Are You Guilty of Dodging This Lesser-Known Tax in Maine?

You know the old saying, "there's nothing certain in this world except death and taxes". There are plenty of taxes to be paid by the residents of Maine. There's income tax, property tax, excise tax and even sales tax. All of those taxes are well-known to residents of the state but there's another lesser-known tax that applies to many residents that people might be outright dodging.

There's Essentially a "Dog Tax" in the State of Maine

Yes, according to Maine.gov, the state has a required dog licensing for each individual dog that is under the ownership and care of a Maine resident. Once a dog reaches six months old or is adopted by a family and lives in that home for 10 days, the dog is required to be licensed in the town they reside.

What Does the Dog Licensing Fee Pay For?

While the dog licensing fee may seem like a nuisance on the surface, the money from the fees is used in a variety of very important ways. Money gathered from the fees helps to care for sick or stray animals. It also helps reunite families with their lost pups. Additionally, funds from the fees help with investigations into animal cruelty allegations and enforcement of animal welfare laws.

How Much is the Cost?

For neutered or spayed dogs in Maine, the cost for licensing each year is $7.00 per dog. For dogs that haven't been spayed or neutered, the cost is $12.00. This is for a new license or a renewal. More information on how to license you dog can be found here.