Maine Lawmakers Propose Temporary Sales Tax Hike

Jun 7, 2013 | Gail Cole

Will the Bar Harbor Inn have to raise its lodgings tax by 1%?

Maine's budget needs balancing, and early this morning, members of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee unanimously agreed to raise the state sales tax in order to balance it. Lawmakers propose upping the sales tax by half a percent and the meals and lodging tax by 1 percent.

The tax increases would be temporary and are expected to generate approximately $178 million before their expiration in June 2015. That revenue would provide pay raises to state employees--the first in more than four years.

These take hikes are not guaranteed. They must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House, and they must escape Governor Paul LePage's (R) veto.

How does your business keep track of sales tax rate changes?

Get Free Tax Rate Tables

Maine State Rates

photo credit: Will V. via photopin cc

Sales tax rates, rules, and regulations change frequently. Although we hope you'll find this information helpful, this blog is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal or tax advice.

Avalara Author

Gail Cole

Avalara Author Gail Cole

Gail began researching and writing about sales tax in 2012 and has been fascinated with it ever since. She has a penchant for uncovering unusual tax facts, and endeavors to make complex sales tax laws more digestible for both experts and laypeople.