Massachusetts has a flat 5.00 percent individual income tax rate, with a 4 percent surtax on income over $1 million (adjusted for inflation), resulting in a top rate of 9.00 percent. Massachusetts has a flat 8.00 percent corporate income tax rate, a 6.25 percent state sales tax rate, and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 6.25 percent. Massachusetts has a 1.00 percent effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing value. Massachusetts has an estate tax. Massachusetts’s gas tax is 27.56 cents per gallon, and its cigarette excise tax is $3.51 per pack of 20 cigarettes.
Massachusetts raises tax revenue primarily through individual income taxes (34.3 percent of total state and local tax revenue), property taxes (33.1 percent), and general sales taxes (14.6 percent). Massachusetts collects $9,076 in state and local tax collections per capita, carries $13,400 in state and local debt per capita, and has a 76 percent funded ratio of public pension plans. Massachusetts’s tax system ranks 43rd overall on the 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index.
Each state’s tax code is a multifaceted system with many moving parts, and Massachusetts is no exception. Use the tabs below to compare Massachusetts taxes with other states and to see how Massachusetts raises tax revenue. You can also browse our tax maps, which are compiled from our annual publication, Facts & Figures 2026: How Does Your State Compare?
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The State Tax Competitiveness Index enables policymakers, taxpayers, and business leaders to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much state governments collect in taxes, the Index evaluates how well states structure their tax systems and provides a road map for improvement.
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Individual income taxes are a major source of state government revenue, accounting for more than a third of state tax collections. How do income taxes compare in your state?
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