18- 125 C.M.R. ch. 806, § 02

Current through 2024-17, April 24, 2024

Section 125-806-02 - Income subject to Maine income tax

A.Generally. Income received by a nonresident is attributable to and taxable by Maine when the income is derived from or connected with sources in Maine ("Maine-source income"). The itemized and standard deductions, credits, income modifications and personal exemptions applicable to residents also apply to nonresidents. A Maine-source loss is determined in the same manner that a Maine-source gain is determined. Each nonresident partner of a partnership, member of a limited liability company ("LLC") categorized as a partnership, and shareholder of an S Corporation is subject to Maine income taxation on Maine-source income allocable to the nonresident from the partnership, LLC or S Corporation. Estates of nonresident decedents and nonresident trusts are also subject to tax if Maine-source income has been received.

B.Compensation for personal services. Except as provided by federal law, compensation received for personal services performed in Maine, regardless of where paid, is Maine-source income. Personal service compensation includes, but is not limited to, wages, salaries, taxable benefits such as annual and sick leave, commissions, fees, or payment in kind. Personal services performed in Maine include sick time and vacation time earned while working in Maine. In the case of compensation for personal services, unless excluded from the definition of "income" under the Internal Revenue Code, the taxpayer must report all Maine-source income even though the taxpayer does not receive the entire amount of such income. For example, amounts withheld by an employer for federal income taxes, FICA contributions, medical insurance plans, or other similar withholding deductions must be included in Maine-source income; on the other hand, compensation contributed to a 401(k) plan is not subject to Maine taxation. Unemployment compensation received by a nonresident that is derived from employment in Maine is Maine-source income.

With respect to incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, and employee stock purchase plans, compensation for personal services performed in Maine generally includes, for nonresident employees working in Maine at the time the employee is granted the right to a stock option plan, the amount that represents the fair market value of the stock on the date exercised (i.e. when the employee has purchased the stock) that exceeds the option price of the stock at the time the option is granted. When the period between the grant of a stock option and the time the option is exercised straddles employment within and without the state of Maine, an adjustment must be made in accordance with section .05, subsection A below; the compensation sourced to Maine must be included in Maine adjusted gross income during the same tax year the income is included in federal adjusted gross income. For purposes of stock option plans described in this paragraph, income derived from personal services is compensation even if the amount is reported as a capital gain on the federal income tax return.

C.Business income. All income derived from or connected with the carrying on of a trade or business within Maine is Maine-source income. Generally, a nonresident has a trade or business in Maine if:

1. The nonresident, directly or through agents or employees or through a pass-through entity in which the taxpayer is a shareholder, member, or partner, maintains or operates or shares in maintaining or operating a desk, room, office, shop, store, warehouse, factory, or any other place in Maine where business affairs are systematically and regularly conducted; or

2. The nonresident, directly or through agents or employees or through a pass-through entity in which the taxpayer is a shareholder, member, or partner, is present for business in Maine on other than a systematic or regular basis and earns or derives gross income during the taxable year from contractual or sales-related activities.

D.Income from ownership of real or tangible personal property. All income derived from the ownership of real or tangible personal property located in Maine is Maine-source income; however, unless the property was employed in a business, trade, profession, or occupation carried on in this State, interest income earned from the sale of such property will not be subject to Maine income tax. Maine-source income includes rents derived from and gains from a federally taxable sale or exchange of:

1. Real property located in Maine;

2. Tangible personal property having a situs in Maine; or

3. Any interest in a Maine time-share or similar arrangement.

E.Income from the sale of a partnership interest. The income from the sale of a partnership interest on or after July 1, 2005, by a nonresident is sourced to Maine to the extent of the ratio of the partnership's tangible property located in Maine to the partnership's tangible property located everywhere in the United States, determined based on original cost. "Original cost" for purposes of this subsection and 36 M.R.S. §5142(3-A) is defined in Rule 801.09(D). Tangible property includes real estate, inventory, and equipment that is owned or rented by the partnership. If more than 50% of the partnership's assets consist of intangible property, the gain or loss is allocated to Maine based on the sales factor of the partnership for the prior tax year. "Sales" for purposes of computing the sales factor are defined in Rule No. 801. "Property" for purposes of computing the ratio of property located in Maine to property located everywhere is defined in Rule No. 801. Maine-source income does not include income from the sale of a limited partner's interest in an investment partnership where more than 80% of the value of the partnership's total assets consists of intangible personal property held for investment, except that such property cannot include an interest in a partnership unless that partnership is itself an investment partnership.

If the apportionment provisions set forth in this subsection do not fairly represent the extent of the partnership's business activity in this State, the taxpayer may petition for, or the State Tax Assessor ("Assessor") may require, in respect to all or any part of the partnership's business activity, the employment of any other method to effectuate an equitable apportionment to this State of the partner's income from the sale of the partnership interest. See 36 M.R.S. §5142(3-A). The provisions of this subsection also apply to an LLC, unless it elects at the federal level to be taxed as an entity other than a partnership. See 36 M.R.S. §5180(1).

F.Gambling activity/lottery winnings. Winnings received by a nonresident from the Maine Lottery or the Tri-State Lotto (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) are Maine-source income if the winning ticket was purchased in Maine on or after July 13, 1993. Maine-source income also includes proceeds from any gambling activity conducted in Maine, lottery tickets purchased in Maine (except as provided in the previous sentence), and payments received from third parties as consideration for the transfer of rights to future proceeds related to gambling activity in Maine or lottery tickets purchased in Maine.

G.Minimum taxability thresholds. Nonresidents with certain types of Maine-source income are subject to income taxation on that income only if the minimum taxability threshold is reached. All other Maine-source income of the nonresident is subject to income taxation as required by the law. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection B above, a nonresident is subject to Maine income tax on compensation that is Maine-source income earned through the performance of personal services in this State as an employee or on Maine-source income that is derived from the trade or business in Maine as discussed below and is required to pay Maine tax on that income only if the income is not described in section .03 below and if:

1.For compensation received prior to 2004 , the nonresident individual:

(a) Was present in Maine performing personal services for more than 20 days during the taxable year and directly earned or derived more than $6,000 in gross income during the taxable year in Maine from all sources;

(b) The nonresident individual had income described in section .02(C)(1) from a permanent business presence in Maine; or

(c) The nonresident individual had business income described in section .02(C)(2) from a temporary business presence in Maine in excess of $6,000 of gross income during the taxable year from contractual or sales-related activities.

2.For compensation received in 2004 or thereafter from personal services performed in Maine prior to 2004, the nonresident individual is present in Maine performing personal services as an employee for more than 10 days during the taxable year in which the compensation is received; and

3.For compensation received in 2004 or thereafter from personal services performed in Maine in 2004 through 2010, the nonresident individual is present in Maine performing personal services as an employee for more than 10 days during the taxable year in which the compensation is earned.

4.For compensation earned or derived in 2011 or thereafter, the nonresident individual:

(a) Was present in Maine performing personal services as an employee for more than 12 days during that taxable year and directly earned or derived more than $3,000 in gross income during the taxable year in Maine from all sources;

(b) Had income described in section .02(C)(1) from an entity with a permanent business presence in Maine; or

(c) Had a temporary business presence in Maine for more than 12 days during that taxable year and earned or derived in excess of $3,000 of gross income during the taxable year from contractual or sales-related activities.

The days worked in Maine that count toward the taxability threshold need not be consecutive. Any portion of a day spent performing personal services in Maine is counted as a full day. For taxable years of less than 12 months, day references must be pro rated based on the number of months of the taxable year over 12 multiplied by the day threshold.

H.Certain personal services not counted towards the 12-day minimum taxability threshold. Some time spent by a nonresident who is present in the State performing certain services as an employee will not count towards the 12-day threshold in .02(G)(4)(a). No more than 24 days may be excluded under this provision. The excluded personal services fall into the following four categories:

1.Any personal service performed in connection with presenting or receiving employment-related training or education. The services include providing instruction at or attending seminars, hands-on training, on-the-job training, or other types of educational opportunities required by or related to the nonresident's employment.

2.Any personal service performed in connection with a site inspection, review, analysis of management, or any other supervision:

(a) At a company-owned facility on behalf of a company not headquartered in Maine; or

(b) At a Maine-based affiliated or subsidiary company on behalf of its parent.

3.Any personal service performed in connection with research and development at a facility based in Maine or in connection with the installation of new or upgraded equipment or systems at that facility.

(a) Research and development at that facility; or

(b) Installation or repair of any equipment or systems used for purposes of research and development at that facility.

4.Any personal service performed as part of a project team working on the attraction or implementation of new investment in a facility based in Maine. Nonresident individual employees engaged in financial or business planning, engineering or construction, or testing, permitting or inspection, or other services as members of a project team that has as its purpose bringing in or implementing new investment of money or resources in an existing or new Maine-based facility or in the expansion, renovation, development or construction of the facility itself.

18- 125 C.M.R. ch. 806, § 02