- What is the Maine Tax Portal?
- Will the Maine Tax Portal change how I file returns, make payments, or respond to notices and bills?
- What Estate Tax Functions are Available on MTP?
- How do I sign up for the Maine Tax Portal for Rollout 1 Taxes and Programs?
- How do I sign up for the Maine Tax Portal for Rollout 2 Taxes and Programs?
- What MTP functions are included for Rollout 2 Taxes and Programs?
- Does the Maine Tax Portal support authorized third-party access?
- Who needs to register for the Maine Tax Portal?
- Why are new Taxpayer Account Numbers being assigned?
- What web browsers should be used to access the MTP?
- Will taxpayers be able to set up payment plans in the MTP?
- Will Bulk Filers be Required to Use the MTP?
- What should Sales, Use, and Service Provider Tax taxpayers know about the second rollout of the MTP on December 1, 2022?
- Where are my Estimated Tax Payments?
- Do taxpayers and authorized third parties have to use Multi-Factor Authentication to access MTP accounts?
- What resources are available to assist taxpayers and tax professionals in using the MTP?
- Where can I learn more?
1. What is the Maine Tax Portal?
The Maine Tax Portal integrates all the tax types administered by Maine Revenue Services into a single system. It will enable online filing for all tax types administered and significantly expand the online functions that facilitate the taxpayer’s and practitioner’s ability to conduct business electronically with Maine Revenue Services. The system will be implemented over a four-year period in four rollouts, each of which will involve a subset of taxes and programs. The first rollout was completed in October 2021. See the chart below for taxes and programs that are or will become available in the Maine Tax Portal in each rollout.
Schedule for Implementation of Taxes and Programs:
|
Rollout 1: October 2021 |
Rollout 2: December 1, 2022 |
Rollout 3: October 2023 |
Rollout 4: October 2024 |
|
|
-Animal Waste |
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2. Will the Maine Tax Portal change how I file returns, make payments, or respond to notices and bills?
The Maine Tax Portal is meant to improve access and increase capabilities for taxpayers and practitioners to electronically interact with Maine Revenue Services. While we currently offer online filing for certain tax types, the Maine Tax Portal will expand online capability to all tax types administered by Maine Revenue Services. In addition, the Maine Tax Portal will allow taxpayers and authorized third parties to register for taxes, file tax returns, make payments, view bills and notices, and perform online account maintenance activities, such as, adding or removing addresses and closing an account. Expanded online capabilities for Rollout 1 taxes and fees are shown below.
The rollout schedule for all other tax types is available at www.Maine.gov/revenue/portal. Account setup instructions and other tutorials will be published over the coming months at www.Maine.gov/revenue/portal.
MTP capabilities for Rollout 1 Taxes are shown below.
3. What Estate Tax Functions are Available on MTP?
Estate Tax forms are now accepted on the Maine Tax Portal (MTP). Personal Representatives of the estate can file either Form 706ME or the Form 700-SOV (Statement of Value). For information on which of these forms should be filed, click here. If you are a third-party Authorized Representative, filing on behalf of the Personal Representative, you can file the Form 700-SOV (Statement of Value) and Form 706ME as a “non-logged-in activity” on the MTP. To access the MTP, click here.
4. How do I sign up for the Maine Tax Portal for Rollout 1 Taxes and Programs?
Taxpayers and authorized third parties for Rollout 1 taxes and fees may register now to use the Maine Tax Portal at https://revenue.maine.gov/_/.
Once you have navigated to the MTP click on "Create a Username" and follow the instructions to complete your registration. You will be required to provide ID (e.g. SSN, EIN, or TIN), name, address, logon credentials, contact phone number, and email address. Once required information has been provided, MTP will guide you through the confirmation process.
Registration for Rollout 2 taxes will be available in the fall of 2022. See FAQ 5 for key dates for MTP registration recommended by MRS.
5. How do I sign up for the Maine Tax Portal for Rollout 2 Taxes and Programs?
Here is what you need to do:
a. Watch the mail. Invitations to register for the Maine Tax Portal will be mailed to you starting in November 2022.
b. In the meantime, download your account history. For your records, download your filing and payment history from I-File, MEETRS, and EZ-Pay. Once I-File, MEETRS, and EZ-Pay systems are deactivated on May 31, 2023, your historical account information will no longer be available on those platforms.
c. Sign up for an upcoming Maine Tax Portal training webinar. MRS will host free, live training webinars beginning in August 2022 – see schedule online at maine.gov/revenue/portal.
d. After December 1, 2022, remember to set up your Maine Tax Portal account. You will need your Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, and either a Letter ID (contained in your Maine Tax Portal invitation letter)) OR the dollar amount of a tax return or refund from one of the past three filings. If you haven’t filed taxes in Maine before, you’ll need to register your business with MRS before you can use the portal. Go to maine.gov/revenue/portal, click on the Maine Tax Portal link, and click on Create a Username. See item 6 below for the recommended timeframes for MTP registration for each applicable tax or program.
e. Coordinate with your tax professionals. If you use a third-party tax professional, such as a tax accountant, to prepare your business taxes both you and the tax professional will need to create Maine Tax Portal accounts. Third parties must request access to their clients’ Maine Tax Portal accounts, and clients must authorize access. Step-by-step instructions and resources are available on the MRS website at maine.gov/revenue/portal.
f. Confirm when you should begin using the Maine Tax Portal, based on your tax type and filing frequency - see schedules below.
Sales, Use, and Service Provider Taxes
|
Filing Frequency |
Initial MTP Filing Period |
Due Date |
Recommended Date to Begin Using the MTP |
|
Monthly |
11/01/22 – 11/30/22 |
12/15/22 |
Beginning 12/01/22 |
|
Annual |
01/01/22 – 12/31/22 |
01/17/23 |
Beginning 01/01/23 |
|
Semi-Annual |
07/01/22 – 12/31/22 |
01/17/23 |
Beginning 01/01/23 |
|
Quarterly |
01/01/23 – 03/31/23 |
04/18/23 |
Beginning 04/01/23 |
|
Seasonal |
06/01/23 – 06/30/23 |
07/17/23 |
Beginning 07/01/23 |
Income Tax Withholding
Withholding filers are encouraged to register for the Maine Tax Portal by January 31, 2023 (prior to filing their fourth quarter return).
All Other Rollout 2 Taxes and Programs
Taxpayers are encouraged to register for the Maine Tax Portal starting on December 1, 2022.
6. What MTP functions are included for Rollout 2 Taxes and Programs?
Rollout 2 Taxes
Property Tax Programs
7. Does the Maine Tax Portal support authorized third-party access?
The Maine Tax Portal allows a taxpayer to authorize a third party (e.g., accountant, attorney, or other representative) to perform functions on a taxpayer’s behalf for all taxes and programs in Rollout 1. Taxpayers manage the access levels for the third party and access can be revoked at any time by the taxpayer. Depending on the access level, third-party users can view submissions, letters, messages, and submit payments and returns on a taxpayer’s behalf. There is no limit to the number of accounts/customers a third party may have access to.
8. Who needs to register for the Maine Tax Portal?
The Maine Tax Portal allows a taxpayer to authorize a third party (e.g., accountant, attorney, or other representative) to perform functions on a taxpayer’s behalf for all taxes and programs in Rollout 1. Taxpayers manage the access levels for the third party and access can be revoked at any time by the taxpayer. Depending on the access level, third-party users can view submissions, letters, messages, and submit payments and returns on a taxpayer’s behalf.
9. Why are new Taxpayer Account Numbers being assigned?
All tax types that are included in the Maine Tax Portal will be assigned a new account ID to increase efficiencies in processing returns and payments. This will allow taxpayers to better manage their accounts and provide an added layer of security for taxpayer information. New account numbers will be assigned as each tax type or fee is implemented in the Maine Tax Portal.
To ease the transition, taxpayers may continue to use existing account numbers when filing returns or making payments and in any correspondence to Maine Revenue Services.
If a taxpayer currently holds a certificate from Maine Revenue Services, an updated certificate with the new account ID will be issued.
10. What web browsers should be used to access the MTP?
The following web browsers are recommended for accessing the Maine Tax Portal:
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Opera
The current version of each of the above browsers is supported along with one prior version. Microsoft 365 has discontinued support for Internet Explorer 11 and is not recommended for accessing the MTP. Microsoft Edge’s IE mode provides built-in support for legacy websites and applications that still require Internet Explorer.
11. Will taxpayers be able to set up payment plans in the MTP?
Starting on December 1, 2022, registered MTP users will be able to set up payment plans via the MTP for all Rollout 1 and Rollout 2 taxes and programs. See <insert> for a list of Rollout 1 and Rollout 2 taxes and programs. All payment plans set up via the MTP will be subject to review and approval by MRS.
12. Will Bulk Filers be Required to Use the MTP?
Income Tax Withholding remitters will be receiving new tax account numbers starting in November 2022. However, current account numbers may still be used for filing and payment after that date.
Bulk filing will be available on the MTP for Income Tax Withholding (Forms 941ME, 941A-ME and W-3ME) for use by Payroll Service Providers (or PSPs) and by other Income Tax Withholding bulk filers starting on December 1, 2022. MEETRS, which is currently used for bulk filing, will remain available after December 1, 2022 for filing Forms 941ME and W-3ME but will no longer support filing Form 941A-ME. Federal Forms W-2, 1099, or W-2G will remain available for upload on MEETRS until October 2023.
In order to use the MTP bulk filing capability, Payroll Service Providers and other bulk filers will be required to register for the MTP and to obtain MTP usernames. Payroll Service Providers will need to include the new 8-digit account number in their bulk filings for any taxpayers who register for Income Tax Withholding after November 14, 2022. Both the MTP and MEETRS will support the current eleven-digit and new eight-digit tax account number. Additional details will be provided in the coming months.
13. What should Sales, Use, and Service Provider Tax taxpayers know about the second rollout of the MTP on December 1, 2022?
- Changes coming for Sales, Use, and Service Provider Tax taxpayers include:
- New Account Numbers - Sales, Use, and Service Provider Tax taxpayers will receive new eight-digit tax account numbers starting in December 2022.
- Updated Certificates - Sales Tax taxpayers will be receiving updated Retailer and Resale Certificates showing the new account numbers. Exempt taxpayers will also be receiving updated Exemption Certificates. These updated certificates will be issued and sent starting in November 2022. Taxpayers will need to provide updated copies of the certificates to their vendors.
- Reprogramming Registers - Retailers who currently have their registers programmed for the existing seven-digit account numbers may need to reprogram those registers for the new eight-digit account numbers.
- New File Format - “Consolidated” filers (those filing for multiple Sales or Service Provider Tax locations) will use a different file format to submit their return. MRS will provide the revised file format in future correspondence and on MRS’s website in coming months.
- i-File - Beginning on December 1, 2022, i-file (the current MRS online filing solution) will be limited to filing an original return. All return filing (original and amended), payment, account and address maintenance, and other online services will be available on the MTP at that time. The limited i-File functionality will continue to be available until early 2023.
14. Where are my Estimated Tax Payments?
Estimated tax payments processed after October 21, 2021 for Rollout 1 taxes are visible in the MTP. Estimated tax payments made prior to that date have been credited to taxpayer accounts in MRS’s legacy tax system and will be applied to any new tax debt as appropriate. See <insert link> for a list of Rollout 1 taxes.
15. Do taxpayers and authorized third parties have to use Multi-Factor Authentication to access MTP accounts?
Yes, MRS requires multi-factor authentication to access and use MTP accounts to secure accounts and taxpayer data. MTP users may receive texts or emails to obtain the required confirmation code (which then must be entered at the prompt on the MTP to gain access) or may use an authentication app such as Google or Microsoft Authenticator.
16. What resources are available to assist taxpayers and tax professionals in using the MTP?
Online Help – Online Help for the MTP may be accessed by clicking this link - (Maine Tax Portal Help)
Instructional Videos – MTP instructional videos for Rollout 1 taxes may be accessed by clicking this link - Maine Tax Portal Instructional Videos | Maine Revenue Services
17. Where can I learn more?
Sign up for Maine Revenue Services’ Tax Alerts and watch your inbox for more information or visit www.Maine.gov/revenue/portal. Any questions about the Maine Tax Portal can be submitted via email to taxpayerassist@maine.gov with “Portal” in the subject line.