The affordability payment is a $300 one-time payment that will be mailed to eligible Maine residents beginning in late July 2026.
To be eligible, individuals must meet ALL three criteria below.
- File a 2025 Maine individual income tax return by October 15, 2026, as a full-year Maine resident.
- Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s 2025 individual income tax return.
- Have federal adjusted gross income of less than:
- $100,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying surviving spouse;
- $75,000 if filing as head of household; or
- $50,000 if single or married filing separately.
Check back here in July to check your eligibility for and the status of your Maine affordability payment.
Affordability Payments FAQ
If you are eligible and have not received the payment, see FAQ #3 below.
The Maine Affordability Payment Program (“the program”) was approved by the Maine Legislature to support Maine residents who are considered to be disproportionately affected by Maine sales and excise taxes. The program is administered by Maine Revenue Services (MRS). MRS will issue $300 affordability payments to eligible recipients beginning in late July 2026.
The FAQs below provide additional information regarding eligibility, timing, and other details.
- What is Maine's affordability payment?
- Who is eligible for the affordability payment?
- I believe I am eligible to receive an affordability payment. How and when can I expect to get my payment?
- I only file a return to claim the Property Tax Fairness Credit (PTFC) and/or Sales Tax Fairness Credit (STFC). Am I still eligible to receive the affordability payment?
- I received my affordability payment, but it was lost, stolen, or destroyed. How can I get a new one?
- My mailing address changed after I filed my income tax return. Will my payment be forwarded to my new address?
- Is the affordability payment an advance on my income taxes?
- Is my affordability payment subject to offset for other debts I owe? If I owe back taxes, will the State keep my affordability payment?
- Are affordability payments subject to Maine individual income tax?
1. What is Maine's affordability payment?
The affordability payments were created to return a portion of Maine sales and excise tax payments to individuals considered to be disproportionately affected by such taxes. The budget provided $155.2 million for one-time payments to Mainers who qualify.
2. Who is eligible for the affordability payment?
In order to qualify for the affordability payment, you must:
- File a Maine individual income tax return as a full-year resident for the 2025 tax year by October 15, 2026.
- Not have been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s income tax return for the 2025 tax year.
- Report federal adjusted gross income for the 2025 tax year that is less than:
- $100,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying surviving spouse;
- $75,000 if filing as head of household; or
- $50,000 if single or married filing separately.
3. I believe I am eligible to receive an affordability payment. How and when can I expect to get my payment?
Beginning late July 2026, paper checks will be automatically sent to eligible recipients using the address on file with MRS. Generally, this is the mailing address from your 2025 Maine individual income tax return.
See Question 6 below if your mailing address has changed since you filed your return.
Click here to check your affordability payment eligibility and the status of your check. If you do not receive a payment within 6 weeks of confirming your eligibility, please call the affordability payment assistance line at (207) 624-9924 to begin the process of reissuing the payment.
If the link shows you are ineligible for the payment, but you believe you qualify, please call (207) 624-9924 or email Affordability.MRS@maine.gov. See Question 2 for a list of eligibility parameters.
Determination of eligibility for the affordability payment is determined solely by MRS and is not reviewable pursuant to Maine statute (36 M.R.S. § 151).
4. I only file a return to claim the Property Tax Fairness Credit (PTFC) and/or Sales Tax Fairness Credit (STFC). Am I still eligible to receive the affordability payment?
Yes, you may qualify to receive the credit(s) and the affordability payment.
If you claimed the PTFC and/or STFC on your 2025 Maine individual income tax return, a refund will be issued to you either through direct deposit or by mailed check, based on the option selected on your return.
A separate $300 check will automatically be mailed to Maine residents who qualify for the affordability payment. See Question 2 to determine whether you qualify for the affordability payment.
5. I received my affordability payment, but it was lost, stolen, or destroyed. How can I get a new one?
Contact MRS at (207) 624-9924 to begin the process of reissuing payment.
6. My mailing address changed after I filed my income tax return. Will my payment be forwarded to my new address?
Yes. If you have submitted a change of address request to the U.S. Postal Service, your payment will automatically be forwarded to your new address. If you need to update the address on record with MRS, please submit in writing: the date of your request, your name (printed), your social security number, your signature, and proof of the new address (such as an updated photo ID, a utility bill, lease, etc.).
Required documentation may be emailed to: Affordability.MRS@maine.gov.
Or, mail the request to:
Maine Revenue Services
PO Box 1060
Augusta, ME 04332-1060
7. Is the affordability payment an advance on my income taxes?
No. Affordability payments are not an advance on individual income taxes.
8. Is my affordability payment subject to offset for other debts I owe? If I owe back taxes, will the State keep my affordability payment?
No. Maine Revenue Services cannot use the payment to offset debts you owe to Maine Revenue Services or to other State agencies.
9. Are affordability payments subject to Maine individual income tax?
No, these payments are not subject to Maine individual income tax. The payment may be subject to federal income tax. To the extent the affordability payment is taxable by the Internal Revenue Service and included in your 2026 or 2027 federal adjusted gross income, you will be able to subtract that amount on your 2026 or 2027 Maine individual income tax return.