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Tax season arrives with free filing program for some MA residents

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Tax season arrives with free filing program for some MA residents


Tax season has arrived- and while a majority of U.S. taxpayers feel they pay too much in taxes, select residents in certain states, including Massachusetts, will benefit from a new, free way to file directly with the Internal Revenue Service.

A poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polled more than 1,000 adults in mid-December. What they found was that almost 70% of taxpayers feel their local property taxes are too steep and 6 out of 10 feel they pay too much in state sales tax.

The poll also showed that about a quarter of taxpayers believe they receive a good value from paying either a federal income, state sales or local property tax, with about 33% saying it is a poor value in each case. Results showed that just 20% of surveyed taxpayers are “extremely” educated on how taxes are calculated, and most U.S. adults feel either their federal income or local property tax is “unfair.”

Trust in how tax dollars are spent by either the federal government or local school districts is an issue among U.S. adults, according to the survey. Around 16% of polled taxpayers express strong confidence in their local school districts, just 6% share the same sentiment towards the federal government.

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Some taxpayers in a dozen states, including Massachusetts and New Hampshire, will be able to use a new and free tax filing service launched by the IRS called Direct File. The program, announced in October, will be rolled out in phases and is expected to be more widely available in mid-March.

Eligible taxpayers can file if they report a W-2 wage income, an SSA-1099 Social Security and RRB-1099 railroad retirement income, a 1099-G unemployment compensation a 1099-INT interest income of $1,500 or less, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, credit for other dependents, standard deduction, student loan interest or educator expenses.

The pilot is not an option for taxpayers with other types of incomes including business or gig economy income, or those who itemize deductions and claim other credits.

Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren had advocated for a way to electronically file taxes for free and lauded the Biden Administration for launching the pilot.

“We look forward to supporting the IRS’s efforts to develop and expand the Direct File pilot, setting us on a path where millions of Americans will no longer have to worry about giant tax prep companies sharing their private data with Big Tech firms and ripping them off for services that should be free,” Warren said in October.

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“As our transformation efforts take hold, taxpayers will continue to see marked improvement in IRS operations in the upcoming filing season,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement earlier this month.

IRS officials said they are anticipating more than 128.7 million individual tax returns to be filed by the April 15 deadline. Massachusetts and Maine have an April 17 deadline to file a return or request an extension with October 15 being the deadline for extension filers.



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The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25

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The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25


No other city in the country boasts more championships than Boston, giving Massachusetts a sporting pedigree unlike any other.

What’s unique about many of the state is that several of the stars from those championship-winning teams were Massachusetts natives.

Before they were winning the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, World Series or a gold medal, those athletes were high school standouts.

Which high schools in Massachusetts are considered the best for athletes today? 

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According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. Hanover High School

Total number of sports: 29

24. Tewksbury Memorial High School

Total number of sports: 24

23. Medfield Senior High School

Total number of sports: 27

22. North Reading High School

Total number of sports: 26

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21. Cushing Academy (Ashburnham)

Total number of sports: 20

20. Minnechaug Regional High School (Wilbraham)

Total number of sports: 30

19. Franklin High School

Total number of sports: 20

18. Shrewsbury Senior High School

Total number of sports: 34

17. Longmeadow High School

Total number of sports: 28

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16. Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro)

Total number of sports: 27

15. Wellesley Senior High School

Total number of sports: 36

14. Mansfield High School

Total number of sports: 22

13. Billerica Memorial High School

Total number of sports: 23

12. St. Sebastian’s School (Needham)

Total number of sports: 13

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11. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

Total number of sports: 32

10. Deerfield Academy

Total number of sports: 37

9. Nashoba Regional High School (Bolton)

Total number of sports: 30

8. Belmont Hill School

Total number of sports: 16

7. Duxbury High School

Total number of sports: 30

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6. Notre Dame Academy (Hingham)

Total number of sports: 19

5. Central Catholic High School (Lawrence)

Total number of sports: 30

4. Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury)

Total number of sports: 15

3. Xaverian Brothers High School (Westwood)

Total number of sports: 17

2. Boston College High School

Total number of sports: 17

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1. St. John’s Prep (Danvers)

Total number of sports: 22



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Family of fallen Massachusetts State Trooper attends ceremony remembering those killed in the line of duty – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Family of fallen Massachusetts State Trooper attends ceremony remembering those killed in the line of duty – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


BOSTON (WHDH) – It was a powerful moment on Friday during the annual Law-Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the State House, as the ceremony remembered those lost in the line of duty, including State Trooper Kevin Trainor.

Trainor was killed in a wrong-way crash this week. Trainor’s family was in attendance.

“We’re here today with the Trainor family as another tragedy and agonizing time in policing has found us,” Larry Calderone, Boston Police Union President, said.

The day brought a moment to pause and remember the 30-year-old who is being hailed a hero after he was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Route 1 in Lynnfield.

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“We’ve lost a brother,” Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said.

The fallen trooper’s fiancée spoke out for the first time since losing the love of her life. She posted to social media, “I am beyond proud of the amount of love you have been given by those who loved and cared about you shows us who you really were, a friend, a partner, a brother, a son, and a hero. You weren’t just a hero to me but a hero to all.”

(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Globe Top 20 baseball poll: BC High bounces back amid a flurry of movement – The Boston Globe

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Globe Top 20 baseball poll: BC High bounces back amid a flurry of movement – The Boston Globe


Bishop Feehan moves up to the No. 2 spot — the Shamrocks have won eight straight against in-state competition, and ace Brody Bumila continues to look unbeatable. Natick enters the top five for the first time at No. 4 — the Redhawks are 12-1 with a 9-0 mark in Bay State play.

In the back half, Reading rises to No. 13 after getting some revenge on No. 19 Arlington. Also rising are No. 12 Plymouth North and No. 16 Canton, each up two spots.

New entrants are No. 18 Winchester, which returns to the rankings, and No. 20 Hopkinton, in for the first time this year on the back of four straight wins.

Records based on scores reported to the Globe.

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The Globe’s Top 20 baseball poll

The Globe poll as of May 8, 2026. Teams were selected by the Globe sports staff.


Mike Puzzanghera can be reached at michael.puzzanghera@globe.com. Follow him on X @mpuzzanghera.





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