More Refund Checks In MA? Auditor Finishes 62F Tax Revenue Review

MASSACHUSETTS — Late in 2022, many taxpayers across Massachusetts received refund checks from the state thanks to an obscure 1980s law called Chapter 62F.

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio this week wrapped up her office's review of the last fiscal year's tax revenue under that law. Unfortunately, she found that revenues fell short of a threshold to trigger another round of refunds this year.

Under 62F, if tax revenue growth exceeds the sum of wages and salaries of all state residents in a given fiscal year, the state issues refund checks based on income tax payments. The state collected $41.8 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2022, which is $2.94 billion more than the sum of wages and salaries in that year.

In fiscal 2023, which ended June 30, the state collected about $37 billion in tax revenue, a little over $4 billion below the 62F threshold.

Refund checks last year began flying in October 2022, and went out to about 3 million residents. Eligible taxpayers received about 13 percent of their 2021 personal income tax liability.