Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

September 2, 2013

Tech Tax: What Were They Thinking?

The extension of the state's 6.25-percent sales tax to computer services has been roundly criticized and exposed the state to a dose of deserved ridicule over the attitude of its political leaders toward business, especially a sector of the economy that is synonymous with innovation and economic growth.

It even nudged the governor of Florida to directly woo Bay State businesses to the Sunshine State to escape the tax. While such a drastic move for a business is easier said than done, state lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick need to do the right thing and repeal the tax extension. It's the wrong approach in an economy that is still in recovery mode and runs counter to Patrick's oft-stated message that the state focus on economic growth. The governor himself acknowledged the concerns over the extension and said last week he plans to discuss it in a meeting with legislative and business leaders. Massachusetts' unemployment rate, for the last few years the envy of other New England states, has been creeping up lately, not going down. That recent trend has to stop, and repealing the tech tax would also be a step in the right direction.

Read more

Legislature Enacts Tax-Raising Bill Over Patrick’s Veto

Democrats Defend Tech Tax Despite Repeal Effort

Quickly Passed, Implemented, Software Services Tax Hurts, Industry Says

New Mass. ‘Tech Tax’ Is An Attack On Innovation

Tech Tax Summit Planned

GOP Lawmakers Tout Tech Tax Repeal Bill

Sign up for Enews

WBJ Web Partners

0 Comments

Order a PDF