Mass. Tax Hikes Kicking In On Gasoline, Cigarettes

Higher taxes on gasoline and cigarettes are kicking in for Massachusetts consumers.

The state's gasoline tax jumps 3 cents Wednesday, from 21 cents per gallon to 24 cents. The excise tax on cigarettes is also increasing $1 to $3.51 per pack.

The state has alerted retailers to begin collecting the new taxes, which were part of a transportation finance bill approved by the Legislature over the veto of Gov. Deval Patrick.

Patrick had sought a further increase in the gas tax if tolls on the western portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike come down in 2017.

Massachusetts Republicans are planning to criticize the tax hikes at a morning press conference with business owners at a gas station in the Dorchester section of Boston.

The law also imposes a 6.25 percent sales tax on computer software services.