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Primary Residence

On April 8, 2008, Governor Granholm signed House Bill 4215, enacting Public Act 96 of 2008, which amended Section 211.7cc of the General Property Tax Act of 1893. The amendment enables a person who has established a new principal residence in Michigan to retain a Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) on property previously exempt as the owner's principal residence (if the property is not occupied, is for sale, is not leased and is not used for any business or commercial purpose) more

 

Michigan property tax

The National Taxpayers Union estimates that as much as 60%
of taxable property in the United States is over assessed. However, only 5% of homeowners protest their assessments. Most people are unsure of the process to lower their taxes or have never known anyone that has. This site hopes to give help through information contained here or through our network of "Property Tax Experts" to help you pay your fair share of property tax.

Mistakes can often be a reason why a taxing authority values your home for more than the current market would allow. Obvious mistakes aren't difficult to spot. Is the square footage figure correct? Does the assessment say your home has four bedrooms when it only has three? Property description and information with your assessor should be reviewed for errors.

More importantly with this downturn in the housing market mainly in the United States, home values are declining and for many who purchased their home when the values were at their peak, you may find a greater impact.

Each year we file a personal tax return to assess how much income tax we owe. Why is this not the case with property taxes? Did you know many of us pay more annually in property tax than income tax, yet ignore assessing our property tax bills. Just like with income taxes, there are deductions and credits we can take advantage of, and the tax rate is based off the value of your home. If you made $100,000 in income last year and $80,000 this year you would expect to pay less tax. If your home was worth $100,000 last year and now its worth $80,000, would you pay less in property tax or continue to pay too much tax?

 

Michigan Tax Tribunal

The Tribunal is an administrative court that hears tax appeals for all Michigan taxes. Most of the Tribunal's appeals involve property tax; however, the Tribunal also hears business and individual tax disputes. The Tribunal is divided into two divisions: the "Entire Tribunal" and the "Residential Property and Small Claims" Division. With the exception of principal residence and qualified agricultural exemption appeals, any case may be filed in the Entire Tribunal. Only certain cases-all property disputes involving residential property, principal residence exemptions, poverty and qualified agriculture exemptions and disputes under $6,000 may be filed in the Small Claims Division.

 

Do you Pay too Much Property Tax?

 

 

Top 10 Metropolitan
Areas with Home
Price Depreciation

First Quarter 09-First Quarter 09

 

Tax Rates

Property owners can calculate their tax bill by multiplying that taxable value by the tax rate.
In Michigan, the property tax rate is called a millage, and it is figured in mills. A mill equals $1 in taxation for every $1,000 in taxable value.

A parcel may have several millages in its tax rate. There is likely to be a millage to operate local government, and another for the county. Part of the millage rate may include mills for libraries, police and fire or schools.