Attention Business Owners

• February 22, 2019

City of Auburn - 2019 Personal Property Filing

The business personal property filing season is just around the corner, the following are general notices concerning the 2019 filing season.

BUSINESS CANVAS: Pursuant to Maine Law, all business owners are required to report their business assets (personal property) to the municipality.

The City of Auburn Assessing Division conducts a business canvas to identify and assist business owners with their yearly filing (due on April 15, 2019). We have begun our 2019 canvas during which we will be looking for new or closed businesses. You may see one of the Assessing staff at your location in February or early March. Our goal is to answer your questions about how to file and what tax relief programs you may be eligible for.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, update your business details, report a new or closed business – please contact our office:

City of Auburn, Assessing Division

Phone: (207) 333-6601 – ask for Assessing

e-mail: assessing@auburnmaine.gov

FORMS: We have also posted our 2019 “Property schedule form 706-A” to the website. This is the filing form used to report your business assets. It is available in excel and as a pdf. For a link to the filing forms, click here:

 2019 706-A (pdf)

2019 706-A (excel)

TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS: Business owners who pay personal property taxes may be eligible for relief. There are two State of Maine property tax relief programs that are presently available:

1)     The Business Equipment Tax Exemption Program, aka “BETE” or “Betty”. This is a 100% exemption program for eligible assets. Note that in 2018, more types of businesses became eligible for the BETE program. Due to recently enacted legislation, businesses engaged in the sale of retail services will now generally be eligible to participate in the BETE program for qualifying property placed in service after April 1, 2007 and will be ineligible for the BETR program.

2)     The Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program, aka “BETR” or “Better”. BETR is a tax refund program for qualifying businesses/assets.

For more information about the State’s personal property tax relief programs, follow this link: Maine Revenue Tax Relief

Share on Social