Saturday, April 6, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Malden's 2013 residential tax rate is higher than in many surrounding communities, though it also extends the highest residential exemption permitted under state law - 30 percent.
As 2013 begins, property tax rates are increasing for residents across Massachusetts, including in Malden — so how does that compare to surrounding communities? Out of 27 communities in the area, Malden's 2013 residential tax rate ranks above average in the state, according to rates compiled by Patch through the state Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services. Malden's 2013 residential tax rate is $15.88, up from $14.33 in 2012. The average residential tax rate for communities surveyed was $13.09 in 2012 and has risen to $13.58 in 2013, according to the data. Chelmsford's 2013 residential tax rate of $17.95 is the highest of the communities surveyed. Cambridge continues to levy the lowest residential taxes, with a 2013 rate of $8.…
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The IRS has announced a delayed start to the 2012 tax filing season.
You'll have to wait a bit if you are used to filing your annual tax return at the earliest possible date. The Internal Revenue Service has revised its opening date for tax season—pushing it eight days to Jan. 30, 2013. The tax filing deadline is Monday, April 15. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on Jan. 30, 2013. Most taxpayers should be able to file on that date though some revised forms may not be immediately available. You can blame the delay on the federal "fiscal cliff" crisis and the new tax bill Congress passed just after Dec. 31. You can find more information in this Forbes article. Electronic filing season was originally set to start on Jan. 22 this year. As a result of the delay, nobody will get a refund in January, an H&…
Friday, November 30, 2012
Massachusetts Democrats in Congress want to avoid cuts in benefits as part of any deal, but proposals such as raising the eligibility age for Medicare are still on the table. What would you do?
As Congress negotiates a deal to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 1, Massachusetts' congressional representatives have voiced their opposition to any cuts in benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the Boston Globe reports. However, there are proposals still on the table that would change those benefit programs, including linking Social Security benefits to a more conservative inflation index that would slightly reduce annual increases, or raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. The Globe reported that while the Bay State's legislators were united against changes to Social Security, there's some wiggle room on Medicare. Rep. Ed Markey opposes raising the Medicare eligibility age; Rep. Michael …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to ask lawmakers to raises taxes to make up for the shortfall in Massachusetts' transportation system. What options should they consider and what's off the table?
Would you be willing to pay more at the pump, have a tracking system on your car that taxes you by the mile, or see tolls on state highways? Those are just some of the possibilities looming as Massachusetts looks to erase the state's transportation system's deficit. The Boston Globe reported that Gov. Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to raise taxes in order to pay for a transportation system—from the MBTA to roads and bridges—that continues to operate in the red. The administration will present a specific proposal by Jan. 7. One option is raising the gas tax, a route Patrick sought in 2009 only to be rebuffed by the legislature. Patrick sought a 19 cent increase while business groups endorsed a 25 cent increase. Ultimately, the state …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Mother Jones released a video of Mitt Romney telling a private audience that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. Was this a ruinous gaffe, or has Romney told a hard political truth?
A secret video obtained by Mother Jones magazine has rocked the political world. In that video, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans believe they are victims, are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. He went further, saying he wasn't worried about them. The magazine released a portion of the video Monday. In a late night press conference Monday, Romney said the comments were not "elegantly stated," but were part of a larger conversation about the role of personal responsibility. Romney went on to say the comments were a reflection on "the political process of winning an election, and, of course, I want to help all Americans—all Americans—have a bright and prosperous future." Mother …
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Patch readers from around the Boston area voted on the tax preparers they trust the most, and here are the results.
This week we asked Patch readers from around Greater Boston an important question: Where's the best place to do your taxes? After five days of voting, here are the results: Charlestown H&R Block, 142 Main Street. Malden William C. Nelson, 712 Salem St Medford Quigley Ramio and Company, 0 Governors Ave. Melrose Melrose Accounting & Tax Specialist, 543 Main St., and Hughes and Company, 1 West Foster St. Somerville Paul B. Bain, Jr., 17 College Ave. South End Gordon E. Parry, C.P.A., 509 Columbus Ave Stoneham H & R Block, 212 Main St. Wakefield JMS Tax and Financial Services, 599 North Ave (#9-3)
42.487845
-71.100144
H & R Block
212 Main St, Stoneham, MA
/articles/the-nine-best-places-to-do-your-taxes-in-greater-boston
782683
/locations/6754264
Andrew Sylvia
9:26 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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