House Passes Legislation to Move Massachusetts Tax Filing Deadline and Support Municipal Governments and Local Restaurants

March 30, 2020 – BOSTON – On March 27, Rep. Tom Stanley and Rep. John Lawn, along with their colleagues in the House of Representatives, passed legislation to move the individual tax filing and payment deadline, support municipal government operations, and allow alcohol sales for take-out or delivery at restaurants.

“As we continue to face the day to day effects of COVID-19, it is vital that we do all that we can to offer assistance to communities, our businesses, and our residents by easing burdens related to local permitting, extending the state’s tax deadline and giving restaurants more business opportunities,” said Rep. Stanley. “I am pleased that the legislature collaborated quickly and effectively pass this critical legislation to provide this critical relief.”

The legislation would extend the individual state tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15.

The legislation includes the following provisions.

• Permits establishments licensed to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption to sell wine and beer via delivery and take-out provided the wine or beer is sold in the same transaction as a purchase of food and in a sealed container.
• Modifies local permitting processes, extending municipal tax deadlines, and allowing municipalities to extend property tax exemptions and deferrals.
• Allows municipalities to activate qualified workers by suspending the cap on hours and compensation for certain retired employees for hours worked during the state of emergency.

“This relief package will give administrative and economic relief to our restaurants, our cities and towns, and to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Lawn. “The bill has several provisions that give towns and municipalities the flexibility they need to allow for extending time frames for town meetings and assessing some kind of temporary leniency with paying taxes and late fees.”

The bill will now go to the Senate.