A new bill sponsored by District 61 Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay, would permanently exempt Maine’s commercial fishing vessels from having to pay the sales tax on fuel. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the Marine Resources Committee on Tues., Feb 15 at 1 p.m. in room 127 of the Cross State Office Building.
A temporary rebate that has been in place for commercial fishing vessels for the past three years expired on Jan. 1.
“It is vital that Maine continue to do everything we can to sustain our traditional commercial fishing industry,” said Rep. MacDonald. “One of the local lobstermen approached me this fall about the fact that the rebate in place over the past three years expired at the start of this year. So a couple days after being re-elected I submitted this bill to help make sure our commercial fishing boats, both large and small, can stay in Maine.”
This bill requires the state to refund the sales tax on purchases of fuel for use in a commercial fishing vessel. It also permits the state to issue a certificate allowing the purchase of fuel without paying sales tax if the purchaser obtains a certificate verifying eligibility from the State Tax Assessor.
MacDonald is now the House Democratic lead on the Marine Resources committee, on which he has served for four years.
For more information about LD 185, “An Act To Refund the Sales Tax Paid on Fuel Used in Commercial Fishing Vessels”, please visit www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280039215.
