Massachusetts Taxpayers Being Drained By Government Spendthrifts

Most Massachusetts residents probably have no idea to what extent the state and local governments are taking their money in the form of taxes. If it seems sometimes as though you are being taxed to oblivion, you are. You really are.

Residents of nine states currently have no income tax. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not have a state-level income tax, and they manage to survive.

Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no state-level sales tax. They are able to keep the lights on.

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How Massachusetts’ Taxes Add Up

Massachusetts charges both a state-level income and sales tax.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue website includes a comprehensive list of some of the taxes the department collects from you.

Massachusetts has a base-rate five percent flat tax rate on earned and unearned income, including wages, interest, and dividends. Then there is the so-called millionaires tax, a four percent surcharge for income over $1 million, resulting in a nine percent rate for those folks.

Everyday Purchases That Are Taxed

The Massachusetts sales tax is 6.25 percent for most things except groceries and most clothing and footwear under $175.

The Commonwealth also collects meals, estate, and corporate excise taxes, to name a few, and allows local communities to assess local option property, meals, hotel, and excise taxes.

Did I forget to mention the tax on marijuana and inheritance?

Massachusetts charges taxes and fees for such things as alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and other tobacco products, motor fuels, deeds, gaming revenue (including sports betting), insurance premiums, and satellite services.

How Local Governments Pile On

State and local governments will assess you a tax or fee on a fishing license, firearms license, motor vehicle purchases, and even to open the ground for your casket to be buried in it.

That's just a sampling of how Beacon Hill and city and town halls have their hands in your pockets.

What was that line about taxation without representation?