Ownership of property is set as of April 1 of each year as prescribed by State Law. The ownership information may change in the Assessing Department during the year as we process the information that we receive after April 1st, but for taxation purposes, the ownership does not change until the following April 1st. Example:  If you purchase your home on May 1, the tax bill will be issued in the name of the previous owner/s.  The reminder notice, sent by the Tax Collector, will also still have the previous owner/s name.  If the Assessing Department receives notification of a sale of property before we send the commitment roll to the tax collector, we will update the record to reflect that the bill is being sent in care of the new owner/s.  If you are the previous owner, and receive the tax bill in error, please forward it to the new owner. If you purchased a property after April 1st, email or call the office at 207.989.7560 and let us know that you are the new owner and that you wish to have the tax bill sent directly to you, along with your mailing address.  You may call the Tax Office 207.989.7060 to request a copy of the tax bill.

If your name changes, we require written authorization from you and legal proof of your name change in order to change our records for tax purposes.   Please complete the Name Change Authorization Form and return it to our office with a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree or probate order.   

If your mailing address has changed please email assessing-dept@brewermaine.gov with your new address or fill out the Request for Address Change Form and return it to our office.

What is Taxable?

Personal Property is taxable in the State of Maine.  It consists of furnishings, fixtures, machinery, equipment, telecommunications, computers, trailers, box trailers, signs and other heavy equipment, etc.   As prescribed by State Law a Declaration of value is sent each year to the business owners. This Business Personal Property Declaration Form must be completed and returned to the Assessing Department. Failure to return this form may bar the right to appeal the assessment.   All personal property is depreciated using a set depreciation schedule ,  it can be found by clicking on this link.  If you close, move or sell your business or apt. building after April 1st, you remain liable for the entire yearly bill until the following April 1.  The BETE Application is available here on or on the Maine Revenue Services web page   or the assessing department.

In 2018 the Legislature made changes to the types of businesses that qualify for the BETR AND BETE programs.   Click here for more information.

Real Estate consists of land and any improvements to the land.   We keep a property record card of each property in the city.    It will indicate the land valuation, building valuation, acreage of the property along with a sketch and picture of the buildings and the amount of any approved exemption/s and indicate the total valuation for tax purposes.

If a property is under construction on April 1st, the assessor or appraiser will inspect the property to determine the percent of completion.  The assessment for that tax year will be calculated based only on what is completed as of April 1st.  The property will be revisited each year until the construction is complete. If demolition occurs to a house or other structure after April 1st, the assessed value of that property remains taxable until the next April 1st.

The Assessor is also the E-911 Addressing Officer for the City of Brewer. A large set of tax maps are available for review in the Assessing Department.  Tax maps can also be found here. A list of the streets for easier reference to the corresponding tax map can be found here. 

If you need an E911 address please complete the top half of this application and return it to the Assessing Dept.  

If you need a new travel way name please complete this form with three (3) options and return it to the Assessing Dept. 

Appeals Process

If a taxpayer feels that the assessment of their property is incorrect, illegal or irregular they have 185 days from the date of commitment in which to file a written application for abatement.  A separate application should be filed for each property.  The appeals process is governed by M.R.S.A. Title 36 § 841-849. The burden of proof is upon the taxpayer to provide proof that the assessment is manifestly wrong. The abatement application can be found here Additional, useful information can be found in Property Tax Bulletin #10.  MRSA Title 36 Section 708 Assessors to value real estate and personal property – The assessors and the chief assessor of a primary assessing area shall ascertain as nearly as may be the nature, amount and value as of the first day of each April of the real estate and personal property subject to be taxed, and shall estimate and record separately the land value, exclusive of buildings, of each parcel of real estate.

Appeals to the Board of Assessment Review must be made via the City Clerk.