Mark Greene Law

Most school children studying American History have all heard the famous quote by one of the founding fathers James Otis “Taxation without representation is tyranny”…Well James Otis, I guess that despite the passing of 234 years or so…..the practice still exists. Here in Massachusetts… MGL. c59 section 29 allows for just that.

Let me explain.

Many years ago we opened our law firm in Hanover, Very nice town that it is…anyway we opened the firm by purchasing furnishings and computers, printers desks etc…..you know the drill.

Well I purchased the telephones with money that I had paid taxes on. .I had the telephones installed and as fate would have it at the end of the month I received my bill…on the bill there was a fee for Mass taxes and federal tax.. No surprise there and I paid the bill with funds that had been taxed. State and Federal …no real issues yet…But here is the rub.

The Town of Hanover, (and it is not alone) has sent me a note asking for me to complete a form. The form asks for a number of pieces if information such as what kind of business we are…. Mailing address (although I thought that they knew that by virtue of mailing the form to me) but I digress … what they really are getting at is wanting to know just what kind of furnishings are in our law office… any machinery/ tools and equipment, furniture, merchandise…you get the picture.

Now why would the Town of Hanover be interested in what is in my business office you ask? Well to tax it of course….yup the Town of Hanover under MGL. c 59 section 29 wants to tax my furnishings again just for sitting in our office. So what you say? Well I do not live in Hanover, I cannot vote for selectman or for that matter any other elected official in the Town of Hanover to represent me. In my opinion Towns should be welcoming business into the town with open arms.. not open palms. So there you have it

Taxation without representation…..Now that as the saying goes is tyranny Now where do I send that check?