~ Jon James
The headline is intentionally deceiving. Call it clickbait, if you’d like. That would be accurate.
Free money is a misnomer. It’s not really free. It’s a small amount of money you’ve paid the state toward your tax burden that you MIGHT get back, based on your income.
The more money you made last year (and the more you paid in taxes), the less your chances of getting a check. That’s a fact.
Maine Revenue Services will begin mailing $300 Affordability Payments to eligible residents by the end of July under a $155.2 million program approved by the Legislature to help offset the impact of state sales and excise taxes.
To qualify, residents must have filed a full-year 2025 Maine income tax return by Oct. 15, 2026, cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return, and must meet income limits: less than $100,000 for married couples filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouses, $75,000 for heads of household, or $50,000 for single filers or those married filing separately.
Eligible residents do not need to apply. Payments will be sent automatically by paper check to the address on file with Maine Revenue Services. Beginning in July, taxpayers can check their eligibility and payment status online. Anyone who does not receive a check within six weeks after confirming eligibility can contact Maine Revenue Services to request a replacement.
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