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Welcome to Massachusetts!
A Practical Guide to Living in the State
Massachusetts, located in the heart of New England, is the
region's most populous state. Lively urban areas, picturesque
seaside communities, and tiny rural towns offer a unique ambiance
which each year attracts many new residents. This page is designed
to provide people contemplating a move to Massachusetts and those
who have recently come here with specific information on the
practical aspects of residency. I hope that new residents and those
considering a move to the Bay State find this page a good source of
useful information.
Residency
There is no formal procedure for establishing a legal residence
in Massachusetts. Voter registration, automobile registration, a
driver’s license, the appearance of a person’s name on a city or
town street list, and rent, utility, mortgage or telephone bills
normally provide tangible proof of residence. However, individual
public or private agencies or institutions may have their own
requirements for proof of residence. A one-year residency
requirement is imposed in order to qualify for state tuition rates
at state colleges and universities, and a six-month residency is
required for community colleges.
Voter Registration
If you are a U.S. citizen, a Massachusetts resident, and you will
be 18 years old on or before election day, you may register to vote
at any city or town hall in person, or by mail, by contacting any
city or town clerk’s office. Social service, welfare, Registry of
Motor Vehicle offices, and offices providing services for the
disabled also have walk-in registration services available.
Colleges, universities, high schools, and vocational schools will
have registration availability for enrolled students. Registration
in Massachusetts is permanent, but you must register again if you
move or change your name. For more information contact:
Elections
Division
Offices of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, 17th floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2828
Automobiles, Motorcycles
Registration
Massachusetts residents are required to register their cars and motorcycles. You may do so at any branch office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Proof of ownership must be presented, in the form of the title to your car. If you come from a state which does not require titles, a bill of sale or a past registration will be accepted. Prior to registering your car or motorcycle, you will also need insurance certification issued by a licensed Massachusetts insurance company, indicating that your car is insured in accordance with Massachusetts laws. Registration costs $36 for two years. Note: Application for a Massachusetts title must be made at this time. The cost is $50.
For more information, go to www.mass.gov/rmv/regs/.
Inspection
Within seven days after registering your car in Massachusetts,
you must have it inspected at any gas station or automobile repair
shop which has been certified by the Registry of Motor Vehicles as
an official inspection station.
An inspection maintenance program requires both a yearly safety
and emissions level inspection of motor vehicles. Motor vehicles
that are more than 15 years old, that have a maximum speed of 25
m.p.h. or less, that have a diesel engine, that have a registered
weight of 8,500 pounds or more, are motorcycles, or are new vehicles
being registered for the first time are exempt from the emissions
part of the inspection.
The fee for a combined safety and emissions inspection or a
safety only inspection is $29.
For more information, go to www.mass.gov/rmv/stations/.
Seat Belts (M.G.L. ch. 90, s. 13A)
As of April 9, 1997, all passengers in vehicles must wear seat belts. Violators must pay a $25 fine if a driver is stopped for another motor vehicle infraction and an officer finds that any passenger is not wearing a seat belt. Under the combined safety and emissions inspection regulations, safety belts are required for motor vehicles where such safety belts were installed as original equipment. In addition, each passenger over 16 years of age not properly fastened in will be fined individually. Under the Child Passenger Safety Law, M.G.L. ch. 90, s. 7AA, children five years old and younger and who weigh less than 40 lbs. are mandated to ride in a car seat. Children weighing more than 40 lbs. but under age five must ride in a booster seat until they reach 80 lbs. Children over the age and weight limits must be properly restrained with a seat belt. For more information, contact:
Injury
Prevention and Control Program
Department of Public Health
250 Washington St.
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108-4619
Toll-free: 1-800-227-7233
Sales Tax on Automobiles
If you move into Massachusetts within six months of purchasing a
new or used car, you must pay either the full sales tax on the car
or the difference between the Massachusetts sales tax and that of
the state where the car was purchased. More specifically:
- if Massachusetts has a reciprocity with the state and you have proof that the sales tax was paid in that state, you have only to pay the difference between the tax rates of the two states.
- if Massachusetts does not have reciprocity with the state where the car was purchased, then you must pay the full Massachusetts sales tax. No sales tax has to be paid if the car was purchased out of state more than six months prior to your move.
For more information, go to www.dor.state.ma.us/help/taxtalk/taxtalk00.htm#salesmotor.
Driver's License (Class D)
If you have a valid license to drive from any state in the U.S. or province of Canada, you are not required to take a written test or driving test to obtain a Massachusetts license. You are, however, required to take a written examination if the out-of-state license has been expired for more than 1 year. At a branch office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, you may fill out an application form and make an appointment to take the written exam. If you pass the exam and an eye test, a photo license will be issued. The total cost is $75 (regardless of whether any exam is required) and it is valid for five years. For more information, contact:
Registry
of Motor Vehicles
630 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 351-4500
Toll-free: 1-800-858-3926
Tax Structure
Personal Income Tax
A 5.3 percent tax is due on earned income from such sources as
wages and salaries; unemployment compensation; alimony;
Massachusetts bank interest; rents and royalty income; taxable
pensions and annuity income IRA/Keogh distribution; profit or loss
from a business or profession; winnings and prizes; unearned income
such as dividends and interest (other than Massachusetts savings
deposit interest); and capital gains.
A declaration of estimated tax must be filed by those who expect
to receive more than $500 of income subject to Massachusetts
taxation which is not subject to Massachusetts withholding.
For more information, go to www.mass.gov/dor/help/taxhelp.htm
or www.mass.gov/dor/publ/publ.htm.
Sales and Use Tax
A 5 percent tax on the retail sale of all items unless exempted
by statute. A 5 percent tax on tangible personal property which is
used or stored in Massachusetts and upon which a sales tax has not
been paid. Exemptions include food, clothing up to a value of $175,
fuel for heating, newspapers, and prescription drugs. In addition,
there is a sales tax on telecommunications services, utilities, and
energy (including non-residential electricity, gas, steam, and
heating fuel).
For more information, go to www.dor.state.ma.us/help/taxtalk/533.htm.
Sales Tax on Meals
A 5 percent tax on restaurant and take-out meals.
For more information, go to www.dor.state.ma.us/help/taxtalk00.htm#salesmotor.
Gasoline Tax
A tax of 10 percent on the wholesale price per gallon (with a floor of 11 cents per gallon) plus an additional tax of 10 cents per gallon.
Cigarette Tax (M.G.L. ch. 64C, s. 7B)
The Health Protection Fund, voted into law in the 1992 state
election, and amended in 1996 provides money for existing health
programs and to create new smoking prevention projects. The fund is
supported by a surtax of 78 cents per package on cigarettes. This
tax is added on top of the sales tax of 5 percent on the total cost
of cigarettes.
For more information, go to www.dor.state.ma.us
Alcoholic Beverages Tax (M.G.L. ch. 138, s. 21)
A tax on alcoholic beverages based on alcoholic content.
Automobile Excise Tax
An annual tax levied by the state but collected at the local
level. The rate is $25 per thousand dollars of the car’s value, as
determined by the manufacturer’s list price (without options) in
the year of manufacture. The tax is figured according to the
percentage of the list price. The percentages are as follows:
Year preceding the designated year of manufacture: 50%
Year of designated manufacture: 90%
Second year: 60%
Third year: 40%
Fourth year: 25%
Fifth and subsequent years: 10%
Estate Tax
The Massachusetts Estate Tax exemption is equal to that of the
federal government. For 2003, estates of $700,000 or less are not
subject to an estate tax, thus making the tax inapplicable to most
estates. However, should an estate be over the exemption amount, the
full value will be subject to the estate tax, not merely the
difference between the estate’s value and the $700,000 exemption.
Nevertheless, estates passing on to surviving spouses are not
subject to the tax, regardless of the value, but will be taxed upon
the death of the surviving spouse. For 2004, the amount will
increase to $850,000, and to $950,000 for 2005. After that it will
remain at $1 million. For more information, contact:
Estate Tax Unit
Department of Revenue
200 Arlington Street, Room 4300
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 887-6930
For more information on taxes in general, contact:
Department
of Revenue
51 Sleeper Street
Boston, MA 02205
(617) 887-MDOR (6367)
Toll free within Massachusetts: 1-800-392-6089
Licenses and Permits
Marriage
The legal age to marry in Massachusetts is 18 (M.G.L. ch. 207, s.
33A). All people who marry in the state must have a marriage license
issued in Massachusetts by any city or town clerk (M.G.L. ch. 207,
s. 28).
Fishing/Hunting
State licenses are required for all persons, age 15 or over, to
hunt or fish in any inland waters. Licenses are issued by a city or
town clerk or the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. For more
information, contact:
Department
of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement
251 Causeway Street - Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1590
Boats/Recreational Vehicles
All boats with engines and other recreational vehicles such as
snowmobiles and trail bikes must be registered with the Division of
Law Enforcement. This can be done either at one of the regional
offices or in the Boston office. For more information, contact:
Division
of Law Enforcement
Department of Fisheries,
Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement
251 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1610
Drinking Age
The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21 (effective 6/1/85).
Proper identification is a Massachusetts driver's license or a
liquor purchase identification card issued by the Registry
of Motor Vehicles.
Gun Laws (M.G.L. ch. 140, s. 131 and ch. 269 s. 10, 12B & 14)
In 1998, Massachusetts enacted some of the toughest gun control
laws in the country. These laws have significantly changed
requirements regarding the purchase, possession, carrying, storage,
and licensing of firearms. This summary highlights a few of the key
points. However, it in no way sets forth all of the obligations and
rights of individuals with regard to firearms laws.
Local police departments have the authority to issue gun permits.
Such permits include licenses to carry (L.T.C.) and firearm
identification cards (F.I.D.). There are two types of licenses to
carry. A Class A license to carry allows an individual to purchase,
possess and carry large-capacity handguns, rifles, shotguns and
feeding devices. A Class A license to carry is the only permit that
authorizes a holder to carry a concealed and loaded firearm. A Class
B license to carry permits a holder to purchase, possess, and carry
non-large capacity handguns and large-capacity rifles and shotguns.
There are also two types of firearm identification cards.
Unrestricted firearm identification cards allow for the possession
of non-large capacity rifles and shotguns. The restricted version of
the card is available solely for the possession of chemical sprays.
Massachusetts gun laws require that all firearms, rifles, and
shotguns be stored in a secured, locked container or equipped with a
tamper resistant mechanical lock or other safety devices properly
engaged as to render the weapon inoperable by unlawful users.
Moreover, every firearm and large capacity weapon sold in the
Commonwealth must be equipped with a safety device (trigger lock)
designed to prevent its discharge by an unauthorized user.
New residents have 60 days to obtain proper licenses.
Non-residents may obtain temporary licenses to carry through the
Firearms Record Bureau in order to possess and transport firearms
through the Commonwealth. All non-residents must comply with all
Massachusetts laws regarding transportation and storage while in the
Commonwealth.
No one may possess, transport or store any type of gun in a
building or on the grounds of any school without prior authorization
by the board in charge of the school.
For more information please contact your local police department
or:
MA
Executive Office of Public Safety
One Ashburton Place, Suite 2133
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-7775
To check gun records, contact:
Firearms
Records Bureau
Executive Office of Public Safety
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 660-4780
To check for any criminal records, contact:
Criminal
History Systems Board
Executive Office of Public Safety
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2000
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 660-4600
Fax: (617) 660-4613
Professions and Trades
Boards of Registration
Licenses are required for certain professions and trades in
Massachusetts. State licenses are issued by the following Boards of
Registration:
Allied Health Professions (Athletic Trainers, Occupational
Therapists, Physical Therapists), Allied Mental Health and Human
Service Professionals (Marriage and Family Therapists,
Rehabilitation Counselors, Mental Health Counselors), Architects,
Barbers, Chiropractors, Cosmetologists, Dental Examiners, Dieticians
and Nutritionists, Dispensing Opticians, Drinking Water Supply
Facility Operators, Electricians, Electrologists, Embalming and
Funeral Directors, Engineers and Land Surveyors, Health Officers,
Hearing Instrument Specialists, Home Inspectors, Landscape
Architects, Medicine, Nursing, Nursing Home Administrators,
Optometry, Perfusionists, Pharmacy, Physician Assistants, Plumbers
and Gasfitters, Podiatry, Psychology, Public Accountancy, Radio and
Television Technicians, Real Estate Appraisers, Real Estate Brokers
and Salesmen, Respiratory Care Therapists, Sanitarians, Social
Workers, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Veterinary
Medicine.
For more information contact:
Division
of Professional License
Boards of Registration
239 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 727-3074
For Dental Examiners, Nursing, Nursing Home Administrators,
Perfusionists, Pharmacists, and Respiratory Care Therapists,
contact:
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 626-6000
www.mass.gov/dph
Teachers
Teachers and other professional education personnel must be
certified by the Department of Education. For more information,
contact:
Teacher
Certification and Placement Bureau
Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 338-3000, Ext. 6600
Lawyers
If you have been practicing in another state for five years or
more and have a Massachusetts lawyer to vouch for you, you can be
sworn in by the Supreme Judicial Court. If you have been practicing
for less than five years, you will have to take the bar examination
administered by the Board of Bar Examiners. For more information,
contact:
Board of
Bar Examiners
75 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 728-8700
Supreme
Judicial Court
1355 New Court House
Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 557-1193
Other Occupations
In addition to these occupations, many other occupations are licensed by the state or at the local level. Check with Citizen Information Service for further information.
Transportation
Highways
Massachusetts has 31,300 miles of highways including the
Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) which stretches the length of
the state connecting Massachusetts with upper New York state and
roads that lead to Connecticut. Interstate 95, which circles Boston,
runs the width of the state from Rhode Island to New Hampshire.
Interstate 93 connects Massachusetts with New Hampshire, and
Interstate 91 connects western Massachusetts with Vermont and
Connecticut.
For an official Massachusetts Transportation Map (limited supply)
issued by the Massachusetts Highway Department, write:
Massachusetts
Highway Department
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-7800
For a map of the Massachusetts Turnpike, contact:
Massachusetts
Turnpike Authority
10 Park Plaza, Room 3510
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-7300
Airports
Logan International Airport is the largest passenger and air
cargo terminal in New England. It is located within the boundaries
of Boston.
For more information, contact:
Logan
International Airport
Massachusetts Port Authority
One Harborside Drive, Suite 200S
East Boston, MA 02128
(617) 428-2800
Toll free: 1-800-23-LOGAN
or the individual airlines.
For a directory of all airlines and terminals, go to
www.massport.com/logan/airl.htm
For a listing of the 53 local airports, contact:
Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission
10 Park Plaza, Room 6620
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-8881
http://www.massaeronautics.org
Trains
Boston is part of Amtrak's eastern corridor. Direct service is
available to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. For
information on nationwide Amtrak service, contact
Amtrak toll free at
1-800-872-7245.
Buses
Massachusetts is serviced by bus companies which operate in large
communities out of Greyhound/Trailways Bus Terminals and by local
companies in smaller communities. Check your telephone book for your
local office or terminal.
Public Transportation
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates bus,
trolley, trackless trolley, and rapid transit in 79 communities in
the Greater Boston area.For an MBTA map and information, contact:
MBTA
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 222-5000
Toll-free: 1-800-392-6100
Now under the aegis of the MBTA, Amtrak operates two commuter
rail lines connecting Boston with various outlying suburbs. For
information, contact Amtrak.
Throughout the rest of the state there are 14 regional
transportation authorities which provide public transportation for
specific regions. For more information contact:
Executive
Office of Transportation and Construction
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-7000
Education
Public Schools
Primary and secondary schools are under the control of cities and
towns. The state mandates school attendance for children between
ages of 6 and 16 and requires school systems to operate
kindergartens, but does not require children to attend them.
According to state regulations a child who has turned six years of
age must be enrolled in school (first grade) by the September
following that birthday. For reports on public schools and school
systems, contact:
School
District Profiles
Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
Toll-free: 1-800-297-0002
(617) 676-6771
Private Schools
Information on private schools, such as accreditation, can be
obtained from the following association:
New England
Association of Schools and Colleges
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA 01730-1433
(781) 271-0022
Higher Education
There are 121 institutions of higher learning, public and
private, located in Massachusetts. The state institutions include 15
two-year community colleges, seven four-year state colleges, and
three state universities. In addition, the state college system
contains two schools with specialized curricula: Massachusetts
Maritime Academy and the Massachusetts College of Art. The state
universities are spread across Massachusetts.
The University of Massachusetts has a main campus in Amherst, a
Boston campus, a Lowell campus, a Dartmouth campus, and a medical
school in Worcester. To be eligible for the resident tuition rate,
the applicant must be able to indicate residency (physical presence)
and twelve months domicile in Massachusetts with intent to stay
prior to the date of entry into the state college or university (six
months for community colleges).
Board of
Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-7785
Housing and Job Opportunities
Massachusetts’ 351 communities offer housing in a variety of
geographical settings. Cost and availability vary according to
location. Employment opportunities are found in a wide range of
manufacturing and commercial enterprises in such diverse fields as
computer science, technological research, textile, and tourist
industries. One of the best places to get information on the jobs
and housing available in Massachusetts is the classified section of
a local newspaper. For the greater Boston area, the most complete
classifieds are available in the Sunday editions of The Boston Globe
or The Boston Herald.
The
Boston Globe
135 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02107
(617) 929-2000
The
Boston Herald
One Herald Square
Boston, MA 02106
(617) 426-3000
The Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training assists
applicants in obtaining permanent jobs. It maintains job matching
centers throughout the state for general employment placement. DET
also runs state wide centers for job matching in specialized areas.
You must apply in person. For more information, contact:
Division of
Employment and Training
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-5400
Helpful Hints
Doctors
To locate a doctor in your area, contact:
Massachusetts
Medical Society
860 Winter Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 893-4610
Toll-free: 1-800-322-2303
You can also call local hospitals and ask for a list of
physicians. To locate a specialist, call any teaching hospital (in
Boston, Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Tufts-New England Medical
Center) and ask for the appropriate department. They will have
references.
To check the background, disciplinary history of a physician, or
licensing/credentialing/complaint info, contact:
Board of Registration in Medicine
Department of Public Health
560 Harrison Avenue, Suite G4
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 654-9800
Physician Profiles: (617) 654-9830; Toll free: 1-800-377-0550
www.massmedboard.org
Dentists
To locate a dentist in your area, contact:
Massachusetts
Dental Society
2 Willow Street, Suite 200
Southborough, MA 01745
(508) 651-7511
Toll-free: 1-800-342-8747
Day Care
The Office of Child Care Services will provide lists of licensed
day care facilities if you call or write:
Massachusetts
Office of Child Care Services
One Ashburton Place, Room 1105
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-8900
Childcare Resource & Referral
Toll-free: 1-800-345-0131
Return of Bottles (M.G.L. ch. 94, s. 321-327 and 301 C.M.R. 4.00)
Glass, plastic, metal, aluminum and bi-metal containers holding
beer and other malt beverages, carbonated soft drinks, and
artificially carbonated mineral water are subject to mandatory
deposit requirements. Wine, dairy products, natural fruit juices,
and alcoholic beverages other than beer and malt are exempt.
The refund value is five cents, but in certain instances may be
smaller. Empty containers may be returned to redemption centers or
retail outlets which sell or have sold within the past 60 days the
same brand, type and size of container. For more information,
contact:
Bureau
of Waste Prevention
Department of Environmental Protection
One Winter Street, 8th floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 292-5980
General Information about Massachusetts
Official Name: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State Capital: Boston
Population: 6,349,097 (2000 U.S. Census Bureau)
Population Rank: 13th of 50 states
Area: 8,257 square miles (land and water)
Population Density: 768 persons per square mile (land area)
Communities: 302 towns; 49 cities
State Government: Six constitutional officers elected for
four years: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the
Commonwealth, Attorney General, Treasurer and Receiver General,
Auditor
Legislature: Official Name: General Court. Two branches
with members elected for two years; House of Representatives: 160
members; Senate: 40 members