Municipal Matters: Governor Extends April 1st Deadline for Qualifying Property Tax Exemptions

In Brief

ME law provides that property tax exemptions must be submitted by April 1st. On March 31st, however, Governor Mills signed an Exemption Order that extended the April 1, 2020 deadline for certain property tax exemptions to either a municipality’s property tax commitment date or 30 days following the termination of the Governor’s civil emergency proclamation.

The extension specifically applies to the following exemption classifications:

• Property of Institutions and Organizations (36 M.R.S. § 652)
• Estates of Veterans (36 M.R.S. § 653(1)(G))
• Solar and Wind Energy Equipment (36 M.R.S. §§ 655(1)(U) and 656(1)(K))
• Exemption of Homesteads (36 M.R.S. § 684(1))
• Exemption of Business Equipment (“BETE”) (36 M.R.S. § 693(1))

What’s Next

Assessors should therefore continue to process exemption applications received after April 1st. The April 1st status date on which all real and personal property is subject to taxation for the upcoming year (36 M.R.S. § 502) otherwise remains in effect.

Please contact N. Joel Moser at (207) 228-7155 or jmoser@bernsteinshur.com with any questions regarding property tax exemptions or assessments.