Last Updated: April 2026
Massachusetts is known as a flat-tax state — a straightforward 5% on most income — but two provisions dramatically complicate the picture for higher earners and wealthier families. The 2022 Millionaire Surtax (officially the ‘Fair Share Amendment’) imposes an additional 4% on income above $1 million, creating a 9% combined top rate. And Massachusetts’s estate tax, with its $2 million threshold and notorious ‘cliff effect,’ means estates just over $2M pay tax on the entire estate — not just the excess — making it one of the most punitive estate tax structures in the country.
This guide covers Massachusetts’s income tax structure (including the Millionaire Surtax), the higher 8.5% rate on short-term capital gains, the estate tax cliff, property taxes under Proposition 2½, the clean 6.25% sales tax, and how Social Security and retirement income are treated.
Massachusetts imposes a flat 5% income tax on most income. The rate was reduced from 5.05% in 2020 and has progressively declined from its historical high of 5.95% (pre-1999) through a series of voter-mandated reductions. The flat rate applies to wages, salaries, business income, long-term capital gains, pension income (with some exceptions), interest, and dividends. Massachusetts uses its own income definition — starting with federal AGI but with significant Massachusetts-specific modifications.
In November 2022, Massachusetts voters approved a constitutional amendment — the Fair Share Amendment, colloquially called the ‘Millionaire Tax’ — adding a 4% surtax to income above $1 million, effective January 1, 2023. The mechanics:
The surtax revenue is constitutionally dedicated to education and transportation funding. In practice, this makes Massachusetts’s effective top rate one of the highest in the Northeast for high earners, though still below California’s 13.3% top rate or New Jersey’s 10.75%.
Massachusetts taxes short-term capital gains (assets held 12 months or less) at 8.5% — notably higher than the standard 5% flat rate. Long-term capital gains (assets held more than 12 months) are taxed at the standard 5% flat rate. This creates a meaningful incentive to hold investments for at least one year before selling.
| Annual Income | Massachusetts (5% / 9% above $1M) | Connecticut (3–6.99%) | New Hampshire (no income tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 | ~$3,200 | ~$2,900 | $0 |
| $200,000 | ~$9,200 | ~$11,000 | $0 |
| $500,000 | ~$23,750 | ~$32,000 | $0 |
| $1,500,000 | ~$95,000 | ~$100,500 | $0 |
Approximate estimates. Actual taxes depend on deductions, filing status, and specific income sources.
Massachusetts imposes a state estate tax on estates valued above $2 million. What makes it particularly unusual is the ‘cliff effect’: if an estate exceeds $2 million by even $1, the entire estate — not just the amount over $2 million — becomes subject to tax. This is in contrast to most estate tax structures where only the amount above the threshold is taxed.
Example: An estate worth $2,000,001 pays Massachusetts estate tax on the full $2,000,001. An estate worth $1,999,999 pays $0. This creates an extreme marginal rate situation just above the $2M threshold and makes estate planning critical for Massachusetts residents with assets approaching this level.
Massachusetts estate tax rates range from 0.8% to 16%, graduated. The $2M threshold is not indexed to inflation (unlike the federal exemption which adjusts annually), meaning it captures an increasing number of estates over time, particularly in high-cost areas like Boston, Cambridge, and the South Shore where home values alone can approach or exceed $2M for longtime owners.
Critically: Massachusetts does not allow portability between spouses. Under federal law, a surviving spouse can inherit the deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption. Massachusetts has no such provision. This means married couples must engage in active estate planning — typically through trusts — to utilize both spouses’ $2M exemptions. Without planning, a couple with $4M in assets could potentially have $2M+ subject to Massachusetts estate tax upon the second spouse’s death.
Massachusetts estate tax applies to Massachusetts-based real estate owned by non-residents. If you live in Florida or Texas but own a vacation home in the Berkshires or Cape Cod worth $2M+, Massachusetts estate tax may apply to that property upon your death. This is an important planning consideration for out-of-state vacation property owners.
Massachusetts property taxes average approximately 1.17% effective rate statewide — moderate by Northeast standards. The key constraint is Proposition 2½, a 1980 voter initiative that limits annual property tax levy increases to 2.5% above the prior year’s levy (plus new construction). Communities can exceed this limit with a majority vote at town meeting or local election (called an ‘override’).
Massachusetts has a split treatment of retirement income:
The distinction between public and private retirement income creates a notable split: a Massachusetts teacher with a $60,000/year pension pays $0 in Massachusetts state income tax on that pension, while a private sector employee taking the same amount from a 401(k) pays $3,000/year. This frequently surprises people relocating from states with full retirement income exemptions.
Massachusetts has a 6.25% flat statewide sales tax with no local additions — a rare simplicity in the US sales tax landscape. The same rate applies in Boston as in the Berkshires. Key exemptions: groceries (unprepared food), prescription drugs, clothing under $175 per item, and newspapers are all exempt. This means the effective sales tax burden on a typical household’s spending is meaningfully lower than the headline 6.25%.
The 4% Millionaire Surtax affects not just residents — it also applies to Massachusetts-sourced income of non-residents. A New York-based executive with a Massachusetts employer or significant Massachusetts business income above $1M will owe the 4% surtax on the Massachusetts-apportioned income above $1M. For US expats who maintain Massachusetts domicile while living abroad, Massachusetts’s aggressive residency rules mean income may remain taxable in Massachusetts even when living overseas. Expats who have not properly established domicile in another state before moving abroad may continue to owe Massachusetts income tax. Documenting the abandonment of Massachusetts domicile before departure is essential for anyone relocating internationally.
| Income Source | Massachusetts Tax Treatment |
|---|---|
| Wages and salary | 5% (9% above $1M) |
| Short-term capital gains | 8.5% |
| Long-term capital gains | 5% |
| Social Security | Exempt |
| MA public pension (MTRS/PERAC) | Exempt |
| Private 401(k)/IRA | 5% |
| Interest and dividends | 5% |
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US Expat + Massachusetts Filing Help →The Massachusetts Millionaire Tax — officially the Fair Share Amendment — is a 4% surtax on individual income above $1 million per year, effective January 1, 2023. It was passed by Massachusetts voters as a constitutional amendment in November 2022. Income up to $1M is taxed at the standard 5%. Income above $1M is taxed at 9% (5% + 4%). The $1M threshold is not adjusted for inflation. Revenue from the surtax is dedicated by the constitution to education and transportation funding.
No. Social Security benefits are fully exempt from Massachusetts state income tax. However, private retirement income — including 401(k) and IRA distributions — is taxed at the standard 5% flat rate. Massachusetts public employee pensions (teachers, state workers, municipal employees) are also fully exempt. Federal government pensions and military retirement pay are exempt as well.
Massachusetts has a $2 million estate tax threshold with a ‘cliff effect.’ If your estate is below $2 million, no Massachusetts estate tax is owed. If your estate exceeds $2 million by any amount, the entire estate (not just the excess over $2M) is subject to Massachusetts estate tax at rates of 0.8% to 16%. This means an estate of $2.1M pays significantly more tax than one of $1.9M. The threshold is not indexed to inflation and Massachusetts does not allow portability of the exemption between spouses, making estate planning critical for couples.
Massachusetts has a flat 6.25% sales tax statewide — there are no local additions, which is unusual in the USA. Exempt items include: unprepared groceries, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, clothing items under $175 per item (only the amount over $175 is taxed), and newspapers. There is no reduced rate for food at restaurants — prepared food is taxed at 6.25%.
No, Massachusetts has no local income tax beyond the state-level flat 5% (and Millionaire Surtax above $1M). All cities and towns in Massachusetts — including Boston and Cambridge — are covered by the single statewide income tax system. There is no city income tax in Boston, unlike cities in states such as New York, Ohio, or Kentucky.
Potentially yes. Massachusetts has aggressive domicile rules. If you are domiciled in Massachusetts (meaning Massachusetts is your ‘permanent home’ and you have not clearly established domicile elsewhere), you may remain subject to Massachusetts income tax on your worldwide income even while living abroad. To avoid Massachusetts income tax while living overseas, you generally need to have formally established domicile in another US state before departing — or in some cases clearly demonstrating abandonment of Massachusetts domicile. Consulting a tax professional experienced in Massachusetts residency rules before relocating internationally is strongly recommended.
Massachusetts taxes short-term capital gains at 8.5% — significantly higher than the standard 5% flat rate that applies to long-term capital gains. Short-term gains are on assets held 12 months or less. Long-term gains (held more than 12 months) are taxed at 5%. If your income exceeds $1 million, the additional 4% Millionaire Surtax may also apply, potentially bringing the effective rate on short-term gains above $1M to 12.5%.