2012 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 36: TAXATION
Chapter 213: SALES TAX
36 §1811. Sales tax

Part 3: SALES AND USE TAX

§1811. Sales tax

A tax is imposed on the value of all tangible personal property and taxable services sold at retail in this State. The rate of tax is 7% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; 7% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp; 10% on the value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile, of a pickup truck or van with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds rented from a person primarily engaged in the business of renting automobiles or of a loaner vehicle that is provided other than to a motor vehicle dealer's service customers pursuant to a manufacturer s or dealer s warranty; 7% on the value of prepared food; and 5% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services. Value is measured by the sale price, except as otherwise provided. The value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile or of a pickup truck or van with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds rented from a person primarily engaged in the business of renting automobiles is the total rental charged to the lessee and includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and service contracts, drop-off or pick-up fees, airport surcharges, mileage fees and any separately itemized charges on the rental agreement to recover the owner s estimated costs of the charges imposed by government authority for title fees, inspection fees, local excise tax and agent fees on all vehicles in its rental fleet registered in the State. All fees must be disclosed when an estimated quote is provided to the lessee. [2011, c. 209, §4 (AMD); 2011, c. 209, §5 (AFF).]

The tax imposed upon the sale and distribution of gas, water or electricity by any public utility, the rates for which sale and distribution are established by the Public Utilities Commission, must be added to the rates so established. [2007, c. 438, §48 (AMD).]

Rental or lease of an automobile for one year or more must be taxed at the time of the lease or rental transaction at 5% of the following: the total monthly lease payment multiplied by the number of payments in the lease or rental, the amount of equity involved in any trade-in and the value of any cash down payment. Collection and remittance of the tax is the responsibility of the person that negotiates the lease transaction with the lessee. [2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §12 (RPR); 2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §13 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

1965, c. 362, §6 (AMD). 1967, c. 71, (AMD). P&SL 1967, c. 191, §D1 (AMD). 1967, c. 544, §112 (RP). 1967, c. 544, §92 (AMD). 1969, c. 295, §2 (AMD). 1973, c. 766, §2 (AMD). 1977, c. 198, §6 (AMD). 1983, c. 859, §§M7,M13 (AMD). 1985, c. 783, §5 (AMD). 1987, c. 497, §40 (AMD). 1989, c. 533, §§10,14 (AMD). 1989, c. 588, §B2 (AMD). 1989, c. 871, §16 (AMD). 1991, c. 528, §§XX1,2 (AMD). 1991, c. 528, §§XX7,8,RRR (AFF). 1991, c. 591, §§XX1,2 (AMD). 1991, c. 591, §§XX7,8 (AFF). 1993, c. 410, §§LLL1,KKKK1 (AMD). 1993, c. 410, §LLL5 (AFF). 1993, c. 471, §3 (AMD). 1993, c. 701, §§6,7 (AMD). 1993, c. 701, §10 (AFF). 1995, c. 5, §F1 (AMD). 1995, c. 5, §F2 (AFF). 1995, c. 281, §§18,19 (AMD). 1995, c. 281, §42 (AFF). 1999, c. 401, §§X1-3 (AMD). 1999, c. 401, §X5 (AFF). 1999, c. 414, §23 (AMD). 1999, c. 488, §11 (AMD). 2001, c. 439, §TTTT2 (AMD). 2001, c. 439, §TTTT3 (AFF). 2003, c. 510, §C12 (AMD). 2003, c. 510, §C13 (AFF). 2003, c. 673, §V23 (AMD). 2003, c. 673, §V29 (AFF). 2007, c. 410, §5 (AMD). 2007, c. 410, §6 (AFF). 2007, c. 438, §48 (AMD). 2007, c. 444, §1 (AMD). 2007, c. 627, §51 (AMD). 2007, c. 627, §96 (AFF). 2011, c. 209, §4 (AMD). 2011, c. 209, §5 (AFF).