Maine Municipal Tax Collectors' & Treasurers' Association
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Posted by Michele A. Bukoveckas, Sebago, October 1, 2009: April 1 is the deadline.  We send out tax bills in the fall, the owner of record as of April 1st gets the bill.  We state on the bill that if they sold their property, it is their responsibility to forward it.  Now, if the new owner does not pay, the lien is filed against the old owner  and their credit (the one who owned it April 1st ).  What do you tell people when they with just cause, say this law is not fair.  At the end of 18 months, the new owner loses his property, and the old owner has bad credit.  I keep saying it's unfair, but that's state law.  There has to be a better answer to tell these people.  Please email me directly.

Responses: We will send a courtesy copy of the tax bill to the new owner if the closing has taken place between 4/1 and the time of commitment.  (Our bills go out in mid-August).  The bill states on it that a courtesy copy has been sent to the new owners. The 30-day notice process is one way to help prevent this – if the former owner gets the 30-day notice as required, they're likely to give you a call.  I would also recommend a copy be sent by 1st class mail to the new owner.  The other responsibility has to do with the closing at transaction time – realtors/bankers/attorneys/title folks know property taxes are due.  You can tell the new owner it's part of the closing responsibility to make sure the taxes due are paid, and to know which party is paying how much in taxes.  That doesn't help when the closing is 4/2 and your fiscal year doesn't start until 7/1, and the current taxes are paid.  Again, the courtesy copy will go a long way toward helping. (Stu Marckoon, Lamoine)

Thank you to all who answered.  Your responses were quite helpful. (Michelle Bukoveckas)