State
Maine
Year
2018
Variations in Receipt of Benefit
Benefit Varies with Income
Minimum Tax Amount Must be Paid
Other Variation in Receipt of Benefits
Benefit Type
Circuit Breaker
Benefit
The benefit is a refundable credit based on either property tax owed or rent paid. Rent constituting property tax is considered 15% of annual gross rent (which excludes charges for heat or other utilities). The benefit is 50% of the taxes that exceed 6% of the resident's income. The maximum amount of allowable taxes varies by filing status. The maximum payment is $750 or $1,200 for people over 65 years old.
How is Benefit Disbursed
Direct payment to taxpayer
Eligible Property Type
Residential
Characteristics of Eligible Property
Only residential property is eligible for this program. The homestead may consist of a part of a multi-dwelling or multipurpose building and up to 10 acres of contiguous land. Separate parcels of land are considered contiguous if separated solely by a road, or public or private right of way.
Eligibility Criteria
Age
Homeowner
Income Ceiling
Principal Residence
Renter
Description of Eligibility Criteria
Household income for 2018 cannot exceed $34,167 for single filers. For heads of household, married couples filing jointly, or qualifying widow(er)s, the income ceiling is $44,167 if two or fewer personal exemptions are claimed, or $54,167 if more than two personal exemptions are claimed. Household income for 2017 cannot exceed $33,333 for single filers. For heads of household, married couples filing jointly, or qualifying widow(er)s, the income ceiling is $43,333 if two or fewer personal exemptions are claimed, or $53,333 if more than two personal exemptions are claimed. Married applicants filing separately are no longer eligible for the benefit. Claimants must have resided in Maine for all 12 months of the tax year and must have rented or owned the property for all 12 months and occupied the property for at least 6 months.
Local Option in Adoption of Program
Local government is unable to exercise an option
Local Option Regarding Program Features
Local option regarding program features
State Funding for Local Tax Loss
State reimburses all of the local government tax loss
Description of State Funding for Tax Loss
Claimants are paid directly by the state.
Record ID
ME110_RR18
Footnotes
Sources
View Archived Source
Property Tax Fairness Credit Application (2017 tax year): Maine Revenue Services [http://www.maine.gov/revenue/forms/1040/2017/17_1040me_ptfc_stfc_d.pdf Accessed 02/21/2018]
View Archived Source