massachusetts student loan interest deduction different than the
ones for the federal based deduction?
The Massachusetts Undergraduate Student Loan interest deduction allows taxpayers to deduct the
full amount of interest payments on education debt for undergraduate studies only. The loan must
have been obtained and spent to pay tuition and other expenses related solely to the school
enrollment. Taxpayers may take the deduction on Schedule Y, line 12.
The federal based student loan interest deduction applies to interest payments for both
undergraduate and graduate studies. It is based on the federal rules in effect on January 1, 2005.
The Maximum deduction allowed is $2,500, but the amount is phased out for taxpayers whose
federal modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain amounts. Taxpayers can claim this
deduction on Schedule Y, line 10.
Generally, taxpayers can claim either the federal student loan interest deduction or the
Undergraduate Student Loan interest deduction, but not both. However in certain instances, the
same taxpayer may take both deductions as long as the deductions pertain to separate loan
payments. (i.e. on line 10 for a graduate loan, on line 12 of Schedule Y for an undergraduate loan.)
A more in-depth explanation of Student Loan Deductions is available in the Guide to Taxes.
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Tax Questions - Massachusetts Law tied to Federal Law
27. Does Massachusetts follow the Internal Revenue Code for Qualified Tuition
Programs?Massachusetts follows the federal treatment of qualified prepaid tuition programs
governed by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Distributions from qualified prepaid tuition
plans will not be subject to tax if used for higher education.A more in-depth explanation of Qualified
Tuition Programs is available in the Guide to Taxes
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14. 28. Does Massachusetts follow the Internal Revenue Code for the treatment of qualified pension
plans?Massachusetts follows the federal treatment of qualified plans and other tax favored
retirement plans covered under IRC Section 72, Sections 401 through 420 inclusive and Section 457.
This applies to income tax contributions limits for elective deferrals, catch-up contributions for those
ages 50 or older and qualified rollover of plan proceeds. In addition, retirement plan contributions
and distributions excluded from Federal Gross Income will also be excluded from Massachusetts
Gross Income. Under prior law, Massachusetts followed the IRC as amended and in effect on January
1, 1998. For further detailed information, you may refer to TIR 02-18: Tax Changes Contained in "An
Act Enhancing State Revenues" and Related Acts.?
More in-depth explanations about Pensions and the TIR mentioned above are available in the Guide
to Taxes.? ?
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29. Where can I find information on additional tax topics?
For more information on technical tax questions, please see the various guides (PDF) published by
DOR.
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http://www.mass.gov/dor/individuals/filing-and-payment-information/personal-income-tax-faqs/perso
nal-income-tax-faqs.html