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Gov. Healey signs $1 billion tax relief package (www.bostonherald.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by KillAllPoorPeople to c/boston

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Negotiators reached a deal two weeks ago that cuts the short-term capital gains tax from 12% to 8.5%, a business-backed move that has riled progressives who argue it gives a break to the wealthy. The compromise will cost the state $561 million in fiscal year 2023 and $1 billion a year starting in fiscal year 2027.

The bill also excludes estates valued up to $2 million from the estate tax by allowing for a uniform credit of $99,600.

Sure, there is a cute $50 and $120 increase in rent and dependent child tax credit and some minor benefits for low-income and disabled people (that will often go unused), but the point of this bill is entirely about appeasing to the very rich of this state.

This is a disturbing anti-poor and anti-middle class law fervently pushed by the governor and compromised with the legislature, who thankfully made the bill slightly less anti-poor and anti-middle class than the governor wanted. But still, another dark day for Massachusetts perpetuated by our conservative governor and state legislature.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Provisions of the tax cuts package include:

Child and Family Tax Credit – Eliminates two-dependent cap and increases credit from $180 per dependent child, disabled adult, or senior to $310 for 2023 and to $440 on a permanent basis, starting in 2024. An estimated 565,000 families will benefit, and this will be the most generous universal child and dependent tax credit in the county.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – increases credit from 30% to 40% of the federal credit

Estate Tax – increases threshold from $1 million to $2 million with a credit that mitigates cliff effect

Short-Term Capital Gains – reduces rate from 12% to 8.5%Rental Deduction – increases cap from $3,000 to $4,000

Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit – doubles credit, indexed to inflation, which equates to an increase from $1,200 to $2,400

Single Sales Factor – shifts from three-factor apportionment system based on business’s share of sales, payroll, and property to apportionment based solely on sales

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) – increases annual program cap from $40 million to $60 million

Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) – increases annual program cap from $10 million to $57 million in 2023, and thereafter to $30 million annually

Student Loan Repayment Assistance – exempts employer assistance for student loan repayment from taxable income

Dairy Tax Credit – increases annual program cap from $6 million to $8 million

Cider Tax Rate – applies lower tax rates to a broadened class of beverages

Lead Paint Abatement Credit – doubles credit to $3,000 for full abatement and $1,000 for partial abatement

Title V (Septic) Tax Credit – triples maximum credit to $18,000, increases percentage of eligible expenses from 40% to 60%; and allows taxpayers to claim up to $4,000 in any year, versus $1,500 in current law

Deductible Commuter Transit Benefits – adds public transit fares, RTA fares and bicycle expenses to deductible commuter expenses

Apprenticeship Tax Credit – expands eligible occupations

Municipal Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption – permits municipalities to adopt local property tax exemption for affordable real estate

Property Tax Liability Reduction for Senior Volunteer Services – permits municipalities to increase the maximum property tax abatement available to seniors who perform volunteer services from $1,500 to $2,000

Stabilization Fund Cap – increases the cap on Stabilization Fund deposit from 15% to 25.5% of budgeted revenues