Mass. Tax Collections Beat Expectations For October

Massachusetts tax collections were higher than the state was expecting for October. The revenue department says it collected $1.2 billion last month.

Still, Revenue Commissioner Navjeet Bal said the figures are not yet cause for celebration.

“We did bring in about $22 million above benchmark,” Bal said. “I wouldn’t read too much into that. October’s not a big month for tax collection.”

The collections were $72 million more than a year ago. Officials attributed several factors, including this summer’s sales tax increase.

The state recently lowered its estimate for how much it would collect in October. Gov. Deval Patrick’s top budget aide said the figures show that new revised tax estimates are “prudent.”