MA Residents – TAX ALERT!!!
This is a re-print from an e-mail received from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS. Although it's directed to REALTORS, the residents and taxpayers of Massachusetts need to know as well. Please read and then contact your Senator. Please urge your Senator to VOTE NO ON SENATE BILLS 2230 and 2555. You can find your Senator's contact info at http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm. – Thank you!
Reprint:
TRANSFER TAX ALERT!
During the last week, a Committee within the State Senate has moved forward with two bills (S. 2230 & S.2555) that would authorize two local communities (Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket) to implement NEW 1% real estate transfer taxes on home and property sales.
Transfer taxes are a sales tax on people’s home and land and, with the exception of the land banks on the above-referenced islands, there are currently NO local transfer taxes allowed in any community in Massachusetts. Passage of these bills would change that and create a bad precedent throughout the state. These two bills are currently in the Senate Ethics and Rules Committee but could move to the Senate floor for a vote as early as June 1st.
Specifically, these bills would put a 1% sales tax on all real property transfers, with the funding to be used for affordable housing. While the bills do contain a high dollar threshold before the new tax is required to be paid, your REALTOR® Association believes that ANY new sales tax on people’s homes is a step in the wrong direction for our legislature and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
WE URGE EVERY REALTOR® WHO SHARES THEIR ASSOCIATION’S CONCERN ABOUT CREATING A NEW TAX ON HOME OWNERSHIP TO CALL THEIR STATE SENATOR’S OFFICE TODAY AND RESPECTFULLY LET THEM KNOW THAT:
1) You are a constituent of the Senator. Clearly state your name and town of residence. Your State Senator is Steven Panagiotakos. Your Senator's State House phone number is (617) 722-1630.
2) Urge your Senator to vote NO on Senate Bills number 2230 and 2555.
3) As a REALTOR®, you support housing opportunities but OPPOSE the creation of a new 1% sales tax on homes in any community because it is bad tax policy and is the wrong precedent to set for home ownership in Massachusetts.
4) Thank them for their time and attention to this matter.
Thank you for your support,
David Wluka Robert Authier
MAR President MAR CEO
