When Are State Tax Returns Due in Maine?

You probably already know that most Americans have to file their 2018 federal tax return by April 15, 2019 (as we told you earlier). For most states with an income tax (there are nine states with no income tax), the state return is also due on April 15 this year. However, some states give you more time to file — such as Maine.

States With Tax Deadlines After April 15 in 2019

Residents of the Pine Tree State have until April 17, 2019, to file their state tax return on Form 1040ME. However, that's actually the due date for filing federal tax returns in Maine, which the state simply adopts for its own filing deadline.

Why do Mainers get two extra days to file their federal return, you might ask? Well, it's because the IRS can't require returns to be filed on a legal holiday — even a state commemoration. Patriot's Day, an official holiday in Maine that commemorates Revolutionary War battles, falls on April 15 this year. That means the federal due date is pushed to April 16. However, Emancipation Day is on April 16 in Washington, D.C. This holiday honors the end of slavery in the District of Columbia. Because D.C. holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way federal holidays do, Emancipation Day bumps the federal due date for Maine residents back an additional day to April 17.

Taxpayers in Maine who can't file their state return by April 17 get an automatic six-month extension. But an extension only allows more time to file your return; it does not allow additional time to pay any tax due.

For information about other states with delayed tax filing deadlines, see 9 States Where You Can File Your State Tax Return After April 15.