By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2045) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to establish a college tuition tax deduction. Revenue.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2050) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to exempt active duty military personnel from state income tax while based out of state. Revenue.
This bill creates a $500 state tax credit for commuters who use a commuter ferry as their primary transportation to work on at least half of their workdays. It directly affects eligible workers who rely on ferry services for their daily commute. To qualify, taxpayers must use the ferry for 50% or more of their commute days, and the credit reduces their state income tax liability. The credit applies to taxes under Chapter 62 of the General Laws, specifically targeting ferry commuters.
HD 3696 creates a new tax deduction for Massachusetts renters who pay rent for their primary residence and meet income limits. It allows eligible individuals or households to deduct 50% of their rent, capped at $4,100 annually (adjusted yearly for inflation), but only if household income does not exceed 100% of the local area median income (AMGI) defined by HUD. The deduction applies to single filers, heads of household, and married couples filing jointly for tax years beginning January 1, 2022, or later. This policy directly affects low-to-moderate-income renters in Massachusetts who qualify under the income threshold.
This bill increases tax credits for low-income families with children by boosting the credit percentage by 5 percentage points for each qualifying child beyond three. It allows families without a Social Security Number to claim the credit using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and creates a new $600 credit per qualifying dependent (including elderly or disabled relatives). The changes apply to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and require the state to provide multilingual outreach about tax credits through websites, employers, and social service programs. The bill directly affects families meeting federal eligibility rules for tax credits but facing barriers like lacking an SSN or needing assistance navigating the system.
This bill (HD 4223) adds a $50,000 income tax exemption for Massachusetts residents aged 65 or older during the taxable year. It directly affects seniors who meet the age requirement by reducing their taxable income. The key provision inserts a new section into state tax law, allowing eligible seniors to exclude $50,000 from their taxable income when calculating state income tax. This is a concrete policy change that lowers tax liability for qualifying seniors without altering other tax rates or brackets. The exemption applies automatically to eligible individuals who reach age 65 by year-end.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1990) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to the state personal income tax for low-income earners. Revenue.
By Representative Soter of Bellingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3250) of Michael J. Soter and others relative to income tax relief for senior citizens. Revenue.
S 2079, introduced by Senator Bruce Tarr, would establish a commuter tax credit to reduce state income tax for eligible residents. The credit would directly lower the tax amount owed for qualifying commuting expenses, such as public transportation fares or vehicle-related costs for work commutes. This revenue-related bill aims to provide tax relief to commuters who meet specific eligibility criteria. The bill does not specify the credit amount or detailed eligibility rules in its abstract.
By Representative Uyterhoeven of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3262) of Erika Uyterhoeven relative to income tax rates. Revenue.
