Massachusetts Taxes and Kerry

[Gary M]

I heard on a talk show that when you file your Massachusetts State income taxes you can chose between two tax rates to pay. One rate is lower and the other higher. The host said that Kerry picked the lower rate even though he is for higher taxes.

Maybe this was a joke. a misinformed person or a lie. Could you Mass. tax filers verify or deny the two tax rates that you can pick from.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by Gary M
I heard on a talk show that when you file your Massachusetts State income taxes you can chose between two tax rates to pay. One rate is lower and the other higher. The host said that Kerry picked the lower rate even though he is for higher taxes.

Maybe this was a joke. a misinformed person or a lie. Could you Mass. tax filers verify or deny the two tax rates that you can pick from.

If it's true (and I think it is) what fool would pick the higher tax rate?

 

[chrissyk]

Uh, no. I'm from MA, and I've never been given the choice, LOL! Who would pick the higher one?! Our state income tax rate is a hair under 6% for everyone.

 

[Margie J]

If I remember correctly, we pay one tax rate for regular income and another for investment income over a certain dollar amount and years of investment. I seem to remember the rates of 5+ and 12%. You can't choose the rate you pay, it's based on source of income.

MA did revise their tax form this past year, making the calculations a bit easier. However, IMO the Federal tax form is still way easier to fill out than our MA tax form if you can believe that.

 

[Jynohn]

Yes, there are two rates. At the top of the tax form there's a box that asks if you would like to pay the voluntary higher rate. You have to check off yes or no. Obviously, I check no, but I always feel like writing next to it, "this is a joke, right???"

The taxes we pay are already outrageous.