Maine Revised Statutes Title 36. Taxation § 5320. Transferees

1. General. The liability, at law or in equity, of a transferee of property of a taxpayer for any tax, addition to tax, penalty or interest due the assessor under this Part shall be assessed, paid and collected in the same manner and subject to the same provisions and limitations as in the case of the tax to which the liability relates, except as hereinafter provided in this section. The term transferee includes, but is not limited to, donee, heir, legatee, devisee and distributee.

2. Period of limitation. In the case of the liability of an initial transferee, the period of limitation for assessment of any liability is within one year after the expiration of period of limitation against the transferor. In the case of the liability of a transferee of a transferee, within one year after the expiration of the period of limitation against the preceding transferee, but not more than 3 years after the expiration of the period of limitation for assessment against the original transferor; except that if before the expiration of the period of limitation for the assessment of the liability of the transferee, a proceeding for the collection of the liability has been begun against the initial transferor or the last preceding transferee, respectively, then the period of limitation for assessment of the liability of the transferee shall expire one year after the proceeding is terminated.

3. Extension by agreement. If before the expiration of the time provided in this section for the assessment of the liability, the assessor and the transferee have both consented in writing to its assessment after such time, the liability may be assessed at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon or an extension thereof. For the purpose of determining the period of limitation on credit or refund to the transferee of overpayments of tax made by such transferee of overpayments of tax made by the transferor of which the transferee is legally entitled to credit or refund, such agreement and any extension thereof shall be deemed an agreement or extension referred to in section 5278, subsection 3. If the agreement is executed after the expiration of the period of limitation for assessment against the taxpayer with reference to whom the liability of such transferee arises, then in applying the limitations under section 5278, subsection 2 on the amount of the credit or refund, the periods specified in section 5278, subsection 1 shall be increased by the period from the date of such expiration to the date of the agreement.

4. Transferor deceased. If any person is deceased, the period of limitation for assessment against such person shall be the period that would be in effect had death not occurred.