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Maine

You may be eligible to receive money back

Homeowners and renters are missing out on millions of dollars in tax relief.  Use the resources below to learn more.

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Maine Program Overview

Property Tax-Aide features three program in Maine: Property Tax Fairness Credit Circuit Breaker, and the Homestead Exemption Program.

Property Tax Fairness Credit Circuit Breaker

Eligible Maine taxpayers may receive a portion of the property tax or rent paid during the tax year on the Maine individual income tax return, whether they owe Maine income tax or not. If the credit exceeds the amount of your individual income tax due for the tax year, the excess amount of credit will be refunded to you. The maximum credit is $1,000 or $1,500 for those 65 or older.

Eligibility

Homeowners or renters who meet all of the following requirements:
  • Were Maine residents during any part of the tax year;
  • Owned or rented a home in Maine during any part of the tax year and lived in that home during the year as a primary residence;
  • Your total income includes federal total income with certain add-backs, such as social security benefits, interest and losses.
  • Paid property tax or rent on the primary residence in Maine during the tax year, including up to 10 acres of land; 15% of rent is used to calculated refund. If rent includes heat, utilities, furniture or similar items enter the amount. If you do not know the amount, reduce rent by 15%.
  • Meet certain income and property tax and/or rent paid limitations during the tax year; and
  • For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, property tax paid includes amounts paid on the taxpayer’s behalf during the tax year by the State to the municipality under the Property Tax Deferral Program
  • You cannot apply if you are married filing separately.

Application Deadline

  • April 18, 2023
  • You have to file a Maine income tax return, even if your income subject to Maine income tax is less than the sum of the Maine standard deduction plus your personal exemption.

Required Documentation

  • You may be asked to provide proof of the property taxes paid or rent receipts or cancelled checks before a refund is issued.

Contact Details

Please refer to the Individual Income Tax Booklet for detailed information about this program and how to apply.

Property Tax Deferral

The State Property Tax Deferral Program is a lifeline loan program that can cover the annual property tax bills of Maine people who are ages 65 and older or are permanently disabled and who cannot afford to pay them on their own. The loan program allows Maine’s most vulnerable community members to age in place and ensures that property taxes are still delivered to municipalities, requiring repayment of the loan once the property is sold or becomes part of an estate.

Once your application is approved, you may continue to defer the property taxes on your homestead in future years as long as there is no change in circumstances that might lead to disqualification or removal.

Eligibility

  • To be eligible for the program, you must be at least 65 years old or unable to work due to a disability.
  • All owners must have combined liquid assets of less than $75,000 ($50,000 if a single owner) and combined income of less than $40,000.
  • For applications filed after January 1, 2024, all owners must have combined liquid assets of less than $150,000 ($100,000 if a single owner) and combined income of less than $80,000.
  • You must own your property fee simple so that there are no limitation on your ability to sell or encumber the property and you are not participating in a municipal deferral program.
  • You occupy the property as your principal residence, and you must be receiving a homestead exemption on the property (See Homestead Exemption Program below)
  • For applications filed after January 1, 2024, certain municipal liens are permissible, but there must be no more than 2 years of delinquent property taxes at the time of application for deferral.

Application Deadline

  • You must file an application with your local municipal assessor between January 1 and April 1.
  • The municipal assessor will verify certain information, then forward the application to Maine Revenue Services for review. MRS will review your application and may request additional information from you to confirm your eligibility for the program.

Required Documentation

  • Maine Revenue Services is currently updating their information guides to the State Property Tax Deferral Program. We will update this page to include up-to-date required documentation as soon as it has been made publicly available.

Contact Details

The information above is also available on the Maine Revenue Service website

Homestead Exemption Program

The homestead exemption provides a reduction of up to $25,000 in the value of your home for property tax purposes.

Eligibility

  • You must be a permanent resident of Maine
  • The home must be your permanent residence,
  • You must have owned a home in Maine for the twelve months prior to applying
  • The exemption applies to any residential property that is assessed as real property. For instance, a mobile home located on a rented lot may qualify for the exemption

Application Deadline

  • An application must be filed on or before April 1 with the municipality where the property is located.
  • Forms filed after April 1 of any year will apply to the subsequent year tax assessment.

Required Documentation

Residency proof includes
  • You file Maine resident income tax return
  • Your address on Maine driver’s license is the same as the homestead location
  • Your legal address on fishing/hunting license is same as homestead location
  • You pay motor vehicle excise tax in municipality
  • You are a registered voter in the municipality.

Contact Details

Please refer to the Homestead Exemption application instructions for additional guidance on how to apply

Property Tax-Aide has independently selected the property tax relief programs featured on this website that we think are the most relevant and beneficial to older adults. It is not an exhaustive list of all property tax relief programs available in each state. Please consult your local tax agency for a comprehensive listing of property tax relief programs in your area.

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