Maine penny rounding law
No rounding law or guidance found. Some Irving and Rusty Lantern stores in Maine round cash totals to the nearest nickel with posted signs.
Short answer. Maine has no cash rounding law or official guidance that we found. Rounding is a store policy, and some Maine convenience stores already round to the nearest nickel with signs at the register.
Maine cash rounding calculator
Enter a cash total, or item prices plus your sales tax rate. The result updates as you type.
Maine law and bills
We found no Maine rounding bill in the second regular session of the 132nd Legislature, which adjourned in spring 2026, and no guidance from Maine Revenue Services or the Attorney General. The Legislature’s bill search could not be fully checked from our end. Bills not enacted died at adjournment; the newly elected 133rd Legislature convenes in December 2026.
Can a Maine store round cash totals?
Yes, as store policy. Rounding a total down is a discount. Maine’s Unfair Trade Practices Act (5 M.R.S. § 207) bars unfair or deceptive acts, so a store that rounds should post the policy and round both ways, as the Maine stores reported below do.
Federal law
There is no federal rounding rule in force either. The Common Cents Act (H.R. 10167) passed Congress on September 28, 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 we found no record of it being signed. If enacted, it would let sellers in Maine round cash totals symmetrically to the nearest 5¢ without requiring anyone to round, keep pennies legal tender, and protect sellers that follow its method from conflicting state or local rules. Federal status of the penny.
Your options as a customer
- Pay by card, debit, EBT or app. Those payments are charged the exact amount; rounding only ever touches cash.
- Pay with exact change. Pennies are still legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5103). The Federal Reserve notes, though, that no federal law makes a private business accept cash or coins. We found no Maine law that changes that, so a store sets its own payment policy. Federal Reserve FAQ.
- Check the receipt. It should show the exact total and a separate rounding line, so you can see which way it went.
- Report a problem. If a store rounds every cash total up without telling customers, contact the Maine Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. See also is it legal for a store to round up?
Sales tax
Maine’s general sales tax rate is 5.5%, there are no local sales taxes, and most grocery staples are exempt. Compute tax on the actual price, then round the cash total. More on sales tax and cash rounding.
SNAP, EBT and card payments
SNAP and WIC benefits are paid electronically, so the EBT part of any purchase in Maine is always charged to the exact cent. Federal rules require stores to treat SNAP shoppers the same as other customers, so a store that rounds the cash part of a split payment should use the same rule for everyone. SNAP/EBT, cards and refunds.
Stores and local news in Maine
B98.5 reported in February 2026 that Irving and Rusty Lantern locations in Maine were rounding cash totals to the nearest five cents and posting signs explaining it.
Rules in neighboring states
Shopping across the line? Rounding rules change at the border.
| State | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | No law found | No rounding law or guidance found. No general sales tax; the 8.5% meals and rentals tax is figured before any cash rounding. |