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Serving Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties in Maine since 1972. Call 1-800-427-1241 For other counties click here. |
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Tax and Rent: Frequently Asked Questions Information courtesy Maine State website. For more information, go to http://www.state.me.us/revenue/taxrelief/homepage.html and/or http://www.state.me.us/dhs/beas/ 1. What information should I bring to an appointment for filling out the form? - A record of all income received for the year 2001 including: Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Railroad Retirement, Pensions, Gross salary and wages, Alimony, Interest and Dividends, Support payments, Veterans Compensation, Any other income, Life insurance Proceeds greater than $5000. - If renter - the total amount of rent paid in 2001. - If homeowner - your tax assessment as of April 1, 2001. If taxes are $1,500 or more, a copy of the tax bill, with your name on it, must accompany the application. - Copies of your 2001 Federal and Maine Income Taxes (If you filed). 2. Where can I get an application and instructions? Generally, anyone who submitted an application for either the tax and rent program or the drug program will receive a new application prior to August 1st. If you have not received an application by the third week in August, you can pick one up at your local town or city office, Area Agency on Aging, Community Action Program Office, or request an application from Maine Revenue Services by calling 624 -7894. 3. When is the application for a refund due? All applications for a refund must be mailed between August 1st and December 31st in order to be considered for a refund. Maine Revenue Services may allow an extension of no longer than six months for illness, prolonged absence or good cause. All requests for an extension should be filed in writing along with the application. Be sure to completely explain the reason for the request. See question #7 for more information. 4. Where can I get help filling out my application? Assistance is available at most local Area Agencies on Aging (click here for our schedule) and local Community Action Program offices OR you may contact Maine Revenue Services by calling 626-8475 or by visiting our Taxpayer Service Center located on the third floor of the Edmund S. Muskie Building on the corner of Western Avenue and Sewall Street in Augusta. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8am until 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays. 5. Am I eligible for a property tax or rent refund under the elderly portion of the program? To qualify for the elderly portion of the program you must have been a resident of Maine for all of 2001, maintained a homestead in Maine for all of 2001 and lived in your homestead at least 6 months during 2001. You must have been age 62 or older in 2001, or 55 or older if disabled. If applying under the disability provision and married, both applicant and spouse must be disabled and receiving federal disability payments. Your total 2001 household income must have been below: $11,600.00 for a person who lived alone. Or $14,400.00 for a person who lived with a spouse or with a dependent. Complete eligibility guidelines are printed in the application booklet. 6. How do unmarried people who share a home or apartment file for a refund? Each individual can file a separate application. Each person should file a form as if living alone, list only their own income and their share of the total tax bill or rent paid. 7. How do I get an extension to file? Submit an application along with a written request for extension, explaining the reason for the request, to Maine Revenue Services, Income/Estate Tax Division, PO Box 1069, Augusta, Maine 04332-1069. Extensions may only be granted in cases of illness, disability, prolonged absence from home or other good cause. All extensions to file will not exceed 6 months from the December 31st filing deadline. 8. How do I know if someone is my dependent? Any person you would be entitled to claim as a dependent on a federal income tax return should be listed as a dependent on your application. 9. Do I have to claim my dependent's income? Yes. The total income, both taxable and nontaxable, of all household members must be included on the Tax & Rent application. 10. I rented for part of the year and owned my own home for part of the year. Am I eligible for a refund? Yes, if you otherwise qualify. List the tax assessed for the part of the year you owned and occupied your own home and claim the amount of rent you paid for the portion of the year you rented. Remember that each home must have been your primary home during the part of the year you occupied the home. To avoid a delay in receiving your refund, attach to your application a copy of the tax bill, all rent receipts or lease, and a letter explaining the situation. 11. My rent is paid in part by the government. Do I qualify for a refund? Yes, if you otherwise qualify under the elderly portion of the program or you qualify under the general portion of the program and you are receiving social security disability benefits or Supplemental Security income disability. 12. I rent part of my home to others. How do I complete the application? Claim only the property tax assessed on the portion of your house that you occupied as your home. For example if your house is a duplex and you live in half and rent out the other half, you would claim half of the property tax assessed on the entire house and lot. This is true even if the rental portion of your house is vacant for part of or all of the year. 13. I use part of my home for business purposes. How do I file for a refund? Claim only the property tax assessed on the portion of your home that is exclusively used as your personal residence. Enter on the application the amount of property tax assessed for the residential portion of your home. Do not claim any property tax amount claimed as a business expense on your federal income tax return. 14. Can I have my refund deposited directly into my checking or savings account? Yes. In order to have your refund deposited directly to your checking or savings account, fill in your account number and routing transit number of your financial institution on the lines above the signature area of your application and indicate checking or savings. The account must be in your name. If you are married filing a joint application the account can be in either name or in both your names. 15. I did not file an income tax return. How do I calculate my household income? Your application should include all income received by all members of your household during the year. Review the list of Additional Annual Income sources on lines a-g on the back of the application. Enter income for you, your spouse and dependents under column 2 for the entire year on the appropriate line. Be sure to include any premiums paid for Medicare as part of your total Social Security income on the application. 16. What is the Low-Cost Drug Program? The Low-Cost Drug Program helps qualifying elderly or disabled individuals get certain medicines at a low cost. The program will cover 80% of the cost of many prescription drugs. On most other prescription drugs, you'll get up to a 25% discount. Contact Maine Revenue Services for an application by calling 624-7894. 17. How do I know if I qualify for the Low-Cost Drug Program? To qualify for the Low-Cost Drug Program you must: A.) Be a Maine resident. B.) Be at least 62 years old, or 19 years old and disabled by the standards of the Social Security Program. C.) Have household income less than 185% of the established income poverty level for your family size. See the income guidelines listed on page 3 of the application booklet to determine your eligibility. For those who spend at least 40% of their household income on prescription drugs the income limits are higher. Add 25% to the income guidelines listed on page 3 of the application booklet. Complete eligibility requirements are listed in the application booklet. 18. When is my application for the Low-Cost Drug due? You may apply for the Low-Cost Drug Program at any time. If you are currently enrolled, your coverage will continue until February 28, 2003. If you apply no later than December 31st and are found eligible, your coverage will continue through February 28, 2004. 19. What drugs are covered by the Low-Cost Drug Card? Some drugs are discounted 80%. These are generic drugs and other prescription drugs to treat diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, arthritis, chronic lung disease, anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol, incontinence, asthma, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. On most other prescription drugs, you will get up to a 25% discount. If you have questions about specific drugs or about payments, please contact the Bureau of Medical Services by calling: 1-888-600-2466. Or you may write to: Bureau of Medical Services, 11 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0011. [top] About Us | Links | Contact Us | Home |
