Maine § 505. - Taxes; payment; powers of municipalities

Full text of Maine Maine Revised Statutes § 505. — Taxes; payment; powers of municipalities, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 505.. Taxes; payment; powers of municipalities

At any meeting at which it votes to raise a tax, or at any subsequent meeting prior to the commitment of that tax, a municipality may, with respect to the tax, by vote determine:   [PL 1995, c. 57, §4 (AMD).]

1.  When lists committed.  The date when the lists named in section 709 shall be committed.

2.  When property taxes due and payable.  The date or dates when property taxes shall become due and payable.

3.  When poll tax due and payable. 

4.  When interest collected.  The date or dates from and after which interest must accrue, which must also be the date or dates on which taxes become delinquent. The rate of interest must be specified in the vote and must apply to delinquent taxes committed during the taxable year until those taxes are paid in full. Except as provided in subsection 4‑A, the maximum rate of interest must be established by the Treasurer of State and may not exceed the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the calendar year, rounded up to the next whole percent plus 3 percentage points. The Treasurer of State shall post that rate of interest on the Treasurer of State's publicly accessible website on or before January 20th of each year. The interest must be added to and become part of the taxes.

4-A.  Alternate calculation of interest.  For any tax year for which the maximum interest rate established by the Treasurer of State under subsection 4 is 2 percentage points or more lower than the maximum rate established by the Treasurer of State for the previous tax year, the municipality may adopt an interest rate that is up to 2 percentage points over the rate established by the Treasurer of State for the tax year under subsection 4.

5.  Abatement when taxes paid prior to time.  That all taxpayers who pay their taxes prior to specified times shall be entitled to abatement thereon, which abatement shall not exceed 10%, and shall be specified in the vote. A notification of such vote shall be posted by the treasurer in one or more public places in the municipality within 7 days after the commitment of the taxes.

Source: official Maine text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Maine § 505.

What does Maine Revised Statutes § 505. cover?

Section 505. ("Taxes; payment; powers of municipalities") is part of the Maine Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Maine. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Maine § 505.?

A common citation format is "Maine Revised Statutes § 505." (Maine). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Maine law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Maine official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Maine attorney.

How does Maine § 505. apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Maine can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Maine.