When Are Maine Taxes Due for Individuals and Businesses?

Understanding Maine tax deadlines is important for individuals and businesses. Adhering to these schedules ensures compliance with state tax laws and helps avoid penalties and interest charges. Timely filing and payment are fundamental responsibilities, allowing for effective financial planning and maintaining good standing with Maine Revenue Services.

Maine Individual Income Tax Deadlines

Individual income tax returns in Maine are due by April 15th each year for calendar-year filers. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day. Form 1040ME is used for filing.

Individuals with income not subject to withholding, such as self-employment or investment earnings, often make estimated tax payments. These are due quarterly on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th, and January 15th of the following year. If any of these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Estimated tax payments are required if an individual’s estimated Maine income tax liability for the year, beyond tax withheld and credits, is $1,000 or more, and their prior year’s liability also met this threshold. Form 1040ES-ME is typically used for these payments.

Maine offers an automatic six-month extension for filing individual income tax returns. This means taxpayers do not need to file a separate form to request this extension. The extended filing deadline is October 15th. This extension applies only to the time to file the return, not the time to pay any tax due. To qualify for this automatic extension, at least 90% of the estimated tax liability must be paid by the original April 15th due date.

Maine Business Tax Deadlines

Maine businesses face several tax deadlines depending on their entity type. For corporations, the Maine Corporate Income Tax (Form 1120ME) is due on the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the tax year. For calendar-year corporations, this deadline is April 15th. Maine grants a six-month extension to file corporate income tax returns if a federal extension is also filed, pushing the deadline to October 15th. This extension applies only to filing, not to paying any tax owed.

Pass-through entities, such as S corporations and partnerships, have returns due by the 15th day of the third month after their tax year closes, typically March 15th for calendar-year entities. Maine provides a six-month extension for these entities, moving the filing deadline to September 15th, provided any tax due is paid by the original date. Form 941P-ME is typically used.

Businesses collecting sales and use tax must remit these to Maine Revenue Services based on a determined filing frequency (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually). This frequency depends on the business’s sales volume or tax liability. Sales and use tax returns are due by the 15th day of the month following the end of the reporting period. For example, businesses with less than $100 in monthly sales tax may file annually, while those collecting $1,200 or more per month are typically required to file monthly.

Employers in Maine must withhold income tax from employee wages and remit it to the state. The frequency of these payments depends on the amount withheld. Employers reporting less than $18,000 in Maine income tax withholding during the prior 12-month period make payments quarterly. Those reporting $18,000 or more are required to make semi-weekly payments. All quarterly withholding tax returns must be filed electronically.

Other Maine Tax Deadlines

Beyond income and business taxes, Maine residents and property owners face other tax deadlines, especially for property taxes. Property tax collection is managed at the local municipal level, so due dates vary by town. Payments are often split into two or more installments throughout the fiscal year, such as fall and spring due dates or quarterly schedules.

The ownership and valuation of real estate for property tax purposes are generally fixed as of April 1st each year. This date determines who is responsible for the tax bill and the property’s assessed value for the upcoming fiscal year. Homeowners should consult their local municipal office or tax assessor’s website for the precise property tax due dates.

Maine also levies an annual excise tax on motor vehicles for the privilege of operating them on public roads. This tax is paid at the local town office where the vehicle owner resides and must be paid before registering the vehicle. The amount is calculated based on the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and its age, with rates decreasing each year.