Want your $850 Maine relief check? Today is the deadline

AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) - Hundreds of thousands of Mainers have already received their $850 relief checks from the state. For those still hoping to cash in, the deadline to file 2021 state individual income tax returns is Halloween, Oct. 31.

In July, the state said it had mailed checks to everyone who was currently eligible and had filed their tax returns. At that time, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services said it has sent a total of 784,028 payments to Maine taxpayers, representing 91% of the 858,000 estimated people who would be eligible. Additional checks were to be sent each week as taxpayers continued to file their returns.

The relief payments were part of the Supplemental Budget Mills signed into law earlier this year. The payments refund over half of the state’s $729.3 million surplus.

To claim the $850, a Maine person who is typically a non-filer can follow the same process they use to claim the Property Tax and Sales Tax Fairness credits, which doesn’t require filing a federal return.

To file a Maine State tax return and qualify for the $850 payment:

1. Complete Schedule PTFC/STFC in full:

https://www.maine.gov/revenue/sites/maine.gov.revenue/files/inline-files/21_1040me_dwnldff.pdf

and

2. Answer these questions on the 1040-ME form:

Check Box A and answer questions 1 – 13a. Then, transfer the appropriate information from Schedule PTFC/STFC to answer questions 25d through 33e as appropriate.

If you are eligible and have not received your relief check, go to the online portal to get a status on your payment.