State Treasurer: Tax Extension Relief Available to Taxpayers Affected by Severe Weather Emergency

Individuals, Businesses Can Request Additional Time to File and Pay State Taxes

Key Points:

• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for the city of Lansing and Allegan and Baraga counties to help with response and recovery efforts after a severe weather system on May 15 brought 11 tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain and flash flooding.
• Individuals and businesses in the capital city and these counties can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived.
• Taxpayers must request tax extension relief through the Michigan Department of Treasury by using online systems, corresponding through the U.S. Postal Service or calling by phone.

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks today announced that individuals and businesses affected by the severe weather on May 15 can obtain state tax extension relief.

Individual and business taxpayers who reside in the city of Lansing and Allegan and Baraga counties can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency for our capital city and these counties to help with response and recovery efforts after a severe weather system on May 15 brought 11 tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain and flash flooding to communities across the state.

“A natural disaster can be devastating both personally and financially,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “By providing additional time to file tax returns or meet certain other payment deadlines, individuals and businesses will have more time to focus on recovering and getting their lives back to a sense of normalcy. Affected taxpayers should reach out to us to learn more about the process for obtaining this relief.” 

The tax extension relief is not automatic. Taxpayers must contact Treasury either by eService, U.S. Postal Service or phone to request relief.

When requesting tax extension relief, the following must be included:

• Name and account number of the individual or business taxpayer.
• A description of how the taxpayer was affected by the severe weather.
• Taxpayer address within one emergency area or address of the tax preparer located in the emergency area.

Online submissions for state tax extension relief can be made through Individual Income Tax eService or Business Taxes eService.

Taxpayers opting to send their request through the U.S. Postal Service should use the following address:

Michigan Department of Treasury
Attn: Disaster Tax Relief
Lansing, Michigan 48922

Taxpayers can inquire about state individual income tax extension relief by phone at 517-636-4486. For business taxes, taxpayers should contact 517-636-6925.

Some taxpayers may receive a preliminary assessment notice before a tax extension relief request is formally received by Treasury. Taxpayers within the emergency area who receive these notices should contact Treasury by phone to resolve.

Specific details related to the types of individual and business state tax extension relief available can be found in a Treasury-issued Taxpayer Notice. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to contact the Internal Revenue Service about federal tax extension relief options.

For the latest updates about this emergency tax extension relief, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes.