Property Tax and Rent Refund:
File Now!

If you own your own home or pay rent and have high property taxes or rental payments, you are probably eligible for a money refund from the State of Maine.

The maximum benefit for the general program this year is $1,600.

Who can qualify?

• Your household income was $86,600 or less in 2010 (up to $64,950 if no spouse or dependents).
• The rent you paid in 2010 was more than 20% of your household income, or
• Your 2010 property tax was more than 4% of your household income.
• You file an application with the State between August 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.

If you are close to meeting the income and expense test, the State encourages you to apply, to find out if you are eligible.

Low-income seniors can qualify even if their rent or property taxes are not as high. This includes low-income seniors 62 or older in 2010 (55 or over if disabled). Qualifying seniors will get either the general benefit, or the senior benefit, whichever is more.

How do I apply?

Go to the Maine Revenue Services site for an application form and more details. You can also i-file your application, check on the status of your application, and e-mail Revenue Services with your questions.

In order to save money, the State is no longer providing paper applications to legal services offices or social service agencies. But you can still order a paper application directly from the State:

• Call Maine Revenue Services: 624-7894 (leave your name and mailing address), or
• Write to Maine Revenue Services, SHS 24, Augusta, ME 04333-0024

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Beginning with the 2010 return period, application forms are included with the individual income tax booklets that are mailed each year. If you don't receive this booklet because you don't pay income taxes, the property tax and rent refund application will be mailed to you separately.

New eligibility rules took effect with the filing period that began August 1, 2010. Here are some of the changes that took effect then:

• The 10-acre limit on a house lot is removed
• Household income no longer includes cash inheritances or the income of dependents
• Income does not include the non-taxable portion of jury duty payments, awards (such as employee awards), lawsuit awards, strike benefits and life insurance proceeds, as long as the total of all of these is not greater than $5,000.