ME · payroll profile

Maine

Everything an out-of-state employer needs before running a Maine payroll: what to withhold, which form the employee signs, whether reciprocity applies, and who to register with.

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Personal income tax
Graduated to 7.15%
Reciprocal agreements
None
SUI wage base 2026
$12,000
Local income taxes
No

Income tax withholding

Imposes wage income tax Yes
Rate structure Graduated, top marginal rate 7.15%
Withholding certificate W-4ME
Maine Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
Accepts federal Form W-4 No
Convenience-of-the-employer rule No
Nonresident withholding threshold 12 days or $3,000
CONJUNCTIVE, not disjunctive. Per Maine Rule 803, a nonresident employee is exempt from Maine withholding unless they perform personal services in Maine for MORE THAN 12 days AND earn MORE THAN $3,000 in Maine during the taxable year. Both tests must be exceeded before withholding is required.
Local income taxes No
No local personal income or wage taxes. Maine does impose a state Paid Family and Medical Leave employee contribution.

Reciprocity

States that exempt Maine residents

A Maine resident working in these states files that state's certificate and is taxed only by Maine.

Unemployment insurance and paid leave

Taxable wage base 2026 $12,000
2025 base was $12,000.
New employer rate 2.23%
Rate range includes the Competitive Skills Scholarship Fund (CSSF) and UPAF assessments as reported to US DOL.
Experience rate range 0% – 6.29%
Experience-rating method reserve ratio
Employee UI contribution No
Paid family / medical leave Yes
Maine PFML payroll contributions began January 1, 2025; BENEFITS begin May 1, 2026. Employers with 15 or more employees pay 1.00% of wages and may deduct up to 0.50% from employees; employers with fewer than 15 employees pay 0.50% total and may deduct the full 0.50% from employees. Wages above the Social Security base limit are excluded.

Employer registration

Tax agency
Maine Revenue Services
UI agency
Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Unemployment Compensation

Sources

maine.gov · maine.gov · taxfoundation.org · oui.doleta.gov · oui.doleta.gov · oui.doleta.gov · maine.gov

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This is a determination aid, not advice. StateSide encodes published state rules and applies them mechanically to the facts you enter. It does not know your entity structure, your nexus history, your equity compensation, or the dozens of exceptions that turn a clean rule into a judgement call. Every determination cites the state source it came from — verify against that source, and take anything consequential to a payroll tax professional before you act on it.