Maine sales tax at a glance
Maine's typical combined rate of 5.5% ranks 43th highest among the 50 states. Maine has a single statewide 5.5% rate with no local sales taxes.
What sales tax adds at the register
At the average combined rate of 5.5%:
| Price | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.38 | $26.38 |
| $100 | $5.50 | $105.50 |
| $500 | $27.50 | $527.50 |
| $2,000 | $110.00 | $2,110.00 |
Maine vs. the national average and its neighbors
The average combined state-and-local sales tax across the 50 states is about 6.66%. Maine's 5.5% is 1.16 points below that — on a $30,000 car, about $348 less than the national average buyer pays. Combined with a graduated income tax topping out at 7.15%, that shapes how Maine funds itself — see the Maine paycheck calculator for the payroll side.
Border shopping is real: here's what the same purchases cost across state lines, at each state's average combined rate.
| State | Combined rate | Tax on $250 | Tax on $30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 5.5% | $13.75 | $1,650 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | $0.00 | $0 |
Vehicle purchases are usually taxed by the state where the car is registered, not where it's bought — so the car column shows the rate you'd owe as a resident, not a border-shopping opportunity.
Reading a Maine receipt
A Maine receipt typically shows tax as a single line at the combined rate, even though it all goes to the state. To check a receipt: multiply the taxable subtotal by 0.0550 (the 5.5% average) — if the tax line is meaningfully higher, you're in a locality above the average; if lower, some items were exempt (groceries and prescriptions are exempt or reduced in most states). The reverse mode on the calculator above recovers the pre-tax price from any total.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the sales tax in Maine in 2026?
Maine charges a single statewide rate of 5.5% with no local sales taxes, so every purchase in the state is taxed the same. Maine has a single statewide 5.5% rate with no local sales taxes.
+How do I calculate Maine sales tax backwards from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At 5.5%, a $105.50 total means a $100.00 price and $5.50 tax. Choose "Total after tax (reverse)" above to do it automatically.
+Do online orders charge Maine sales tax?
Yes. Since the Wayfair decision, large online sellers must collect Maine sales tax based on your delivery address — the same state rate you'd pay in a store.
+How much is sales tax on a $30,000 car in Maine?
About $1,650 at the 5.5% average combined rate ($1,650 at the 5.5% state rate alone). Vehicle tax is generally assessed by your state of registration and collected when you title the car; some states cap or exempt private-party sales.
+How does Maine's sales tax compare nationally?
Maine's 5.5% average combined rate ranks 43th highest of the 50 states, versus a national average of about 6.66%.
+Is the rate the same everywhere in Maine?
Yes — Maine is one of the states with a uniform statewide rate and no local add-ons.
Rates as of July 1, 2026, from state revenue departments compiled by the Tax Foundation; local averages are population-weighted. Product exemptions (groceries, clothing, medicine) vary by state. Estimates only — see our terms.