Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 36
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655 (2026)

Personal property

✓ current as of May 2026
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The following personal property is exempt from taxation:  
1.  Personal property.   
A. Industrial inventories including raw materials, goods in process and finished work on hand;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
B. Stock-in-trade, including inventory held for resale by a distributor, wholesaler, retail merchant or service establishment. "Stock-in-trade" also includes unoccupied manufactured housing, as defined in Title 10, section 9002, subsection 7, paragraph A or C, that was not previously occupied at its present location, that is not connected to water or sewer and that is owned and offered for sale by a person licensed for the retail sale of manufactured housing pursuant to Title 10, chapter 951, subchapter 2;   [PL 2019, c. 607, Pt. A, §5 (AMD).]
C. Agricultural produce and forest products, including logs, pulpwood, woodchips and lumber;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
D. Livestock, including farm animals, neat cattle and fowl;   [PL 2017, c. 288, Pt. A, §40 (AMD).]
E. The household furniture, including television sets and musical instruments of each person in any one household; and each person's wearing apparel, farming utensils and mechanical tools necessary for that person's business;   [PL 2025, c. 113, Pt. D, §20 (AMD).]
F. All radium used in the practice of medicine;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
G. Property in the possession of a common carrier while in interstate transportation or held en route awaiting further transportation to the destination named in a through bill of lading;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
H. Vessels built, in the process of construction, or undergoing repairs, which are within the State on the first day of each April and are owned by persons residing out of the State. "Vessels" as used in this paragraph shall not be construed to include pleasure vessels and boats;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
I. Pleasure vessels and boats in the State on the first day of each April whose owners reside out of the State, and which are left in this State by the owners for the purpose of repair or storage, except those regularly kept in the State during the preceding year;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
J. Personal property in another state or country and legally taxed there;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
K. Vehicles exempt from excise tax in accordance with section 1483;   [PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (RPR).]
L. Registered snowmobiles as defined in Title 12, section 13001, subsection 25;   [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §49 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
M. All farm machinery used exclusively in production of hay and field crops to the aggregate actual market value not exceeding $10,000, excluding motor vehicles. Motor vehicle shall mean any self-propelled vehicle;   [PL 1977, c. 263 (AMD).]
N. Water pollution control facilities and air pollution control facilities as defined in section 656, subsection 1, paragraph E;   [PL 2005, c. 652, §1 (AMD); PL 2005, c. 652, §3 (AFF).]
O. All beehives;   [PL 1973, c. 788, §182 (RPR).]
P. All items of individually owned personal property with a just value of less than $1,000, except:  
(1) Items used for industrial or commercial purposes; and  
(2) Vehicles as defined in section 1481 that are not subject to an excise tax;   [PL 2007, c. 627, §23 (AMD).]
Q.   [PL 1983, c. 777, §3 (RP).]
R.   [PL 1983, c. 632, Pt. A, §5 (RP); PL 1983, c. 632, Pt. B, §5 (RP).]
S. [PL 2025, c. 469, §9 (RP); PL 2025, c. 469, §44 (AFF).]
S-1. Unextracted minerals. For purposes of this paragraph, "minerals" has the same meaning as in section 2855, subsection 9;   [PL 2025, c. 469, §10 (NEW); PL 2025, c. 469, §44 (AFF).]
T. Trail-grooming equipment registered under Title 12, section 13113;   [PL 2023, c. 682, §1 (AMD).]
U. Solar and wind energy equipment that generates heat or electricity if all of the energy is:  
(1) Used on the site where the property is located; or  
(2) Transmitted through the facilities of a transmission and distribution utility and a utility customer or customers receive a utility bill credit for the energy generated by the equipment pursuant to Title 35‑A.  
On or before April 1st of the first property tax year for which a taxpayer claims an exemption under this paragraph, the taxpayer claiming the exemption shall file a report with the assessor. The report must identify the property for which the exemption is claimed and must be made on a form prescribed by the State Tax Assessor or a substitute form approved by the State Tax Assessor. The State Tax Assessor shall furnish copies of the form to each municipality in the State and make the forms available to taxpayers.  
This paragraph applies to solar energy equipment for property tax years beginning before April 1, 2025; and  
V. For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2025, solar energy equipment that generates heat or electricity if:  
(1) All of the energy is used on the site where the property is located;  
(2) The equipment is collocated with a net energy billing customer that is or net energy billing customers that are subscribed to at least 50% of the facility's output; or  
(3) All of the energy is transmitted through the facilities of a transmission and distribution utility and a utility customer or customers receive a utility bill credit for the energy generated by the equipment pursuant to Title 35‑A, section 3209‑A or 3209‑B and the generator of electricity entered into a fully executed interconnection agreement with a transmission and distribution utility prior to June 1, 2024.  
On or before April 1st of the first property tax year for which a taxpayer claims an exemption under this paragraph, the taxpayer claiming the exemption shall file a report with the assessor. The report must identify the property for which the exemption is claimed and must be made on a form prescribed by the State Tax Assessor or a substitute form approved by the State Tax Assessor. The State Tax Assessor shall furnish copies of the form to each municipality in the State and make the forms available to taxpayers.   [PL 2023, c. 682, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 113, Pt. D, §20 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 469, §§9, 10 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 469, §44 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1965, c. 139 (AMD). PL 1965, c. 331 (AMD). PL 1969, c. 96 (AMD). PL 1969, c. 117 (AMD). PL 1969, c. 414, §5 (AMD). PL 1969, c. 562 (AMD). PL 1971, c. 524, §1 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 230 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 589 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 592, §13 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 613, §21 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 788, §§180,182 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 263 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 456 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 92, §§A1,B7,B8 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 555, §1 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 632, §§A4,A5,B5 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 777, §3 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 546, §9 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 476, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 476, §2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 24, §U1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 180, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §B49 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 652, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 652, §3 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 627, §23 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 288, Pt. A, §40 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 440, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 607, Pt. A, §5 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 181, Pt. C, §2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 682, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 113, Pt. D, §20 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 469, §§9, 10 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 469, §44 (AFF).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1966–2016 · leading case: Eagle Rental, Inc. v. City of Waterville, 632 A.2d 130 (Me. 1993).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Eagle Rental, Inc. v. City of Waterville, 632 A.2d 130 (Me. 1993). · cites it 12× “), affirming a decision of the City of Waterville's Board of Assessment Review, rejecting Eagle Rental's contention that its equipment inventory, available for both sale and rental, was exempt from the personal property tax under 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B) (1990). We conclude that…”
Ethyl Corp. v. Adams, 375 A.2d 1065 (Me. 1977). · cites it 10× “boiler was also an air pollution control facility within the meaning of 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655 & 656. . . . The three actions were consolidated and tried before the Oxford County Superior Court.”
Handyman Equip. Rental Co. v. City of Portland, 1999 ME 20 (Me. 1999). · cites it 10× “36 M.R.S.A. § 655 (1990 & Supp.1998). Where equipment inventory is available for both sale and rental, only the portion in the taxpayer's possession and held for sale on the assessment date is tax-exempt, pursuant to section 655(1)(B).”
Int'l Paper Co. v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 1999 ME 135 (Me. 1999). · cites it 6× “§ 1760(29) and (30), in addition to applications for certification for exemption from real estate and property taxes pursuant to 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655 and 656. The standards and procedure for certification for exemption are the same.”
Int'l Paper Co. v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 629 A.2d 597 (Me. 1993). · cites it 5× “We think that this is precisely the type of modern system that the Legislature had in mind when it adopted the tax exemptions for water pollution control facilities in 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655, 656, & 1760 (1990). The entry is: Judgment vacated and remanded to the Superior Court for…”
Gulf Island Pond Oxygenation Proj. P'ship v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 644 A.2d 1055 (Me. 1994). · cites it 4× “See 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655(1)(N), 656(1)(E) (1990).”
Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc. v. City of Westbrook, 2016 ME 62 (Me. 2016). · cites it 4× “See 36 M.R.S. § 655(1)(B) (2015)./ Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc.”
Inhabitants of Farmington v. Hardy's Trailer Sales, Inc., 410 A.2d 221 (Me. 1980). “, § 13; 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B) (1978). The legislature has thus continued to treat stock in trade as manufactured merchandise held for sale by the owner; the only change is that instead of such personal property being taxed where it is situated, it is now exempt from taxation…”
Roberta, Inc. v. Inhabitants of Town of Sw. Harbor, 449 A.2d 1138 (Me. 1982). · cites it 4× “331, enacting 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(H) (Supp. 1966), which without change was renumbered as 36 M.”
Chadwick-Baross, Inc. v. City of Westbrook (Me. Super. Ct 2015). · cites it 5× “Plaintiff and defendants filed cross motions for partial summary judgment on count I of the complaint, in which plaintiff alleges that the personal property at issue is exempt from taxation as "stock-in-trade" under 36 M.R.S. § 655(1)(B) (2014). For the following reasons,…”
Jordan-Milton Mach., Inc. v. City of Brewer, 609 A.2d 1166 (Me. 1992). “Jordan-Milton cross appeals, claiming that without regard to its residence, all of its machinery is exempt from taxation under 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B)(1990) because it is stock in trade being held for resale.”
Bridges Bros. v. Bd. of Assessors of Calais, 223 A.2d 71 (Me. 1966). “1965 amended Section 10, V, N supra, which became 36 M.R.S.A. § 655 in the 1964 revision, by excepting vehicles “constituting stock in trade” from the exemption theretofore afforded.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(B) — 5 cases
Eagle Rental, Inc. v. City of Waterville, 632 A.2d 130 (Me. 1993). “), affirming a decision of the City of Waterville's Board of Assessment Review, rejecting Eagle Rental's contention that its equipment inventory, available for both sale and rental, was exempt from the personal property tax under 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B) (1990). We conclude that…”
Handyman Equip. Rental Co. v. City of Portland, 1999 ME 20 (Me. 1999). “36 M.R.S.A. § 655 (1990 & Supp.1998). Where equipment inventory is available for both sale and rental, only the portion in the taxpayer's possession and held for sale on the assessment date is tax-exempt, pursuant to section 655(1)(B).”
Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc. v. City of Westbrook, 2016 ME 62 (Me. 2016). “See 36 M.R.S. § 655(1)(B) (2015)./ Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc.”
Inhabitants of Farmington v. Hardy's Trailer Sales, Inc., 410 A.2d 221 (Me. 1980). “, § 13; 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B) (1978). The legislature has thus continued to treat stock in trade as manufactured merchandise held for sale by the owner; the only change is that instead of such personal property being taxed where it is situated, it is now exempt from taxation…”
Chadwick-Baross, Inc. v. City of Westbrook (Me. Super. Ct 2015). “Plaintiff and defendants filed cross motions for partial summary judgment on count I of the complaint, in which plaintiff alleges that the personal property at issue is exempt from taxation as "stock-in-trade" under 36 M.R.S. § 655(1)(B) (2014). For the following reasons,…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(B)(1990) — 1 case
Jordan-Milton Mach., Inc. v. City of Brewer, 609 A.2d 1166 (Me. 1992). “Jordan-Milton cross appeals, claiming that without regard to its residence, all of its machinery is exempt from taxation under 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B)(1990) because it is stock in trade being held for resale.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(H) — 1 case
Roberta, Inc. v. Inhabitants of Town of Sw. Harbor, 449 A.2d 1138 (Me. 1982). “331, enacting 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(H) (Supp. 1966), which without change was renumbered as 36 M.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(I) — 1 case
Roberta, Inc. v. Inhabitants of Town of Sw. Harbor, 449 A.2d 1138 (Me. 1982). “331, enacting 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(H) (Supp. 1966), which without change was renumbered as 36 M.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(M) — 1 case
Eagle Rental, Inc. v. City of Waterville, 632 A.2d 130 (Me. 1993). “), affirming a decision of the City of Waterville's Board of Assessment Review, rejecting Eagle Rental's contention that its equipment inventory, available for both sale and rental, was exempt from the personal property tax under 36 M.R.S.A. § 655(1)(B) (1990). We conclude that…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 36, § 655(1)(N) — 4 cases
Ethyl Corp. v. Adams, 375 A.2d 1065 (Me. 1977). “boiler was also an air pollution control facility within the meaning of 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655 & 656. . . . The three actions were consolidated and tried before the Oxford County Superior Court.”
Int'l Paper Co. v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 1999 ME 135 (Me. 1999). “§ 1760(29) and (30), in addition to applications for certification for exemption from real estate and property taxes pursuant to 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655 and 656. The standards and procedure for certification for exemption are the same.”
Int'l Paper Co. v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 629 A.2d 597 (Me. 1993). “We think that this is precisely the type of modern system that the Legislature had in mind when it adopted the tax exemptions for water pollution control facilities in 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655, 656, & 1760 (1990). The entry is: Judgment vacated and remanded to the Superior Court for…”
Gulf Island Pond Oxygenation Proj. P'ship v. Bd. of Env't Prot., 644 A.2d 1055 (Me. 1994). “See 36 M.R.S.A. §§ 655(1)(N), 656(1)(E) (1990).”
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