Live in Rhode Island, work in Massachusetts
No reciprocity: you file a nonresident return in the work state and pay its tax. Your home state gives a credit for that tax, so you pay the home state only if its tax is higher.
State income tax: $4,780 a year
Living in Rhode Island and working in Massachusetts, you'd pay about $4,780 in state income tax on $100,000 of wages, $1,632 more than if you worked in Rhode Island.
No reciprocity: you file a nonresident return in the work state and pay its tax. Your home state gives a credit for that tax, so you pay the home state only if its tax is higher.
State tax at different salaries
| Wages | To MA | To RI | Total | If you worked in RI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,280 | $0 | $2,280 | $1,258 |
| $75,000 | $3,530 | $0 | $3,530 | $2,196 |
| $100,000 | $4,780 | $0 | $4,780 | $3,148 |
| $150,000 | $7,280 | $0 | $7,280 | $5,523 |
| $250,000 | $12,280 | $0 | $12,280 | $10,857 |
Single filer, all wages earned in Massachusetts, 2026 state tax rules, standard deductions. Local income taxes not included.
What to do
- Ask your employer to withhold Massachusetts tax. If Rhode Island's tax is higher, withhold the difference for Rhode Island too (or make estimated payments) to avoid an underpayment penalty.
- File the Massachusetts nonresident return first, then claim the credit for taxes paid to another state on your Rhode Island resident return.
- Keep a record of the days you work in each state, especially if you sometimes work from home.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay Massachusetts income tax if I live in Rhode Island?
Yes. Massachusetts taxes wages earned there by nonresidents. On $100,000 that's about $4,780.
Do I have to file taxes in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts?
Usually yes: a nonresident return in Massachusetts and a resident return in Rhode Island, where you claim a credit for the tax paid to Massachusetts. File the Massachusetts return first.
Will I be taxed twice?
Not on the same state-level wages. Rhode Island credits the tax you pay Massachusetts, so your total is about $4,780 on $100,000, compared with $3,148 if you also worked in Rhode Island. Local city or county taxes may still apply.
Related
- Live in Massachusetts, work in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Massachusetts
- Moving from Massachusetts to Rhode Island
- Live in Rhode Island, work in Connecticut
Rules reviewed 2026-09-24 from state revenue departments and the Tax Foundation. Estimates only; confirm with each state's revenue department.