State launches online tool to help Mainers claim $850 relief checks
Courtesy / Pixabay
Maine households are in line to receive $850 relief checks from the state's budget surplus.
Maine has launched an online tool to help residents find out whether they are eligible to receive the $850 relief checks announced last week as part of the state's new budget.
Under supplemental funding approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Janet Mills, more than 857,000 Maine households are in line to receive the checks. If they haven't already done so, Mainers have until the end of October to file a 2021 state income tax return and then can claim their checks.
The new online tool, accessed through the governor's official website, includes frequently asked questions as well as information about other available relief.
“We want to make sure that every eligible person is able to receive this assistance, and we are hopeful that this website can help accomplish that by answering some of the most common questions Maine people may have,” Mills said.
“We have begun the work of getting $850 checks into the mailbox of every Maine adult who qualifies,” added Kirsten Figueroa, Commissioner for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, of which Maine Revenue Services is a division.
The relief program is expected to return half of Maine’s budget surplus, or $729.3 million, to families, couples and single tax filers across the state grappling with increased costs due to pandemic-driven inflation.
Maine Revenue Services expects to deliver the first round of relief this spring, and on a rolling basis through the end of the year as tax returns are received.
Mills is also encouraging Mainers to assess their eligibility for up to $1,400 in additional tax relief available per person this filing season. That relief is available via laws already enacted to support low- and middle-income Maine families through the Homestead Exemption Program, State Property Tax Fairness Credit, Maine Earned Income Tax Credit and Sales Tax Fairness Credit.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Related Content
Why is the State mailing checks when the post office is so unreliable. They should be direct depositing all funds to those that e-filed their tax returns. The State has forgotten we are in the 21st century. I know it was proposed, so why are they not doing this? So dumb.
1 Comments