NH Resident Working in MA Tax Help

If you live in New Hampshire and earn wages tied to Massachusetts, your tax filing can get weird fast.

We make it simple, accurate, and defensible.

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Clear scope, clean documentation, and proactive planning.

No mystery bills.

What do I have to file if I live in NH and work in MA?

In most cases, you will file a Massachusetts nonresident return to report Massachusetts sourced wages, and you may also file a New Hampshire return depending on your income types and filing years. The details depend on where the work is performed, your employer setup, withholding, and other income like equity comp or rentals. We help you get this right, with documentation that holds up.

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Common situations we help with:

(Situations we see every week)

  • Hybrid work: some days in MA, some days remote from NH

  • Remote for a MA employer: withholding looks wrong, or you got a surprise balance

  • You changed jobs mid-year: multiple W-2s, messy withholding

  • Stock comp: RSUs or ESPP plus MA withholding equals confusion fast

  • Two-state household: spouses with different work states

  • Landlords and side income: Schedule E or 1099 income layered on top

What can go wrong (and why people hire us)

(Where people get burned!)

  • Double-counting wages or reporting them to the wrong state bucket

  • Underwithholding because payroll withheld as if you were fully MA-based or fully remote

  • Bad day tracking that collapses under an audit or inquiry

  • Incorrect credits or assumptions that lead to penalties later

  • Broker forms vs W-2 mismatch when equity comp shows up

Our process

How Thrive-Tax handles NH to MA filings


Step 1: Quick intake and document list
W-2s, prior year returns, MA withholding, employer work arrangement, and any equity comp statements.

Step 2: Work location reality check
We map your year: where work was performed, what payroll was done, and what forms were filed.

Step 3: Filing and optimization
We prepare the MA nonresident return and any related filings, reconcile withholding, and fix the “why do I owe” problem.

Step 4: Planning for next year
We adjust withholding and estimates so this does not repeat the following year.

Everything is documented. If the IRS or MA asks, the file tells the story.

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What to bring

What we need to get started

  • W-2s (all of them)

  • Last year’s federal and MA returns (if applicable)

  • A simple calendar of in-office MA days vs remote days (even rough is fine)

  • Paystubs showing MA withholding totals

  • Equity comp forms if you have them (broker statements, sell-to-cover details)

  • Any notices you received

If you do not have everything, still book. We will tell you what matters most.

Who this is for (and who it isn’t)

This is a great fit if:

  • You want it done correctly, the first time

  • You have hybrid or remote complexity

  • You want a plan, not just a filed return

Not the best fit if:

  • You want the cheapest possible filing

  • You are not willing to track basic work location info for hybrid situations

  • You want aggressive positions without support

Stop guessing. File it cleanly.


If you live in NH and your income touches MA, we’ll get you compliant, reduce surprises, and build a plan you can stick with.

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Ask a Question?

FAQ:

  1. Do I have to file a MA return if I live in NH?
    Often yes if you have Massachusetts sourced wages or other MA sourced income. We confirm based on your facts.

  2. What if I worked remotely from NH for a MA company?
    It depends on how your wages are sourced, your employer arrangement, and your work pattern. We’ll map it and file consistently.

  3. My employer withheld MA tax but I barely went to MA. What now?
    We reconcile withholding and filing positions. Overwithholding can sometimes be recovered through proper filing.

  4. Do I pay NH tax on my wages?
    NH generally does not tax wage income, but your overall situation can include other filing obligations depending on income types and years.

  5. What if my spouse works in a different state?
    We coordinate the returns so they align and do not create avoidable errors.

  6. I got a surprise balance due. Did I do something wrong?
    Not necessarily. Withholding is often set up poorly for hybrid or multi-state. We fix the root cause going forward.

  7. Do you help if I got a notice from MA or the IRS?
    Yes. Notices are usually solvable when the filing position is clear and supported.

  8. How do you price this?
    Pricing depends on complexity: number of states, job changes, equity comp, rentals, notices. After a quick review we quote a clear scope.

  9. What documents are most important?
    W-2s, prior returns, and a reasonable workday breakdown if you are hybrid.