|
Massachusetts taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 18, to file their
returns. And some — although not many
— will choose to pay the state a little
more than they have to. FROM THE NEPR ARCHIVES:
The origin of Massachusetts' optional income tax rate
Lenox accountant William Keen said it's his job to save his
clients money, so he just assumes they want to pay their state
income tax at 5.1 percent, and not the optional rate of 5.85
percent.
"If somebody specifically asked to be set at the higher rate, I
would do it," Keen said Friday. "Nobody has ever even asked for
that. It's never even come up."
And very few taxpayers across Massachusetts do pay at that higher
rate.
According to the state Department of Revenue, on average since
2002, 1,200 people each year check the box on the tax form to
voluntarily pay more.
That's contributed to just over a quarter million dollars to the
state's coffers each year -- a drop in the bucket since
Massachusetts has a budget of about $40 billion.
More:
See Graphics |
