Plan for Cambridge, MA
Cambridge Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements
What a business in Cambridge keeps doing after it opens: recurring filings, renewals and the events that trigger new obligations. Change the business details to fit yours.
Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Where Cambridge, MA filings and renewals are tracked
City of CambridgeHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below). Checked 2026-10-13.
Middlesex CountyNo official page confirmed either way yet. Checked 2026-10-13.
Local items to renew or file
- File a Cambridge business certificate (DBA) · City of Cambridge City Clerk (city)
File and renew with these Massachusetts agencies
- Annual reports: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division
- Tax returns and payments: Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Unemployment insurance filings: Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance
Renewals, filing triggers and recurring deadlines in Cambridge
13 items in your plan repeat on a schedule. Each one lists its authority and when it comes due.
Recurring filings and renewals
- File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C · every year · April 15 · IRS
- Deposit federal payroll taxes · every month · 15th day of the following month · IRS
- File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) · every quarter · April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 · IRS
- File Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax) · every year · January 31 · IRS
- Issue Forms W-2 and file W-3 · every year · January 31 · IRS / SSA
- File Annual Report (Massachusetts) · every year · On the anniversary of formation · Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division
- Register for and file Massachusetts entity-level taxes · every year · Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- File sales tax returns and remit tax (Massachusetts) · every month · Monthly, quarterly or annually as assigned by the state · Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (Massachusetts) · every quarter · Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance
- Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave contributions · every quarter · Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave
- File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Massachusetts) · every year · November 1 · Massachusetts unclaimed property program
- Obtain food service establishment / health permit · every year · Middlesex County health department (Massachusetts)
- City/town clerk business certificate and local licenses — Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts · every year · City or town clerk: Cambridge / Middlesex County
Filings triggered by an event
- Complete Form I-9 for each new hire: applies when Business has employees
- Report new hires to the Massachusetts new hire directory: applies when 3 employees in Massachusetts
Find an obligationShowing 27 of 27 obligations
Federal
8
State
15
County
1
City
3
Common questions about Cambridge
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Cambridge:
- Contractor licensing: Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections (construction supervisor / home improvement contractor)
- Real estate licensing: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
- Alcohol licensing: Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (with local licensing board)
- Child care licensing: Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
- Health facility licensing: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- File a Cambridge business certificate (DBA) (City of Cambridge City Clerk, city)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Massachusetts sales tax registration (MassTaxConnect) (Massachusetts); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City/town clerk business certificate and local licenses — Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Cambridge. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sec.state.ma.us, mass.gov, mass.gov
In your plan for Cambridge, requirements come from four levels. Massachusetts sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
- State (15): Maintain a registered agent in Massachusetts; File Annual Report (Massachusetts); Register for and file Massachusetts entity-level taxes; Massachusetts sales tax registration (MassTaxConnect) (Massachusetts)…
- County (1): Obtain food service establishment / health permit
- City (3): City/town clerk business certificate and local licenses — Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Cambridge; File a Cambridge business certificate (DBA)
Sources: sec.state.ma.us, mass.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.
- Workers' compensation: Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents. Required when: 1 employee
- Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave contributions: applies from 1 employee.
- Register to withhold Massachusetts income tax from wages.
- Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Massachusetts new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (Massachusetts); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Massachusetts workplace notices.