Income Taxes

If you were a legal resident of Massachusetts and your gross income in 2020 was more than $8,000, you are required to file a Massachusetts income tax return. If your gross income was $8,000 or less, it is optional to file a return, however if you had Massachusetts State Tax withheld, you most likely would want to file a state tax return in order to get your state refund. In this situation, if you do not file you will not receive the refund. If you did not have any state tax withheld, and you made less than $8,000 in MA, then you don't need to file.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts uses a different definition to determine if you are considered a Resident or Non-resident for tax purposes. Generally, if you have been in the state longer than a year, you do not live in the college residents halls, and you consider Massachusetts your "domicile" (you consider MA your main "home"), then you can be considered a resident for tax purposes. This determines which MA state tax form you will fill out.

You are a Full-Year Resident if your legal residence (not living on campus) is in Massachusetts and you spend more than 183 days, in the aggregate, in Massachusetts. If you fit this description, you should file a Massachusetts Resident Income Tax Return, Form 1. You can also access the instruction booklet electronically.

You are a Non-resident if you do not fit the above description. If you need to file a Massachusetts state tax return, you should use the Form 1-NR/PY. You can also access the instruction booklet electronically.

In addition to income tax, the state of Massachusetts requires that residents submit proof of health insurance coverage with their state tax forms. This proof is known as the Schedule HC form, and can be filled out with information supplied by your health insurance provider, usually the 1099HC. If your health care provider has not sent you health insurance information you can call them and request their Federal ID Number, because you have all the other information needed (subscriber number, health insurance provider name, months you were covered, etc). 

Visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue if you are interested in learning more about the Massachusetts State Tax.