January 28, 2011
Question of the Week: Why Don’t My Massachusetts Wages Equal My Federal Wages on My W-2?
Filed under: News
Vision Payroll

Why Don’t My Massachusetts Wages Equal My Federal Wages on My W-2?This week’s question comes from Jordan, a company controller. For most employees in our company, the Massachusetts wages reported on the Form W-2 equal the federal wages on the Form W-2. My Massachusetts wages, however, are higher than my federal wages. Why don’t my Massachusetts wages equal my federal wages on my W-2? Answer: There may be several reasons why Massachusetts wages don’t equal federal wages on a Form W-2.

Differences Between Federal Wages and Massachusetts Wages on Form W-2

Although Massachusetts generally follows federal law on income taxation of wage benefits, certain items may increase or decrease Massachusetts wages as compared to federal wages. Among the differences are the following:

  1. Employee and employer contributions to Massachusetts governmental unit §414(h) retirement plans are taxable for Massachusetts purposes and not for federal purposes,
  2. The value of an employer-provided monthly transit pass in excess of $120 and not in excess of $230 per month is taxable for Massachusetts purposes and not for federal purposes,
  3. Imputed income from cost of health insurance coverage of former spouses and non-dependent children as required under Massachusetts law is taxable for federal purposes and not for Massachusetts purposes (prior to the change included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act),
  4. Employee contributions to cafeteria plans for the benefit of a same-sex spouse and that spouse’s children when the same-sex spouse or that spouse’s children do not qualify as a dependent of the employee are taxable for federal purposes and not for Massachusetts purposes,
  5. Qualified tuition reduction that an educational organization provides to the same-sex spouse of an employee is taxable for federal purposes and not for Massachusetts purposes, and
  6. Employer contributions to an accident or health insurance plan for the benefit of a same-sex spouse and that spouse’s children when the same-sex spouse or that spouse’s children do not qualify as a dependent of the employee are taxable for federal purposes and not for Massachusetts purposes.

Contact Vision Payroll Now

Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the differences between federal wages and Massachusetts wages on Form W-2.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

From New Hire to Payroll
With the Click of Button

Streamline Your Hiring
Process With

Tips / Latest News