Overview of the 2014 Filing Season

As of April 23rd, the Revenue Processing Center had completed processing all 2013 Forms 1040 received before April 21st together with returns and payments received for 47 other tax types.  Approximately 49,000 more Form 1040ME returns were received and processed than at the same time last year.

Once again, MRS was successful in improving processing and providing the highest quality taxpayer services, which in part, is directly related to an increase in the number of electronically filed individual income tax returns.  About 81% of all Forms 1040ME were filed electronically through Modernized e-file (MeF) or the MRS Internet File (I-file) program.

2014 Tax Law Changes

A summary of the 2014 Maine tax law changes is now available on the Maine Revenue Services web site at www.maine.gov/revenue (click on “2014 Legislative Changes”). View this link to see the latest changes, including Income Tax, Estate Tax, Sales Tax and Property Tax legislation.

Form 1041 Modernized e-File (MeF)

Maine Revenue Services (MRS) continues to transition to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Modernized e-File (MeF) platform by processing its first fiduciary income tax returns through the program during May, 2014.  Prior to MeF, no electronic filing options for fiduciary returns were available with MRS.

The MeF platform is web-based and utilizes a modern, scalable architecture that enables real-time processing.  Vendor submissions are received by the IRS, processed, and made available to the states continuously on a submission by submission basis.

Wolters Kluwer CCH (ProSystem fx Tax) is the only Originator/Software Developer/Transmitter vendor which has completed the testing process with MRS to date.  Tax professionals who purchase their tax preparation software through alternate vendors should contact those vendors to initiate the MeF process.  Vendors may be directed to the following MRS E-File site:  www.maine.gov/revenue/developers/index.htm.

The addition of fiduciary returns to the MeF platform positions MRS for continuing growth in electronic return processing.

MRS to Develop Web Portal

Maine Revenue Services (MRS) is pleased to announce that we are in the process of developing an integrated Internet Web Portal for all online tax filing applications.  The project will modernize existing online services, consolidating them into a state-of-the-art “one-stop” tax filing portal.  It will include all tax types, payments and benefit programs administered by MRS.  

Once the web portal is in place, taxpayers will be able to access all their tax information, file returns and make payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using a single authenticated sign-on process.  A modern user-friendly interface will make tax processing more efficient, cost-effective and transparent, allowing taxpayers a variety of “self-service” options, including the ability to update demographic information and review filing history.  

The new system will incorporate secure messaging with MRS staff to help resolve questions or concerns in a simple and timely manner.  The portal will also be accessible by mobile devices, and will allow for secure uploads of a variety of information currently available only in paper format.  Bulk data uploads will be supported for companies that have large amounts of data to report, or tax filers such as accounting firms that file for many different taxpayers. 

We are confident that the contract contains the necessary technical and business requirements to ensure that this project is successful.  We believe that all Maine taxpayers and practitioners will be pleased with the result.

We will keep you updated as this important project moves forward.

Department	Telephone Numbers	FAX Numbers	Email Addresses
Taxpayer Service Center	(207) 626-8475	(207) 287-5855
Audit	(207) 822-0450	(207) 822-0453
Central Registration	(207) 624-5644	(207) 287-6975	taxregistration@maine.gov
Collections & Compliance	(207) 624-9595	(207) 287-6627	compliance.tax@maine.gov
Corporate Tax	(207) 624-9670	(207) 624-9694	corporate.tax@maine.gov
E-file Help Desk (1040 ONLY)	(207) 624-9730	(207) 287-6628	efile.helpdesk@maine.gov
Electronic Funds Transfer	(207) 624-5625	(207) 287-6975	efunds.transfer@maine.gov
Estate & Fiduciary Income Tax	(207) 626-8480	(207) 624-9694	estatetax@maine.gov
Fuel Tax	(207) 624-9609	(207) 287-6628	fuel.tax@maine.gov
Forms Request Line	(207) 624-7894
Individual Income Tax Assistance	(207) 626-8475	(207) 624-9694	income.tax@maine.gov
Insurance Premium Tax	(207) 624-9753	(207) 624-9694
Payment Plan/Income Tax	(207) 621-4300	(207) 621-4328	compliance.tax@maine.gov
Payment Plan/Other	(207) 624-9595	(207) 287-6627	compliance.tax@maine.gov
Practitioners’ Hotline	(207) 626-8458	(207) 624-9694
Property Tax	(207) 624-5600	(207) 287-6396	prop.tax@maine.gov
Sales Tax	(207) 624-9693	(207) 287-6628	sales.tax@maine.gov
Tax Clearance Letters	(207) 624-9628	(207) 287-6627
Office of Tax Policy	(207) 624-9789	(207) 287-3618
Taxpayer Advocate	(207) 624-9649	(207) 287-3618	taxpayer.advocate@maine.gov
Withholding Tax	(207) 626-8475	(207) 624-9694	withholding.tax@maine.gov
Tax Violations Hot Line	(207) 624-9600

This publication is designed to keep taxpayers, tax practitioners and the general public informed of developments, problems, questions and matters of general interest concerning Maine tax law, policy and procedure. The articles in this newsletter are not designed to address complex issues in detail, and they are not a substitute for Maine tax laws and/or regulations.
Suggestions for the Tax Alert? Please contact:: Maine Revenue Services PO Box 1060 Augusta, Maine 04332-1060