Even With $3B Refund to Taxpayers, State Sees $1.9 B Surplus

Following the Department of Revenue’s release of June 2022 collections earlier today, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance announced that the Commonwealth will end Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) with a $1.9 billion surplus, according to preliminary figures. This surplus accounts for $3 billion in automatic tax refunds required under Chapter 62F of the Massachusetts General Laws, $1.4 billion in statutory transfers, including capital gains transfers to the Stabilization Fund, and approximately $800 million in supplemental funding appropriated in FY22.

As announced by the Department of Revenue, in total, $41.105 billion was collected in FY22, representing overall revenue growth of approximately 20.5% above Fiscal Year 2021. This total is $6.7 billion above the total taxes assumed at the time the FY22 budget was enacted.

The FY22 surplus reflects significantly stronger-than-expected revenue collections throughout the fiscal year. In both January and May 2022, the Administration revised FY22 tax benchmarks upward in response to the high collections, increasing the revenue forecast by a cumulative $3.3 billion. Collections nonetheless exceeded the revised benchmarks by $3.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year.

Of FY22 tax collections, per state law, a total of $1.4 billion in excess capital gains and sales tax revenue was transferred to the MBTA, the School Building Authority, and budget reserves including the Stabilization Fund. Made up of $1.1 billion in budgeted excess capital gains tax transfers and $1.2 billion in further excess capital gains revenue, a total of $2.3 billion was deposited into the Stabilization Fund during FY22, bringing its balance to a historic $6.9 billion. Another approximately $800 million was appropriated by the Legislature in two supplemental budgets, passed in February and April.

After accounting for the above, the approximately $3 billion in tax refunds to Commonwealth taxpayers as required under c.62F, and other year-end closing activities, the Commonwealth still closes FY22 with a preliminary surplus of $1.9 billion.

This $1.9 billion surplus is in addition to approximately $2.3 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds that remain unallocated and available for appropriation.

Earelier, on Tuesday,  the Anthony Amore 2022 campaign announced its intention to file a taxpayer petition under Section 7 to enforce MGL Chapter 62F, which requires the Commonwealth to return excess tax revenue to the people of Massachusetts. Auditor Bump is responsible for working with the state's revenue commissioner to certify the amount of excess taxes by September 20th, 2022.