Press Release  September Revenue Collections Total $4.599 Billion

Boston, MA — Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder today announced that preliminary revenue collections for September totaled $4.599 billion, $133 million or 3.0% more than actual collections in September 2024, but $64 million or 1.4% below benchmark.^[1]

FY2026 year-to-date collections totaled approximately $10.082 billion, which is $309 million or 3.2% more than actual collections in the same period of FY2025, but $64 million or 0.6% below the year-to-date benchmark. 

“September revenue included increases relative to September 2024 collections in nonwithheld income tax, sales and use tax, and ‘all other’ tax”, said Commissioner Snyder. “These increases were partially offset by a decrease in corporate and business tax. The increase in non-withholding income tax is likely driven, in large part, by surtax and capital gains tax revenues. The increase in sales and use tax is mostly the result of typical timing factors in collections and growth in retail sales and sales of meals. The increase in ‘all other’ tax is partly due to an increase in estate tax, a category that tends to fluctuate. The decrease in corporate and business tax is due to a decrease in estimated tax and return payments, partially offset by a favorable decrease in refunds. Withholding was virtually equal to September 2024 collections, which reflects current labor market conditions.”

In general, September is a significant month for revenues because many individuals and corporations are required to make estimated payments. Historically, roughly 10% of annual revenue, on average, has been received during September. 

Given the brief period covered in the report, September results should not be used as a predictor for the rest of the fiscal year.

Details:

• Income tax collections for September totaled $2.790 billion, $44 million or 1.6% above benchmark, and $148 million or 5.6% more than September 2024.
• Withholding tax collections for September totaled $1.490 billion, $78 million or 5.0% below benchmark, but $1 million or 0.1% more than September 2024.
• Income tax estimated payments for September totaled $1.220 billion, $114 million or 10.3% above benchmark, and $135 million or 12.4% more than September 2024.
• Income tax returns and bills for September totaled $151 million, $26 million or 14.6% below benchmark, and $15 million or 8.9% less than September 2024.
• Income tax cash refunds for September totaled $71 million in outflows, $35 million or 33.1% below benchmark, and $27 million or 27.2% less than September 2024.
• Sales and use tax collections for September totaled $831 million, $32 million or 4.0% above benchmark, and $75 million or 10.0% more than September 2024.
• Corporate and business tax collections for September totaled $713 million, $191 million or 21.1% below benchmark, and $143 million or 16.7% less than September 2024.
• “All other” tax collections for September totaled $264 million, $50 million or 23.5% above benchmark, and $53 million or 25.2% more than September 2024.

September 2025 Tax Collections Summary (in $ millions) Preliminary as of October 3, 2025 (PDF)

Footnotes

[1]

FY2026 monthly revenue benchmarks are posted on the DOR website.

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