Maine sales tax for salons
Are haircuts and salon services taxable in Maine?
No. Haircuts are not taxable in Maine: the official Business Guide says there is no tax on services in general and names haircuts as an example, and nail and skin services are not on the state's list of taxable services. Below: each kind of service, the products you sell, the rate and the permit a salon needs, each answered from the Maine Revenue Services's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026.
- Haircuts
- Not taxable
- Nails
- Not taxable
- Products you sell
- Taxable
- State rate
- 5.5%
Administered by Maine Revenue Services.The agency's page The state's own words
Services
Which salon services are taxable in Maine?
No. Haircuts are not taxable in Maine: the official Business Guide says there is no tax on services in general and names haircuts as an example, and nail and skin services are not on the state's list of taxable services.
- Hair services
- Not taxable
- Nail services
- Not taxable
- Skin care and waxing
- Not taxable
Hair services: haircuts, color, styling, perms and shaves. Nail services: manicures, pedicures and enhancements. Skin care: facials, waxing and other hair removal, and makeup.
Products
Do salons charge sales tax on products in Maine?
Yes. Products a salon sells to clients are retail sales of tangible personal property, which Maine taxes at 5.5%. The state rate is 5.5%.
The rate
What is the sales tax rate in Maine?
- Statewide tax
- Sales and Use Tax
- State rate
- 5.5%
- Local sales taxes
- Not stated
The permit
Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Maine?
Retailer Certificate. Register for a free Retailer Certificate through the Maine Tax Portal before you sell retail products to clients, since those sales are taxable.
- Registration
- Retailer Certificate
- State fee
- Free
Good to know
What else Maine says about salons and sales tax
- A service sold together with a product is taxed as part of the product's sale price, even when the invoice states the service separately.
- Supplies a salon uses up during services are not bought for resale, so the salon pays tax when it buys them.
Sources
What Maine's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of the Maine Revenue Services's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026. This is not tax advice: rules and rates change, so confirm with the Maine Revenue Services or an accountant.
- Hair services
“of services in general, such as personal services (e.g., haircuts and massages)”
maine.gov - Nail services
“the sale of certain services is specifically subject to”
maine.gov “Taxable services subject to sales tax include:”
maine.gov - Products you sell
“or rentals of tangible personal property; products transferred electronically; prepaid calling”
maine.gov - The tax and its rate
“A sales tax is imposed at the rate of 5.5% of the sale price on retail sales”
maine.gov - The permit
“A Retailer Certificate is issued when a person applies to Maine Revenue Services”
maine.gov “There is no fee for registration.”
maine.gov - Also good to know
“of the taxable sale price of the tangible personal property, even if stated separately on the invoice”
maine.gov - Also good to know
“sales if the items purchased will be used by the purchaser, rather than resold to someone”
maine.gov
Questions
Maine salon sales tax, answered
Are haircuts taxable in Maine?
Do nail salons charge sales tax in Maine?
Are facials and waxing taxable in Maine?
Do salons charge sales tax on products in Maine?
Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Maine?
What is the sales tax rate in Maine?
Plan the rest
Opening or running a salon in Maine
- Every step to opening a salon in Maine, as a checklist
- What Maine requires to license a salon
- What Maine inspectors check in a salon
- Salon point of sale systems compared, with card fees
Salon sales tax in other states
Ready when you are
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