Chapter 435
S.P. 426 - L.D. 1225
An Act To Make Technical Changes to the Repeal of the Personal Property Tax on Business Equipment
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §693, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 623, §1, is amended to read:
1. Reporting.
On or before May 1st of each year, a taxpayer claiming an exemption under this section shall file a report with the assessor of the taxing jurisdiction in which the property would otherwise be subject to taxation. The report must identify the property for which exemption is claimed and must be made on a form prescribed by the State Tax Assessor or substitute form approved by the State Tax Assessor. The State Tax Assessor shall furnish copies of the form to each municipality in the State and the form must be made available to taxpayers prior to April 1st annually. The assessor of the taxing jurisdiction may require the taxpayer to sign the form and make oath to its truth. If the report is not filed by April 1st, the filing deadline is automatically extended to May 1st without the need for the taxpayer to request or the assessor to grant that extension. Upon written request, the assessor may at any time grant further extensions of time to file the report. Failure to file the report in a timely manner, including any extensions of time, disqualifies the property involved from exemption for that tax year. The assessor of the taxing jurisdiction may require in writing that a taxpayer answer in writing all reasonable inquiries as to the property for which exemption is requested. A taxpayer has 30 days from receipt of such an inquiry to respond. Upon written request, a taxpayer is entitled to a 30-day extension to respond to the inquiry and the assessor may at any time grant additional extensions upon written request. The answer to any such inquiry is not binding on the assessor.All notices and requests provided pursuant to this subsection must be made by personal delivery or certified mail and must conspicuously state the consequences of the taxpayer's failure to respond to the notice or request in a timely manner.
If an exemption has already been accepted and the State Tax Assessor subsequently determines that the property is not entitled to exemption, a supplemental assessment must be made within 3 years of the original assessment date with respect to the property in compliance with section 713, without regard to the limitations contained in that section regarding the justification necessary for a supplemental assessment.
Effective September 20, 2007