Free Maine General Bill of Sale
A general bill of sale in Maine covers personal-property transfers that do not run through a state agency: tools, equipment, electronics, furniture, livestock other than horses, jewelry, instruments, business assets, and most other tangible personal property. Maine has no statewide registration system for these items, so the bill of sale is the only contemporaneous record of the transfer. It establishes price for tax purposes, transfers warranty rights (or disclaims them as "as is"), and protects both parties in disputes. For business asset sales, lien searches under Maine's Article 9 UCC filings (with the Secretary of State) are essential — a buyer who pays for equipment subject to a perfected security interest can lose the asset to the lender.
Free PDF includes a small watermark at the bottom. Remove it for €4.99. Already subscribed? Sign in.
Maine General Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Maine 5.5% sales tax applies to most retail tangible personal property sales. Casual private sales of used items between non-dealers are generally not taxed at the seller level, but the buyer technically owes use tax on items used in Maine.
Exemption: Resale, agricultural production, manufacturing, and certain nonprofit purchases are exempt with the appropriate Maine Revenue Services exemption certificate.
Maine General Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Identify both parties with full legal names, addresses, and a form of ID (driver's license number is fine)
- Describe the item precisely: make, model, serial number, year, condition, and any included accessories or documentation
- State the purchase price clearly in dollars and the date of sale; specify cash, check, wire, or other payment method
- Include warranty language: "as is, where is, with all faults" or specific guarantees with duration
- For business assets or high-value items, run a UCC lien search through the Maine Secretary of State (icrs.informe.org)
- Both parties sign and date; notarization is not required in Maine but adds enforceability for high-value transactions
- Each party retains an original; keep for at least 6 years (Maine's general statute of limitations on contract disputes)
Common Pitfalls
- Buying business equipment without checking UCC filings — perfected liens travel with the asset; a $50,000 piece of equipment can be repossessed by the lender despite your purchase
- Vague descriptions ("brown table, $400") — disputes over which table or what condition become unwinnable; specific serial numbers and photos matter
- No "as is" language on a used item that breaks shortly after sale — Maine implied warranty of merchantability may attach if seller is a "merchant" under UCC Article 2, exposing the seller to refund claims
- Skipping the bill of sale on cash transactions — buyer has no proof of ownership if challenged, and seller has no proof of price for tax or audit purposes
- Forgetting the 5.5% Maine use tax on out-of-state purchases brought into Maine — Maine Revenue Services can audit and assess back tax plus interest, especially on high-value items like art and equipment
Pro Tip
A clear, signed Maine bill of sale costs nothing and prevents most disputes. Add a UCC search for business assets and you have covered the legal basics.