Maine Conformity with the
Federal Internal Revenue Code

Governor Paul R. LePage announced today that Public Law 2015, ch. 388 has been enacted to conform Maine’s income tax law to the federal Internal Revenue Code through December 31, 2015.  For the full text of the bill, see www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0633&item=4&snum=127.

Enactment of the law is the result of cooperation between Governor LePage and the Maine Legislature and includes conformity to permanent and temporary extensions of federal tax provisions contained in the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.  The most notable federal provisions include extension of the above-the-line deduction of up to $250 for teacher classroom expenses, an increased Section 179 business expense deduction and itemized deductions for state and local sales taxes and mortgage insurance premiums.

The Maine law continues to allow the Maine capital investment credit in lieu of full conformity with federal bonus depreciation.  For tax years beginning in 2015, the Maine capital investment credit for individual taxpayers is reduced from 9% to 8% of the amount of the net increase in depreciation attributable to the depreciation deduction claimed by the taxpayer under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 168(k) with respect to property placed in service in the state during the tax year.  The individual credit is reduced to 7% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.  The credit remains unchanged at 9% for corporate taxpayers.  Individual taxpayers who have already filed a 2015 Maine income tax return and claimed the capital investment credit are advised to file an amended Maine individual income tax return.  A revised Maine Capital Investment Credit Worksheet for Tax Year 2015 has been posted on the Maine Revenue Services website at www.maine.gov/revenue/forms/credits/2015.htm.

 

 

Department	Telephone Numbers	FAX Numbers	Email Addresses
Taxpayer Service Center	(207) 626-8475	(207) 287-5855
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) 287-3618	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