AUGUSTA — A new report by Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s office says the surtax on Maine’s highest earners that voters approved last November will negatively impact the state economy. The surtax makes Maine have one of the nation’s highest tax rates on top of earners with a 10.15 percent tax on earnings over $200,000. Supporters […]
taxes
Posted inUncategorized
Amazon to begin collecting sales taxes in Maine
PORTLAND — Amazon said it will begin collecting sales tax on purchases shipped to Maine addresses next month. The online retailer has been working in recent months to reach agreements in a handful of remaining states where it doesn’t collect sales taxes. The agreement in Maine, first reported by WMTW-TV, was confirmed by an Amazon spokeswoman […]
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Posted inLetters, sj-web
A totalitarian democracy
Only in the land of the free: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Obamacare/ACA, e911 surcharge, universal school and library surcharge, occupancy permits, zoning, mandatory minimum wage, workers’ compensation, unemployment tax, garage sale/yard sale permits, seat belts and helmets, animal licenses, marriage licenses, death tax, estate tax, capital gains tax, gathering permits, eminent domain, NSA, secret court […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Analysis: The mistake Maine and other states made with legal marijuana
The arrival of 2017 will bring many changes to the country, including falling marijuana prices in states that have legalized a recreational market. Cannabis users may cheer this news, but it heralds the start of an enduring budgetary headache for states that tax legal marijuana sales based solely on price. New data from one legalization […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
LePage budget would expand sales tax to many digital services
PORTLAND — Gov. Paul LePage’s latest budget proposal seeks to expand Maine’s sales tax to a range of in-person services from haircuts to movie tickets. It’s also extending the state’s ongoing tax fight into the digital realm. In a move that mirrors past efforts to apply Maine’s sales tax to online retailers such as Amazon, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage’s budget would cut income tax rate and state jobs
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.8 billion, two-year state budget proposal, released Friday night, would reduce Maine’s state employee workforce by approximately 500 and shift Maine to a flat income tax by 2020. The budget proposal for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years was released on Friday with little fanfare. The LePage administration posted it […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage set to unveil 2-year budget to Maine legislators
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is set to unveil a budget that he says will reduce spending and cut taxes for the state’s highest earners. LePage has expressed deep concern about Maine voters’ approval of a new 3 percent surtax on the state’s highest earners to fund schools. In recent radio interviews, he […]
Posted inMaine
Gov. Paul LePage says he ‘failed miserably’ on key issues
AUGUSTA — When he took office six years ago, Gov. Paul LePage took aim at a trio of problems he saw facing Maine: high taxes, costly energy bills and burdensome regulations. “I’ve tried to address all three,” LePage said, “and I’ve failed miserably.” The governor told a radio station recently that while he’s had some […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage wants to decrease income tax
Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday morning on radio that his upcoming two-year budget proposal will seek to cut income taxes without increasing the sales tax. It’s a departure from the Republican governor’s budget proposal nearly two years ago, which proposed an income tax reduction balanced with a sales tax increase. Many Republicans didn’t like the sales […]