Massachusetts’ preliminary revenue collections for February totaled $933 million, down $70 million or 7 percent from a year ago and $46 million below the February benchmark, according to the Department of Revenue (DOR).

It was expected that February revenues would be less than a year ago. The decrease is largely due to higher than forecast income tax refunds and weaker than expected sales and corporate tax collections, according to a statement. The 2011 benchmark had projected a $24 million decrease in February revenues, partly attributable to an estimated shift of $75 million to $85 million in withholding tax revenues from February to January of this year, as well as the loss of an estimated $7 million to $8 million due to the elimination of the sales tax on alcoholic beverages.

Fiscal year 2011 year-to-date tax collections total $12.58 billion, up $1.02 billion or 8.8 percent from a year ago. It is $19 million below the revised year-to-date benchmark.

February is historically the smallest net tax collection month of the fiscal year since there are no quarterly or annual payments due, according to a statement. February is also the month in which refunds start to accumulate as taxpayers submit their returns for the prior tax year. As a result, collections are driven mostly by withholding and sales tax revenues.

"Income tax withholding collections performed better than forecast, but refunds, which were slow in January, picked up considerably in February," said Revenue Commissioner Navjeet K. Bal. "Sales tax collections dropped due to the impact of the repeal of the sales tax on alcohol and the wintry weather that pushed down retail sales tax collections for the month."

The February withholding collection totaled $742 million, down $19 million or 2.5 percent. However, it was $18 million above benchmark.

Income tax refunds totaled $379 million, up $35 million or 10.2 percent from a year ago – $37 million above benchmark as DOR processed more refunds this February than a year ago.

Sales tax collections totaled $344 million, down $1 million or 0.2 percent – $7 million below benchmark. However, factoring in the impact of the loss of the sales tax on alcohol, sales tax collections rose 2.8 percent.

Corporate/business tax collections were $24 million, down $34 million from a year ago and $39 million below benchmark.