Starting Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Sun Media Group is required by law to charge sales tax on all newspaper purchases, including the Sun Journal and its weekly publications circulated in Rumford, Norway, Farmington, Bethel, Rangeley, Livermore Falls and Old Town.

The percent sales tax, first proposed by Gov. Paul LePage and passed by the Legislature last June, now applies to purchases of all newspapers and magazines.

In order to comply with state law, the Sun Media Group will change the way it handles payments from subscribers who have been paying their carriers directly.

Rather than require more than 100 newspaper carriers to register with the Maine Revenue Service in order to remit sales tax, Sun Media will bill all customers directly. This change affects an estimated 2,000 customers.

For customers who purchase Sun Media products in stores, starting Oct. 1 merchants will collect the new 5.5 percent sales tax, which is based on the cover price of the product, directly from customers.

For questions regarding this new tax or the requirements surrounding the law, contact the Maine Revenue Service directly by calling 207-624-9693 or by email at sales.tax@maine.gov.