Reminder: State Income Tax Deadline Extended to May 17, 2021
The State of Maine will move the deadline for Maine individual income tax payments from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. The change aligns with the Federal government’s recent extension of the Federal tax filing and payment deadline.
Additionally, the filing deadline for Maine tax returns, which is distinct from the payment deadline, is automatically tied to the Federal date. As a result, the filing deadline for 2020 Maine income tax returns has also been moved to May 17, 2021. Like the Internal Revenue Service, Maine Revenue Services (MRS) will provide formal guidance in the coming days.
Maine individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax, do not need to file any forms or call to qualify for this deadline extension to May 17, 2021. For individuals who file via Form 1040ME (Maine Individual Income Tax Return) for the 2020 tax return, penalties and interest will not be applied for the period from April 16, 2021 until May 17, 2021.
Additionally, the bipartisan supplemental budget enacted by the Legislature and signed into law allows recipients of unemployment benefits to claim exemption from Maine income tax up to $10,200 for tax year 2020. This applies to those with an annual income of less than $150,000, regardless of filing status. Qualification criteria and tax forms are available at www.maine.gov/revenue. Low-income Mainers may call 2-1-1 or visit 211maine.org for assistance in identifying free tax preparation resources available throughout the state.
The Federal government’s extension through May 17, 2021 does not apply to corporate returns and payments nor to individual and corporate estimated payments, all of which remain due on April 15, 2021. As a result, Maine’s deadlines for corporate and/or estimated filing and payments will also remain April 15, 2021.
For questions about Maine income tax, visit the MRS website at www.maine.gov/revenue.
Deadline Approaching: Maine Agricultural Development Grant Program Applications
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry's (DACF) Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources seeks project applications for the 2021 Agricultural Development Grant (ADG) program. DACF expects to award up to $250,000 in 2021.
ADG awards support projects involving market research, market promotion, and testing and demonstrating new technologies. Additional priority will be given to projects focused on: helping farms diversify products and markets and/or adapt sales and marketing models to better weather market disruptions, including those caused by COVID-19; creating new opportunities for multiple farms to expand access to local and regional markets; enhancing fiber production or value-added food production opportunities for products containing all, or a majority of, Maine-grown ingredients/materials; providing processing infrastructure opportunities for agricultural products from more than one farm; or improving adaptation and increasing resilience to climate-related crop or livestock disturbances in support of long-term farm vitality and productivity.
Maine-based individuals, private for-profit businesses (e.g., farms and food producers), nonprofits, and organizations (including public agencies) are eligible to apply. Download the 2021 ADG Request for Applications (RFA) online. The application deadline is April 22.
Maine's 2020 ADG awards supported expanding hops production, introducing and optimizing novel small-scale grain hullers and transplanters, increasing production capabilities to meet sea vegetable product demand, and other agriculture-related projects.
Please review the RFA for more information, and contact AgDevelopmentGrant@maine.gov with questions.
Become a Maine State Park Lifeguard
The Maine State Park lifeguard team is searching for qualified individuals with aquatic experience (swimming, surfing) and strong hero-factor (leadership, coaching, mentor) to continue the tradition. Our lifeguards take great pride in protecting beachgoers and themselves. Learn more about becoming a Maine State Park lifeguard below.
Apply for lifeguarding positions:
Southern Region Maine State Parks APPLY (Includes: Crescent Beach; Ferry Beach; Mount Blue; Popham Beach; Range Pond; Reid State Park; Sebago Lake)
Northern Region Maine State Parks APPLY
(Includes: Damariscotta; Lake St. George; Peaks-Kenny; Swan Lake)
Note to interested Maine State Park Lifeguard applicants: Find a nearby lifeguarding course to become certified. Resources include Red Cross , YMCA , UMaine , and local colleges and schools.
Read the Lifeguard brochure (PDF 276KB).
Spring is here and black bears are looking for food!
Spring has sprung early this year and wildlife is wasting no time shedding winter’s grip to enjoy the nice spring weather.
For many of these animals, such as black bears, they have lost a significant amount of body weight and are on the move looking for food after emerging from their winter dens. While denning, black bears enter a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism and respiration, breathing only once per 15 to 45 seconds, and dropping their heart rate to 8-21 beats per minute. Even with a lowered metabolic rate, bears still lose significant body fat. Unlike true hibernators, bears don’t eat, drink, urinate, or defecate during this time.
Once spring comes and bears emerge from their den, for two to three weeks bears are working to regulate their bodily functions slowly until normal activity ensues. At this time of year, natural foods are limited, and bears may take the risk and wander into backyards in search of easily accessible food.
Take steps now to prevent black bears from coming to your yard:
- Rake up unused bird seed from the ground
- Remove birdfeeders between April 1 and November 1
- Keep pet food and trash inside or in fenced areas
- Clean grills thoroughly after use
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