Whether you are a residential home owner or a business property owner there are ways you can possibly reduce your tax bill.
Apply for your Exemptions
Make sure you have the Veterans ($6,000) and/or Homestead ($25,000) Exemptions if available to you. There is also a Blind Exemption. Commercial business owners should check to see if they can lower their personal property tax bill by applying for the BETE which stands for Business Equipment Tax Exemption.
Check Your Assessment Card
Get a copy of your property assessment card and check that all the information is correct such as number of baths, number of bedrooms, unfinished or finished basement, acreage, etc.
Condition Changes
Inform the assessor if your property’s condition changes or if you remove or tear down an old barn or shed.
Survey
If your land has been professionally surveyed check to make sure the total acreage on your survey plan matches what is on your assessment card and tax map.
Merge Land Parcels
If you currently receive two tax bills because you have two or more separately assessed parcels you may wish to consider merging them all to form one parcel for tax purposes. This will generally lower your taxes if they are contiguous to one another.
Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program
The Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program (BETR) is for retail businesses only. Taxes paid on retail business equipment are reimbursed by the State of Maine. The reimbursement is for taxes paid for the previous year. Applications are submitted beginning in August every year with the deadline being the end of December.
Business Equipment Tax Exemption Program
The Business Equipment Tax Exemption Program (BETE) is for non-retail businesses only. Eligible equipment items are exempt from taxation. Applications must be submitted every year with your annual true & perfect list declaration.
Tax Abatement
If you have information that will help prove the value is high please bring it to the assessor’s attention and if the assessor agrees you will receive a tax abatement. If the assessor disagrees you may appeal to the local Board of Assessment Review.
Hardship Abatement
If you are having trouble making your tax payments and can provide the City Council evidence of financial pressures you should apply for and may be granted a Hardship Abatement (sometimes referenced as a Poverty Abatement). The City Council will do everything possible to work with and help you to avoid foreclosure.