Maine Revenue Services Updates Tax Bulletin for Sales of Prepared Foods

Maine Revenue Services has updated Instructional Bulletin No. 27 regarding the sales of prepared foods which will go into effect on January 1, 2016.

The bulletin address issues commonly faced by restaurants, caterers, sandwich shops, snack bars, and other businesses that make sales of prepared food products.

Title 36, section 1811 imposes sales tax on sales of prepared food at a separate higher rate (the “prepared food rate”) than the generally applicable sales tax rate (the “general sales tax rate”).

Sales of grocery staples (food products ordinarily consumed for human nourishment, but excludes prepared food and certain other products intended for internal human consumption) are exempt from sales tax.

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