Maine Property Tax or Rent Refund: You May Qualify!

On August 1st, the State of Maine web portal for property tax relief opened for business. Be sure to check and see if you qualify. Nearly 200,000 Maine households qualify for a partial refund of property tax assessed and/or rent they paid in 2008. They call this the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent "Circuit Breaker" Refund. Too many people assume that they do not qualify or are not aware of the program. The maximum refund available is $1600.

You may qualify for a refund if:

• You do not have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2008 household income was $61,400 or less; or
• You do have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2008 household income was $81,850 or less

AND

• Your 2008 property tax was more than 4% of your 2008 household income; or
• The rent you paid in 2008 was more than 20% of your 2008 household income.

NOTE: Seniors do not need to meet this requirement when their household income is below $13,900 for those living alone or below $17,200 for those living with a spouse or dependent. See the application booklet for more information on who qualifies for the senior portion of the program.

To apply for the refund visit www.maine.gov/revenue