Mass Among Top-10 Worst States for Taxes, Finds New Ranking

Boston, Mass. – The Tax Foundation’s newly released 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index ranks Massachusetts 43rd in the nation, placing it among the 10 least competitive states for taxes.

The Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA) — a coalition working to restore the Commonwealth’s competitiveness — issued the following statement in response. 

Christopher R. Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and MOA co-organizer, said:

“These rankings confirm what Massachusetts residents and employers already know: our tax burden is too high, making it increasingly difficult for people and businesses to thrive here. Turning this around will require successful, coordinated efforts by private-sector leaders and policymakers to advance meaningful reforms that strengthen the state’s competitiveness. This data should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers as they consider proposals that would further raise the portion of certain income subject to the state’s corporate tax rate from five to 50 percent.”

Jay Ash, CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and MOA co-organizer, said:

“Costs matter, now more than ever, as the new national and world economic orders are redirecting jobs and investment to lower cost locals. The Massachusetts playbook is dated and investments once assured are no longer being realized. This is yet another wake up call that we need to reconsider and adopt a new strategy to be a competitive economic leader.”

MOA’s monthly polling shows Massachusetts voters consistently rank high individual and corporate taxes among their top economic concerns.