# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8: Employing units subject to statute > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8 - **Heading:** Employing units subject to statute - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title XXI / Chapter 151A / Section 8 ## Text Section 8. Any employing unit, other than one for which services described under subsections (a), (b) and (c) of section four A are performed, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter who or which, or whose agent: (a) Has employed in employment subject to this chapter on some day in each of thirteen weeks in the year nineteen hundred and fifty or in any subsequent year at least one individual. Such employment shall constitute the employing unit thereof an employer hereunder as of January the first of the year in which such employment occurs. The employment of one individual in employment subject to this chapter on some day in each of thirteen weeks in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-one or in any subsequent year, or the payment of wages in the amount of fifteen hundred dollars or more in any calendar quarter in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-one or in any subsequent year, shall constitute the employing unit thereof an employer as of January the first of the year in which the employment or payment of wages occurs; or (b) Is subject, or who during the preceding year was subject, to section 3301 of chapter 23 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any acts in addition thereto and amendments thereof, and who employs one or more individuals within the commonwealth in employment subject to this chapter; provided, that the commissioner shall exempt from this chapter those of employers whose inclusion would adversely affect the efficient administration and operation thereof and would tend to impair the Unemployment Compensation Fund without obtaining for said fund any compensating advantages in connection with the payment of benefits; or (c) Has elected to become fully subject to this chapter; or (d) Has acquired the organization, trade, or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, of another employing unit which at the time of such acquisition was an employer; or (e) Has acquired a part of the organization, trade, or business of another, which part, if a separate organization, trade or business, would have been an employer; or (f) Has acquired the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, of another employing unit, if the employment record of such acquiring unit subsequent to such acquisition, together with the employment record of the acquired unit prior to such acquisition, both within the same year, would be sufficient to constitute an employing unit an employer subject to this chapter; or (g) Has taken under designation of a court temporary or permanent control or custody of the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets, of an employer subject to this chapter and employs one or more individuals whose wages are paid from or are chargeable upon the assets or estate of said employer; or (h) Has taken under an assignment or agreement of parties temporary or permanent control or custody of the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets, of an employer subject to this chapter and employs one or more individuals whose wages are paid from or are chargeable upon the assets or estate of said employer. Section 8. Any employing unit, other than one for which services described under subsections (a), (b) and (c) of section four A are performed, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter who or which, or whose agent: the assets, of an employer subject to this chapter and employs one or more individuals whose wages are paid from or are chargeable upon the assets or estate of said employer. Section 8. Any employing unit, other than one for which services described under subsections (a), (b) and (c) of section four A are performed, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter who or which, or whose agent: (a) Has employed in employment subject to this chapter on some day in each of thirteen weeks in the year nineteen hundred and fifty or in any subsequent year at least one individual. Such employment shall constitute the employing unit thereof an employer hereunder as of January the first of the year in which such employment occurs. The employment of one individual in employment subject to this chapter on some day in each of thirteen weeks in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-one or in any subsequent year, or the payment of wages in the amount of fifteen hundred dollars or more in any calendar quarter in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-one or in any subsequent year, shall constitute the employing unit thereof an employer as of January the first of the year in which the employment or payment of wages occurs; or (b) Is subject, or who during the preceding year was subject, to section 3301 of chapter 23 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any acts in addition thereto and amendments thereof, and who employs one or more individuals within the commonwealth in employment subject to this chapter; provided, that the commissioner shall exempt from this chapter those of employers whose inclusion would adversely affect the efficient administration and operation thereof and would tend to impair the Unemployment Compensation Fund without obtaining for said fund any compensating advantages in connection with the payment of benefits; or (c) Has elected to become fully subject to this chapter; or (d) Has acquired the organization, trade, or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, of another employing unit which at the time of such acquisition was an employer; or (e) Has acquired a part of the organization, trade, or business of another, which part, if a separate organization, trade or business, would have been an employer; or (f) Has acquired the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, of another employing unit, if the employment record of such acquiring unit subsequent to such acquisition, together with the employment record of the acquired unit prior to such acquisition, both within the same year, would be sufficient to constitute an employing unit an employer subject to this chapter; or (g) Has taken under designation of a court temporary or permanent control or custody of the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets, of an employer subject to this chapter and employs one or more individuals whose wages are paid from or are chargeable upon the assets or estate of said employer; or (h) Has taken under an assignment or agreement of parties temporary or permanent control or custody of the organization, trade or business, or substantially all the assets, of an employer subject to this chapter and employs one or more individuals whose wages are paid from or are chargeable upon the assets or estate of said employer. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 1 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 2 Service deemed ''employment''; exclusions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 3 Service within and without commonwealth included in ''employment''](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 4A Service included in employment; American employer; state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S4A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 5 Services under arrangements with agencies of other states and federal government included in ''employment''](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 6 Service not included in ''employment''](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 6A Other service not included in ''employment''](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S6A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8 Employing units subject to statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8A Other employing units subject to statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8B Domestic service and agricultural labor; employer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8B.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 8C Crew leaders; definition; employees of crew leaders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8C.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 9 Individuals employed by unit in several places](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S9.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 11 Ceasing to be subject to statute on application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S11.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 12 Determination whether employer within statute; review; double costs; reconsideration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S12.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXI_C151A_S8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.