Personal returns
We prepare Form 1040 and Massachusetts Form 1 for employees, retirees and families. Couples who are unsure how to file can ask us to compare joint and separate returns.
- Form 1040
- Form 1
Tax preparation in Boston MA
You want your federal and Massachusetts returns right without learning new tax rules each spring. Our team handles tax preparation in Boston, MA for residents, visa holders and business owners.
Federal and state. We prepare your IRS return and your Massachusetts return together.
Harvard office, Boston clients. We serve clients across Boston from our office in Harvard, MA, through a secure portal and review calls.
Quote. You get a fixed fee based on your income sources before we start work.
Tax preparation services we offer in Boston
Choose the tax services Boston residents and owners need, or sort it out with us on the call. We also handle tax preparation in Cambridge, MA, Somerville and other towns near Boston.
Stock compensation
We report sales from restricted stock units (RSUs), employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) and stock options on Schedule D and Form 8949 using the right cost basis. That way you do not pay tax twice on income already on your W-2.
- Schedule D
- Form 8949
Rentals and crypto
We prepare Schedule E for rental property, including depreciation and passive loss limits. We also report crypto trades on Form 8949 from your exchange or tax software report.
- Schedule E
- Form 8949
Freelance and LLC income
We prepare Schedule C for freelancers and for LLCs with one owner that report business income as sole proprietors. If you have not summarized your expenses, we start with bookkeeping.
- Schedule C
Visa holders and foreign accounts
We prepare Form 1040 or Form 1040-NR for students and visa holders, plus Form 8843 when you need it and treaty claims where they apply. We also file FBARs (foreign bank account reports) for US citizens and US tax residents whose foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any point in the year.
- Form 1040-NR
- Form 8843
- FBAR
Business returns
We prepare Forms 1065 and 1120-S with a Schedule K-1 for each owner, and Form 1120 for C corporations, plus the matching Massachusetts return.
- Form 1065
- Form 1120-S
- Form 1120
- K-1
Which federal and Massachusetts tax forms you file
We determine whether you need a federal return, a Massachusetts return or both, then choose the forms for your residency and business type.
Tax returns for Boston area filers
Common federal and Massachusetts returns by filer type
FilerFederal (IRS)Massachusetts (DOR)
Individuals
Massachusetts resident all yearForm 1040Form 1
Moved into or out of MassachusettsForm 1040Form 1-NR/PY
Student or visa holder taxed as a nonresidentForm 1040-NRForm 1 or 1-NR/PY
Resident and nonresident in the same tax yearForms 1040 and 1040-NRForm 1 or 1-NR/PY
Businesses
LLC with one owner, reporting as a sole proprietorSchedule C on the owner's Form 1040Schedule C on the owner's Form 1
Partnership or LLC taxed as a partnershipForm 1065Form 3
S corporationForm 1120-SForm 355S
C corporationForm 1120Form 355
Individuals
Massachusetts resident all year
- Federal
- Form 1040
- Massachusetts
- Form 1
Moved into or out of Massachusetts
- Federal
- Form 1040
- Massachusetts
- Form 1-NR/PY
Student or visa holder taxed as a nonresident
- Federal
- Form 1040-NR
- Massachusetts
- Form 1 or 1-NR/PY
Resident and nonresident in the same tax year
- Federal
- Forms 1040 and 1040-NR
- Massachusetts
- Form 1 or 1-NR/PY
Businesses
LLC with one owner, reporting as a sole proprietor
- Federal
- Schedule C on the owner's Form 1040
- Massachusetts
- Schedule C on the owner's Form 1
Partnership or LLC taxed as a partnership
- Federal
- Form 1065
- Massachusetts
- Form 3
S corporation
- Federal
- Form 1120-S
- Massachusetts
- Form 355S
C corporation
- Federal
- Form 1120
- Massachusetts
- Form 355
How the Massachusetts millionaires tax works
Massachusetts adds a 4% surtax on taxable income above $1,083,150 for 2025. Voters approved it in 2022 as the Fair Share Amendment. The 2026 threshold is $1,107,750.
You can cross the threshold in a year you sell stock or a home. We calculate the surtax on your return and can set up estimated payments for the next year.
| Surtax line, tax year 2025 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Taxable income | $1,200,000 |
| Surtax threshold | $1,083,150 |
| Income above the threshold | $116,850 |
| 4% surtax | $4,674 |
Illustrative example using $1.2 million of 2025 Massachusetts taxable income. For the surtax, Massachusetts adds your taxable income from Parts A, B and C of Form 1.
Our CPAs prepare the federal return, the Massachusetts return and next year's surtax estimate on one engagement. Book the scope call and we send your document checklist.
How our Boston tax preparation process works
- 1
Scope call
You tell us your income sources, filing status and any visa, equity, crypto or rental income.
- 2
Documents
You get a checklist for your situation and upload the documents to our secure portal.
- 3
Review call
We prepare your returns and walk you through them on a 20 minute call.
- 4
Filing
We e-file your federal and Massachusetts returns. You pay any balance to the IRS and the state directly.
We file only after you approve both returns.
Switching tax preparers in Boston or catching up on unfiled returns
You can move to our team mid-year or with returns still unfiled.
- 01
Prior-year returns
We prepare the years you have not filed, oldest first, and request your IRS wage and income transcripts to fill gaps in your records.
- 02
Last year's return
We review the return your previous preparer filed and tell you whether an amended return would change your refund or balance.
- 03
Amended returns
We file Form 1040-X and the Massachusetts amended return when a prior return missed income, a deduction or a credit.
Massachusetts tax items we check on Boston returns
Massachusetts adds four rules to what the IRS asks for. We check each one.
Schedule HC
Health insurance penalty
Massachusetts residents use the Form MA 1099-HC from their insurer to complete Schedule HC. An adult who goes more than three consecutive months without coverage meeting state standards may owe a penalty, unless affordable coverage was not available. We complete Schedule HC and claim exemptions where you qualify.
Up to $4,000
Rent deduction
Massachusetts lets tenants deduct half of the rent paid on a principal residence in the state, up to $4,000 a year. We claim it for Boston renters.
Form 1-NR/PY
Part-year residents
If you moved into or out of Massachusetts during the year, we file Form 1-NR/PY and split your income by the period you lived in the state.
Schedule OJC
Income taxed by another state
If you live in Boston and paid income tax to another state on income Massachusetts also taxes, we claim the credit on Schedule OJC.
How tax preparation fees are set
We quote a fixed fee from the most complex part of your return, then add items for the rest.
Income sources. We add to the fee when your return includes stock sales, rentals, crypto or self-employment.
Couples. On a joint return, we charge only for income sources your spouse adds.
Other states. We add a fee for each extra state that taxes income.
Visa work. We quote these separately: a year your US tax residency changes, ITIN applications (IRS tax numbers for people without a Social Security number) and foreign gift reporting.
Unsorted books. We quote a bookkeeping cleanup first when your business expenses are not summarized.
We hold your quote for one week.
“Sandy Piper and her colleagues have provided my wife Linda and I excellent tax advice and prompt service in the preparation and filing of our federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts income tax returns.”
Related services for Boston clients
You can book before you receive your W-2s and 1099s. We tell you which documents to wait for and which to send now.
Book your Boston tax prep call
You can start with a new tax preparer in Boston on one call. Tell us your income sources and filing status, and we send a quote and checklist. Our team keeps your details confidential.
Reviewed by Xintian Wang, CPA, Harvard, MA. Senior Tax Manager at Alexander Accountants, CPAs. Our team