Hearing concerns, Patrick reverses stand on Mass. ‘tech tax’

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick said Tuesday that he no longer supports the controversial “tech tax,” Boston.com reported.

The controversial tax, which subjects certain computer and software services to the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax, came under fire from Republican state legislators and local business leaders earlier this month.

Local tech industry leaders complained that the tax was applied too broadly, and led some to consider moving to Rhode Island to escape the tax.

After House and Senate Republicans promised to introduce legislation to repeal the tax, Patrick agreed to meet with lawmakers and business owners to discuss their concerns, and concluded that the tax had become “a serious blot,” according to Boston.com.

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Patrick himself proposed the tax in January to help pay for improvements to the state’s infrastructure, and although he initially indicated that the tax would have to be replaced with other new revenue if repealed, aides said Tuesday that he is not presently calling for a new broad-based tax to replace the tech tax.

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