News  October Revenue Collections Total $1.662 Billion

Maryann Merigan
617-626-4247
meriganm@dor.state.ma.us

(Boston, MA) - Revenue Commissioner Mark Nunnelly today announced that preliminary revenue collections for October totaled $1.662 billion, $46 million or 2.9 percent more than the state took in last October. Four months into the fiscal year, revenues total $7.613 billion, $304 million or 4.2 percent more than last year at this time and $126 million above benchmark.

“October is a relatively small collection month with no quarterly estimated tax payments due for individual taxpayers or most corporations,” said Commissioner Nunnelly. “Refunds are typically high this month reflecting the processing of returns filed to meet the October 15 extension date. We closed October above the monthly benchmark largely due to fewer refunds processed than anticipated for returns filed to meet the extension date. We may see additional refunds reflected in November revenue reporting as extension returns continue to be processed.”

• Income tax collections were $931 million, $15 million or 1.7 percent more than last October and $64 million above the monthly benchmark.
• Withholding collections totaled $831 million, down $29 million or 3.4 percent from the same period last year and $14 million below benchmark for the month.
• Income tax payments with returns or tax bills totaled $103 million, or just 0.9 percent more than last October and $17 million above the monthly benchmark.
• Income tax estimated payments totaled $53 million, $12 million or 27.8 percent more than last October and $9 million above the October benchmark.
• Income cash refunds totaled $53 million, $32 million or 37.9 percent less than last October and $52 million below the monthly benchmark.
• Corporate and business tax collections totaled $16 million, $13 million or 46.1 percent less than last October and right on the monthly benchmark.
• Sales tax collections totaled $519 million for the month, $25 million or 5.1 percent more than last October and $13 million above the October benchmark.
• Other tax collections totaled $196 million, $19 million or 10.9 percent more than last year and $15 million above benchmark for the month.

FY2016 Year-to-Date Tax Revenue Through October 31, 2015

October 2015 Tax Collection Summary (in $ millions) (Preliminary as of November 5, 2015)