SENATE BILL No. 1433

 

 

September 28, 2004, Introduced by Senator BIRKHOLZ and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "The general property tax act,"                                             

                                                                                

    by amending section 7cc (MCL 211.7cc), as amended by 2003 PA                

                                                                                

    247.                                                                        

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 7cc.  (1) A principal residence is exempt from the tax                 

                                                                                

2   levied by a local school district for school operating purposes             

                                                                                

3   to the extent provided under section 1211 of the revised school             

                                                                                

4   code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211, if an owner of that principal              

                                                                                

5   residence claims an exemption as provided in this section.                  

                                                                                

6   Notwithstanding the tax day provided in section 2, the status of            

                                                                                

7   property as a principal residence shall be determined on the date           

                                                                                

8   an affidavit claiming an exemption is filed under subsection                

                                                                                

9   (2).                                                                        

                                                                                

10      (2) An owner of property may claim an exemption under this                  

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   section by filing an affidavit on or before May 1 with the local            

                                                                                

2   tax collecting unit in which the property is located.  The                  

                                                                                

3   affidavit shall state that the property is owned and occupied as            

                                                                                

4   a principal residence by that owner of the property on the date             

                                                                                

5   that the affidavit is signed.  The affidavit shall be on a form             

                                                                                

6   prescribed by the department of treasury.  One copy of the                  

                                                                                

7   affidavit shall be retained by the owner, 1 copy shall be                   

                                                                                

8   retained by the local tax collecting unit until any appeal or               

                                                                                

9   audit period under this act has expired, and 1 copy shall be                

                                                                                

10  forwarded to the department of treasury pursuant to subsection              

                                                                                

11  (4), together with all information submitted under subsection               

                                                                                

12  (26) for a cooperative housing corporation.  The affidavit shall            

                                                                                

13  require the owner claiming the exemption to indicate if that                

                                                                                

14  owner or that owner's spouse has claimed another exemption on               

                                                                                

15  property in this state that is not rescinded or a substantially             

                                                                                

16  similar exemption, deduction, or credit on property in another              

                                                                                

17  state that is not rescinded.  If the affidavit requires an owner            

                                                                                

18  to include a social security number, that owner's number is                 

                                                                                

19  subject to the disclosure restrictions in 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1            

                                                                                

20  to 205.31.  If an owner of property filed an affidavit for an               

                                                                                

21  exemption under this section before January 1, 2004, that                   

                                                                                

22  affidavit shall be considered the affidavit required under this             

                                                                                

23  subsection for a principal residence exemption and that exemption           

                                                                                

24  shall remain in effect until rescinded as provided in this                  

                                                                                

25  section.                                                                    

                                                                                

26      (3) A husband and wife who are required to file or who do                   

                                                                                

27  file a joint Michigan income tax return are entitled to not more            


                                                                                

1   than 1 exemption under this section.  For taxes levied after                

                                                                                

2   December 31, 2002, a person is not entitled to an exemption under           

                                                                                

3   this section if any of the following conditions occur:                      

                                                                                

4       (a) That person has claimed a substantially similar                         

                                                                                

5   exemption, deduction, or credit on property in another state that           

                                                                                

6   is not rescinded.                                                           

                                                                                

7       (b) Subject to subdivision (a), that person or his or her                   

                                                                                

8   spouse owns property in a state other than this state for which             

                                                                                

9   that person or his or her spouse claims an exemption, deduction,            

                                                                                

10  or credit substantially similar to the exemption provided under             

                                                                                

11  this section, unless that person and his or her spouse file                 

                                                                                

12  separate income tax returns.                                                

                                                                                

13      (c) That person has filed a nonresident Michigan income tax                 

                                                                                

14  return, except active duty military personnel stationed in this             

                                                                                

15  state with his or her principal residence in this state.                    

                                                                                

16      (d) That person has filed an income tax return in a state                   

                                                                                

17  other than this state as a resident, except active duty military            

                                                                                

18  personnel stationed in this state with his or her principal                 

                                                                                

19  residence in this state.                                                    

                                                                                

20      (e) That person has previously rescinded an exemption under                 

                                                                                

21  this section for the same property for which an exemption is now            

                                                                                

22  claimed and there has not been a transfer of ownership of that              

                                                                                

23  property after the previous exemption was rescinded, if either of           

                                                                                

24  the following conditions is satisfied:                                      

                                                                                

25                                                                               (i) That person has claimed an exemption under this section                         

                                                                                

26  for any other property for that tax year.                                   

                                                                                

27      (ii) That person has rescinded an exemption under this                       


                                                                                

1   section on other property, which exemption remains in effect for            

                                                                                

2   that tax year, and there has not been a transfer of ownership of            

                                                                                

3   that property.                                                              

                                                                                

4       (4) Upon receipt of an affidavit filed under subsection (2)                 

                                                                                

5   and unless the claim is denied under this section, the assessor             

                                                                                

6   shall exempt the property from the collection of the tax levied             

                                                                                

7   by a local school district for school operating purposes to the             

                                                                                

8   extent provided under section 1211 of the revised school code,              

                                                                                

9   1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211, as provided in subsection (1) until              

                                                                                

10  December 31 of the year in which the property is transferred or             

                                                                                

11  is no longer a principal residence as defined in section 7dd.               

                                                                                

12  The local tax collecting unit shall forward copies of affidavits            

                                                                                

13  to the department of treasury according to a schedule prescribed            

                                                                                

14  by the department of treasury.                                              

                                                                                

15      (5) Not more than 90 days after exempted property is no                     

                                                                                

16  longer used as a principal residence by the owner claiming an               

                                                                                

17  exemption, that owner shall rescind the claim of exemption by               

                                                                                

18  filing with the local tax collecting unit a rescission form                 

                                                                                

19  prescribed by the department of treasury.  An owner who fails to            

                                                                                

20  file a rescission as required by this subsection is subject to a            

                                                                                

21  penalty of $5.00 per day for each separate failure beginning                

                                                                                

22  after the 90 days have elapsed, up to a maximum of $200.00.  This           

                                                                                

23  penalty shall be collected under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to                  

                                                                                

24  205.31, and shall be deposited in the state school aid fund                 

                                                                                

25  established in section 11 of article IX of the state constitution           

                                                                                

26  of 1963.  This penalty may be waived by the department of                   

                                                                                

27  treasury.                                                                   


                                                                                

1       (6) If the assessor of the local tax collecting unit believes               

                                                                                

2   that the property for which an exemption is claimed is not the              

                                                                                

3   principal residence of the owner claiming the exemption, the                

                                                                                

4   assessor may deny a new or existing claim by notifying the owner            

                                                                                

5   and the department of treasury in writing of the reason for the             

                                                                                

6   denial and advising the owner that the denial may be appealed to            

                                                                                

7   the residential and small claims division of the Michigan tax               

                                                                                

8   tribunal within 35 days after the date of the notice.  The                  

                                                                                

9   assessor may deny a claim for exemption for the current year and            

                                                                                

10  for the 3 immediately preceding calendar years.  If the assessor            

                                                                                

11  denies an existing claim for exemption, the assessor shall remove           

                                                                                

12  the exemption of the property and, if the tax roll is in the                

                                                                                

13  local tax collecting unit's possession, amend the tax roll to               

                                                                                

14  reflect the denial and the local treasurer shall within 30 days             

                                                                                

15  of the date of the denial issue a corrected tax bill for any                

                                                                                

16  additional taxes with interest at the rate of 1.25% per month or            

                                                                                

17  fraction of a month and penalties computed from the date the                

                                                                                

18  taxes were last payable without interest or penalty.  If the tax            

                                                                                

19  roll is in the county treasurer's possession, the tax roll shall            

                                                                                

20  be amended to reflect the denial and the county treasurer shall             

                                                                                

21  within 30 days of the date of the denial prepare and submit a               

                                                                                

22  supplemental tax bill for any additional taxes, together with               

                                                                                

23  interest at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month              

                                                                                

24  and penalties computed from the date the taxes were last payable            

                                                                                

25  without interest or penalty.  Interest on any tax set forth in a            

                                                                                

26  corrected or supplemental tax bill shall again begin to accrue 60           

                                                                                

27  days after the date the corrected or supplemental tax bill is               


                                                                                

1   issued at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month.               

                                                                                

2   Taxes levied in a corrected or supplemental tax bill shall be               

                                                                                

3   returned as delinquent on the March 1 in the year immediately               

                                                                                

4   succeeding the year in which the corrected or supplemental tax              

                                                                                

5   bill is issued.  If the assessor denies an existing claim for               

                                                                                

6   exemption, the interest due shall be distributed as provided in             

                                                                                

7   subsection (23).  However, if the property has been transferred             

                                                                                

8   to a bona fide purchaser before additional taxes were billed to             

                                                                                

9   the seller as a result of the denial of a claim for exemption,              

                                                                                

10  the taxes, interest, and penalties shall not be a lien on the               

                                                                                

11  property and shall not be billed to the bona fide purchaser, and            

                                                                                

12  the local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit              

                                                                                

13  has possession of the tax roll or the county treasurer if the               

                                                                                

14  county has possession of the tax roll shall notify the department           

                                                                                

15  of treasury of the amount of tax due, interest, and penalties               

                                                                                

16  through the date of that notification.  The department of                   

                                                                                

17  treasury shall then assess the owner who claimed the exemption              

                                                                                

18  under this section for the tax, interest, and penalties accruing            

                                                                                

19  as a result of the denial of the claim for exemption, if any, as            

                                                                                

20  for unpaid taxes provided under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31,           

                                                                                

21  and shall deposit any tax or penalty collected into the state               

                                                                                

22  school aid fund and shall distribute any interest collected as              

                                                                                

23  provided in subsection (23).  The denial shall be made on a form            

                                                                                

24  prescribed by the department of treasury.  If the property for              

                                                                                

25  which the assessor has denied a claim for exemption under this              

                                                                                

26  subsection is located in a county in which the county treasurer             

                                                                                

27  or the county equalization director have elected to audit                   


                                                                                

1   exemptions under subsection (10), the assessor shall notify the             

                                                                                

2   county treasurer or the county equalization director of the                 

                                                                                

3   denial under this subsection.                                               

                                                                                

4       (7) If the assessor of the local tax collecting unit believes               

                                                                                

5   that the property for which the exemption is claimed is not the             

                                                                                

6   principal residence of the owner claiming the exemption and has             

                                                                                

7   not denied the claim, the assessor shall include a recommendation           

                                                                                

8   for denial with any affidavit that is forwarded to the department           

                                                                                

9   of treasury or, for an existing claim, shall send a                         

                                                                                

10  recommendation for denial to the department of treasury, stating            

                                                                                

11  the reasons for the recommendation.                                         

                                                                                

12      (8) The department of treasury shall determine if the                       

                                                                                

13  property is the principal residence of the owner claiming the               

                                                                                

14  exemption.  The department of treasury may review the validity of           

                                                                                

15  exemptions for the current calendar year and for the 3                      

                                                                                

16  immediately preceding calendar years.  If the department of                 

                                                                                

17  treasury determines that the property is not the principal                  

                                                                                

18  residence of the owner claiming the exemption, the department               

                                                                                

19  shall send a notice of that determination to the local tax                  

                                                                                

20  collecting unit and to the owner of the property claiming the               

                                                                                

21  exemption, indicating that the claim for exemption is denied,               

                                                                                

22  stating the reason for the denial, and advising the owner                   

                                                                                

23  claiming the exemption of the right to appeal the determination             

                                                                                

24  to the department of treasury and what those rights of appeal               

                                                                                

25  are.  The department of treasury may issue a notice denying a               

                                                                                

26  claim if an owner fails to respond within 30 days of receipt of a           

                                                                                

27  request for information from that department.  An owner may                 


                                                                                

1   appeal the denial of a claim of exemption to the department of              

                                                                                

2   treasury within 35 days of receipt of the notice of denial.  An             

                                                                                

3   appeal to the department of treasury shall be conducted according           

                                                                                

4   to the provisions for an informal conference in section 21 of               

                                                                                

5   1941 PA 122, MCL 205.21.  Within 10 days after acknowledging an             

                                                                                

6   appeal of a denial of a claim of exemption, the department of               

                                                                                

7   treasury shall notify the assessor and the treasurer for the                

                                                                                

8   county in which the property is located that an appeal has been             

                                                                                

9   filed.  Upon receipt of a notice that the department of treasury            

                                                                                

10  has denied a claim for exemption, the assessor shall remove the             

                                                                                

11  exemption of the property and, if the tax roll is in the local              

                                                                                

12  tax collecting unit's possession, amend the tax roll to reflect             

                                                                                

13  the denial and the local treasurer shall within 30 days of the              

                                                                                

14  date of the denial issue a corrected tax bill for any additional            

                                                                                

15  taxes with interest at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of           

                                                                                

16  a month and penalties computed from the date the taxes were last            

                                                                                

17  payable without interest and penalty.  If the tax roll is in the            

                                                                                

18  county treasurer's possession, the tax roll shall be amended to             

                                                                                

19  reflect the denial and the county treasurer shall within 30 days            

                                                                                

20  of the date of the denial prepare and submit a supplemental tax             

                                                                                

21  bill for any additional taxes, together with interest at the rate           

                                                                                

22  of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month and penalties computed            

                                                                                

23  from the date the taxes were last payable without interest or               

                                                                                

24  penalty.  Interest on any tax set forth in a corrected or                   

                                                                                

25  supplemental tax bill shall again begin to accrue 60 days after             

                                                                                

26  the date the corrected or supplemental tax bill is issued at the            

                                                                                

27  rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month.  Taxes levied in            


                                                                                

1   a corrected or supplemental tax bill shall be returned as                   

                                                                                

2   delinquent on the March 1 in the year immediately succeeding the            

                                                                                

3   year in which the corrected or supplemental tax bill is issued.             

                                                                                

4   If the department of treasury denies an existing claim for                  

                                                                                

5   exemption, the interest due shall be distributed as provided in             

                                                                                

6   subsection (23).  However, if the property has been transferred             

                                                                                

7   to a bona fide purchaser before additional taxes were billed to             

                                                                                

8   the seller as a result of the denial of a claim for exemption,              

                                                                                

9   the taxes, interest, and penalties shall not be a lien on the               

                                                                                

10  property and shall not be billed to the bona fide purchaser, and            

                                                                                

11  the local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit              

                                                                                

12  has possession of the tax roll or the county treasurer if the               

                                                                                

13  county has possession of the tax roll shall notify the department           

                                                                                

14  of treasury of the amount of tax due and interest through the               

                                                                                

15  date of that notification.  The department of treasury shall then           

                                                                                

16  assess the owner who claimed the exemption under this section for           

                                                                                

17  the tax and interest plus penalty accruing as a result of the               

                                                                                

18  denial of the claim for exemption, if any, as for unpaid taxes              

                                                                                

19  provided under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and shall                  

                                                                                

20  deposit any tax or penalty collected into the state school aid              

                                                                                

21  fund and shall distribute any interest collected as provided in             

                                                                                

22  subsection (23).                                                            

                                                                                

23      (9) The department of treasury may enter into an agreement                  

                                                                                

24  regarding the implementation or administration of subsection (8)            

                                                                                

25  with the assessor of any local tax collecting unit in a county              

                                                                                

26  that has not elected to audit exemptions claimed under this                 

                                                                                

27  section as provided in subsection (10).  The agreement may                  


                                                                                

1   specify that for a period of time, not to exceed 120 days, the              

                                                                                

2   department of treasury will not deny an exemption identified by             

                                                                                

3   the department of treasury in the list provided under subsection            

                                                                                

4   (11).                                                                       

                                                                                

5       (10) A county may elect to audit the exemptions claimed under               

                                                                                

6   this section in all local tax collecting units located in that              

                                                                                

7   county as provided in this subsection.  The election to audit               

                                                                                

8   exemptions shall be made by the county treasurer, or by the                 

                                                                                

9   county equalization director with the concurrence by resolution             

                                                                                

10  of the county board of commissioners.  The initial election to              

                                                                                

11  audit exemptions shall require an audit period of 2 years.                  

                                                                                

12  Subsequent elections to audit exemptions shall be made every 2              

                                                                                

13  years and shall require 2 annual audit periods.  An election to             

                                                                                

14  audit exemptions shall be made by submitting an election to audit           

                                                                                

15  form to the assessor of each local tax collecting unit in that              

                                                                                

16  county and to the department of treasury not later than October 1           

                                                                                

17  in the year in which an election to audit is made.  The election            

                                                                                

18  to audit form required under this subsection shall be in a form             

                                                                                

19  prescribed by the department of treasury.  If a county elects to            

                                                                                

20  audit the exemptions claimed under this section, the department             

                                                                                

21  of treasury may continue to review the validity of exemptions as            

                                                                                

22  provided in subsection (8).  If a county does not elect to audit            

                                                                                

23  the exemptions claimed under this section as provided in this               

                                                                                

24  subsection, the department of treasury shall conduct an audit of            

                                                                                

25  exemptions claimed under this section in the initial 2-year audit           

                                                                                

26  period for each local tax collecting unit in that county unless             

                                                                                

27  the department of treasury has entered into an agreement with the           


                                                                                

1   assessor for that local tax collecting unit under subsection                

                                                                                

2   (9).                                                                        

                                                                                

3       (11) If a county elects to audit the exemptions claimed under               

                                                                                

4   this section as provided in subsection (10) and the county                  

                                                                                

5   treasurer or his or her designee or the county equalization                 

                                                                                

6   director or his or her designee believes that the property for              

                                                                                

7   which an exemption is claimed is not the principal residence of             

                                                                                

8   the owner claiming the exemption, the county treasurer or his or            

                                                                                

9   her designee or the county equalization director or his or her              

                                                                                

10  designee may deny an existing claim by notifying the owner, the             

                                                                                

11  assessor of the local tax collecting unit, and the department of            

                                                                                

12  treasury in writing of the reason for the denial and advising the           

                                                                                

13  owner that the denial may be appealed to the residential and                

                                                                                

14  small claims division of the Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days           

                                                                                

15  after the date of the notice.  The county treasurer or his or her           

                                                                                

16  designee or the county equalization director or his or her                  

                                                                                

17  designee may deny a claim for exemption for the current year and            

                                                                                

18  for the 3 immediately preceding calendar years.  If the county              

                                                                                

19  treasurer or his or her designee or the county equalization                 

                                                                                

20  director or his or her designee denies an existing claim for                

                                                                                

21  exemption, the county treasurer or his or her designee or the               

                                                                                

22  county equalization director or his or her designee shall direct            

                                                                                

23  the assessor of the local tax collecting unit in which the                  

                                                                                

24  property is located to remove the exemption of the property from            

                                                                                

25  the assessment roll and, if the tax roll is in the local tax                

                                                                                

26  collecting unit's possession, direct the assessor of the local              

                                                                                

27  tax collecting unit to amend the tax roll to reflect the denial             


                                                                                

1   and the treasurer of the local tax collecting unit shall within             

                                                                                

2   30 days of the date of the denial issue a corrected tax bill for            

                                                                                

3   any additional taxes with interest at the rate of 1.25% per month           

                                                                                

4   or fraction of a month and penalties computed from the date the             

                                                                                

5   taxes were last payable without interest and penalty.  If the tax           

                                                                                

6   roll is in the county treasurer's possession, the tax roll shall            

                                                                                

7   be amended to reflect the denial and the county treasurer shall             

                                                                                

8   within 30 days of the date of the denial prepare and submit a               

                                                                                

9   supplemental tax bill for any additional taxes, together with               

                                                                                

10  interest at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month              

                                                                                

11  and penalties computed from the date the taxes were last payable            

                                                                                

12  without interest or penalty.  Interest on any tax set forth in a            

                                                                                

13  corrected or supplemental tax bill shall again begin to accrue 60           

                                                                                

14  days after the date the corrected or supplemental tax bill is               

                                                                                

15  issued at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month.               

                                                                                

16  Taxes levied in a corrected or supplemental tax bill shall be               

                                                                                

17  returned as delinquent on the March 1 in the year immediately               

                                                                                

18  succeeding the year in which the corrected or supplemental tax              

                                                                                

19  bill is issued.  If the county treasurer or his or her designee             

                                                                                

20  or the county equalization director or his or her designee denies           

                                                                                

21  an existing claim for exemption, the interest due shall be                  

                                                                                

22  distributed as provided in subsection (23).  However, if the                

                                                                                

23  property has been transferred to a bona fide purchaser before               

                                                                                

24  additional taxes were billed to the seller as a result of the               

                                                                                

25  denial of a claim for exemption, the taxes, interest, and                   

                                                                                

26  penalties shall not be a lien on the property and shall not be              

                                                                                

27  billed to the bona fide purchaser, and the local tax collecting             


                                                                                

1   unit if the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax             

                                                                                

2   roll or the county treasurer if the county has possession of the            

                                                                                

3   tax roll shall notify the department of treasury of the amount of           

                                                                                

4   tax due and interest through the date of that notification.  The            

                                                                                

5   department of treasury shall then assess the owner who claimed              

                                                                                

6   the exemption under this section for the tax and interest plus              

                                                                                

7   penalty accruing as a result of the denial of the claim for                 

                                                                                

8   exemption, if any, as for unpaid taxes provided under 1941 PA               

                                                                                

9   122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and shall deposit any tax or penalty              

                                                                                

10  collected into the state school aid fund and shall distribute any           

                                                                                

11  interest collected as provided in subsection (23).  The                     

                                                                                

12  department of treasury shall annually provide the county                    

                                                                                

13  treasurer or his or her designee or the county equalization                 

                                                                                

14  director or his or her designee a list of parcels of property               

                                                                                

15  located in that county for which an exemption may be erroneously            

                                                                                

16  claimed.  The county treasurer or his or her designee or the                

                                                                                

17  county equalization director or his or her designee shall forward           

                                                                                

18  copies of the list provided by the department of treasury to each           

                                                                                

19  assessor in each local tax collecting unit in that county within            

                                                                                

20  10 days of receiving the list.                                              

                                                                                

21      (12) If a county elects to audit exemptions claimed under                   

                                                                                

22  this section as provided in subsection (10), the county treasurer           

                                                                                

23  or the county equalization director may enter into an agreement             

                                                                                

24  with the assessor of a local tax collecting unit in that county             

                                                                                

25  regarding the implementation or administration of this section.             

                                                                                

26  The agreement may specify that for a period of time, not to                 

                                                                                

27  exceed 120 days, the county will not deny an exemption identified           


                                                                                

1   by the department of treasury in the list provided under                    

                                                                                

2   subsection (11).                                                            

                                                                                

3       (13) An owner may appeal a denial by the assessor of the                    

                                                                                

4   local tax collecting unit under subsection (6), a final decision            

                                                                                

5   of the department of treasury under subsection (8), or a denial             

                                                                                

6   by the county treasurer or his or her designee or the county                

                                                                                

7   equalization director or his or her designee under subsection               

                                                                                

8   (11) to the residential and small claims division of the Michigan           

                                                                                

9   tax tribunal within 35 days of that decision.  An owner is not              

                                                                                

10  required to pay the amount of tax in dispute in order to appeal a           

                                                                                

11  denial of a claim of exemption to the department of treasury or             

                                                                                

12  to receive a final determination of the residential and small               

                                                                                

13  claims division of the Michigan tax tribunal.  However, interest            

                                                                                

14  at the rate of 1.25% per month or fraction of a month and                   

                                                                                

15  penalties shall accrue and be computed from the date the taxes              

                                                                                

16  were last payable without interest and penalty.  If the                     

                                                                                

17  residential and small claims division of the Michigan tax                   

                                                                                

18  tribunal grants an owner's appeal of a denial and that owner has            

                                                                                

19  paid the interest due as a result of a denial under subsection              

                                                                                

20  (6), (8), or (11), the interest received after a distribution was           

                                                                                

21  made under subsection (23) shall be refunded.                               

                                                                                

22      (14) For taxes levied after December 31, 2005, for each                     

                                                                                

23  county in which the county treasurer or the county equalization             

                                                                                

24  director does not elect to audit the exemptions claimed under               

                                                                                

25  this section as provided in subsection (10), the department of              

                                                                                

26  treasury shall conduct an annual audit of exemptions claimed                

                                                                                

27  under this section for the current calendar year.                           


                                                                                

1       (15) An affidavit filed by an owner for the exemption under                 

                                                                                

2   this section rescinds all previous exemptions filed by that owner           

                                                                                

3   for any other property.  The department of treasury shall notify            

                                                                                

4   the assessor of the local tax collecting unit in which the                  

                                                                                

5   property for which a previous exemption was claimed is located              

                                                                                

6   that the previous exemption is rescinded by the subsequent                  

                                                                                

7   affidavit.  When an exemption is rescinded, the assessor of the             

                                                                                

8   local tax collecting unit shall remove the exemption effective              

                                                                                

9   December 31 of the year in which the affidavit was filed that               

                                                                                

10  rescinded the exemption.  For any year for which the rescinded              

                                                                                

11  exemption has not been removed from the tax roll, the exemption             

                                                                                

12  shall be denied as provided in this section.  However, interest             

                                                                                

13  and penalty shall not be imposed for a year for which a                     

                                                                                

14  rescission form has been timely filed under subsection (5).                 

                                                                                

15      (16) If the principal residence is part of a unit in a                      

                                                                                

16  multiple-unit dwelling or a dwelling unit in a multiple-purpose             

                                                                                

17  structure, an owner shall claim an exemption for only that                  

                                                                                

18  portion of the total taxable value of the property used as the              

                                                                                

19  principal residence of that owner in a manner prescribed by the             

                                                                                

20  department of treasury.  If a portion of a parcel for which the             

                                                                                

21  owner claims an exemption is  used for a purpose other than as a            

                                                                                

22  principal residence  leased to another person as an auxiliary               

                                                                                

23  dwelling unit, the owner  shall  may claim an exemption for  only           

                                                                                

24  that portion of the taxable value of the property used as the               

                                                                                

25  principal residence of that owner in a manner prescribed by the             

                                                                                

26  department of treasury  the entire parcel.                                  

                                                                                

27      (17) When a county register of deeds records a transfer of                  


                                                                                

1   ownership of a property, he or she shall notify the local tax               

                                                                                

2   collecting unit in which the property is located of the                     

                                                                                

3   transfer.                                                                   

                                                                                

4       (18) The department of treasury shall make available the                    

                                                                                

5   affidavit forms and the forms to rescind an exemption, which may            

                                                                                

6   be on the same form, to all city and township assessors, county             

                                                                                

7   equalization officers, county registers of deeds, and closing               

                                                                                

8   agents.  A person who prepares a closing statement for the sale             

                                                                                

9   of property shall provide affidavit and rescission forms to the             

                                                                                

10  buyer and seller at the closing and, if requested by the buyer or           

                                                                                

11  seller after execution by the buyer or seller, shall file the               

                                                                                

12  forms with the local tax collecting unit in which the property is           

                                                                                

13  located.  If a closing statement preparer fails to provide                  

                                                                                

14  exemption affidavit and rescission forms to the buyer and seller,           

                                                                                

15  or fails to file the affidavit and rescission forms with the                

                                                                                

16  local tax collecting unit if requested by the buyer or seller,              

                                                                                

17  the buyer may appeal to the department of treasury within 30 days           

                                                                                

18  of notice to the buyer that an exemption was not recorded.  If              

                                                                                

19  the department of treasury determines that the buyer qualifies              

                                                                                

20  for the exemption, the department of treasury shall notify the              

                                                                                

21  assessor of the local tax collecting unit that the exemption is             

                                                                                

22  granted and the assessor of the local tax collecting unit or, if            

                                                                                

23  the tax roll is in the possession of the county treasurer, the              

                                                                                

24  county treasurer shall correct the tax roll to reflect the                  

                                                                                

25  exemption.  This subsection does not create a cause of action at            

                                                                                

26  law or in equity against a closing statement preparer who fails             

                                                                                

27  to provide exemption affidavit and rescission forms to a buyer              


                                                                                

1   and seller or who fails to file the affidavit and rescission                

                                                                                

2   forms with the local tax collecting unit when requested to do so            

                                                                                

3   by the buyer or seller.                                                     

                                                                                

4       (19) An owner who owned and occupied a principal residence on               

                                                                                

5   May 1 for which the exemption was not on the tax roll may file an           

                                                                                

6   appeal with the July board of review or December board of review            

                                                                                

7   in the year for which the exemption was claimed or the                      

                                                                                

8   immediately succeeding 3 years.  If an appeal of a claim for                

                                                                                

9   exemption that was not on the tax roll is received not later than           

                                                                                

10  5 days prior to the date of the December board of review, the               

                                                                                

11  local tax collecting unit shall convene a December board of                 

                                                                                

12  review and consider the appeal pursuant to this section and                 

                                                                                

13  section 53b.                                                                

                                                                                

14      (20) If the assessor or treasurer of the local tax collecting               

                                                                                

15  unit believes that the department of treasury erroneously denied            

                                                                                

16  a claim for exemption, the assessor or treasurer may submit                 

                                                                                

17  written information supporting the owner's claim for exemption to           

                                                                                

18  the department of treasury within 35 days of the owner's receipt            

                                                                                

19  of the notice denying the claim for exemption.  If, after                   

                                                                                

20  reviewing the information provided, the department of treasury              

                                                                                

21  determines that the claim for exemption was erroneously denied,             

                                                                                

22  the department of treasury shall grant the exemption and the tax            

                                                                                

23  roll shall be amended to reflect the exemption.                             

                                                                                

24      (21) If granting the exemption under this section results in                

                                                                                

25  an overpayment of the tax, a rebate, including any interest paid,           

                                                                                

26  shall be made to the taxpayer by the local tax collecting unit if           

                                                                                

27  the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or             


                                                                                

1   by the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax             

                                                                                

2   roll within 30 days of the date the exemption is granted.  The              

                                                                                

3   rebate shall be without interest.                                           

                                                                                

4       (22) If an exemption under this section is erroneously                      

                                                                                

5   granted for an affidavit filed before October 1, 2003, an owner             

                                                                                

6   may request in writing that the department of treasury withdraw             

                                                                                

7   the exemption.  The request to withdraw the exemption shall be              

                                                                                

8   received not later than November 1, 2003.  If an owner requests             

                                                                                

9   that an exemption be withdrawn, the department of treasury shall            

                                                                                

10  issue an order notifying the local assessor that the exemption              

                                                                                

11  issued under this section has been denied based on the owner's              

                                                                                

12  request.  If an exemption is withdrawn, the property that had               

                                                                                

13  been subject to that exemption shall be immediately placed on the           

                                                                                

14  tax roll by the local tax collecting unit if the local tax                  

                                                                                

15  collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or by the county             

                                                                                

16  treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll as though            

                                                                                

17  the exemption had not been granted.  A corrected tax bill shall             

                                                                                

18  be issued for the tax year being adjusted by the local tax                  

                                                                                

19  collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit has possession             

                                                                                

20  of the tax roll or by the county treasurer if the county has                

                                                                                

21  possession of the tax roll.  Unless a denial has been issued                

                                                                                

22  prior to July 1, 2003, if an owner requests that an exemption               

                                                                                

23  under this section be withdrawn and that owner pays the corrected           

                                                                                

24  tax bill issued under this subsection within 30 days after the              

                                                                                

25  corrected tax bill is issued, that owner is not liable for any              

                                                                                

26  penalty or interest on the additional tax.  An owner who pays a             

                                                                                

27  corrected tax bill issued under this subsection more than 30 days           


                                                                                

1   after the corrected tax bill is issued is liable for the                    

                                                                                

2   penalties and interest that would have accrued if the exemption             

                                                                                

3   had not been granted from the date the taxes were originally                

                                                                                

4   levied.                                                                     

                                                                                

5       (23) Subject to subsection (24), interest at the rate of                    

                                                                                

6   1.25% per month or fraction of a month collected under subsection           

                                                                                

7   (6), (8), or (11) shall be distributed as follows:                          

                                                                                

8       (a) If the assessor of the local tax collecting unit denies                 

                                                                                

9   the exemption under this section, as follows:                               

                                                                                

10                                                                               (i) To the local tax collecting unit, 70%.                                          

                                                                                

11      (ii) To the department of treasury, 10%.                                     

                                                                                

12      (iii) To the county in which the property is located, 20%.                   

                                                                                

13      (b) If the department of treasury denies the exemption under                

                                                                                

14  this section, as follows:                                                   

                                                                                

15                                                                               (i) To the local tax collecting unit, 20%.                                          

                                                                                

16      (ii) To the department of treasury, 70%.                                     

                                                                                

17      (iii) To the county in which the property is located, 10%.                   

                                                                                

18      (c) If the county treasurer or his or her designee or the                   

                                                                                

19  county equalization director or his or her designee denies the              

                                                                                

20  exemption under this section, as follows:                                   

                                                                                

21                                                                               (i) To the local tax collecting unit, 20%.                                          

                                                                                

22      (ii) To the department of treasury, 10%.                                     

                                                                                

23      (iii) To the county in which the property is located, 70%.                   

                                                                                

24      (24) Interest distributed under subsection (23) is subject to               

                                                                                

25  the following conditions:                                                   

                                                                                

26      (a) Interest distributed to a county shall be deposited into                

                                                                                

27  a restricted fund to be used solely for the administration of               


                                                                                

1   exemptions under this section.  Money in that restricted fund               

                                                                                

2   shall lapse to the county general fund on the December 31 in the            

                                                                                

3   year 3 years after the first distribution of interest to the                

                                                                                

4   county under subsection (23) and on each succeeding December 31             

                                                                                

5   thereafter.                                                                 

                                                                                

6       (b) Interest distributed to the department of treasury shall                

                                                                                

7   be deposited into the principal residence property tax exemption            

                                                                                

8   audit fund, which is created within the state treasury.  The                

                                                                                

9   state treasurer may receive money or other assets from any source           

                                                                                

10  for deposit into the fund.  The state treasurer shall direct the            

                                                                                

11  investment of the fund.  The state treasurer shall credit to the            

                                                                                

12  fund interest and earnings from fund investments.  Money in the             

                                                                                

13  fund shall be considered a work project account and at the close            

                                                                                

14  of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not lapse             

                                                                                

15  to the general fund.  Money from the fund shall be expended, upon           

                                                                                

16  appropriation, only for the purpose of auditing exemption                   

                                                                                

17  affidavits.                                                                 

                                                                                

18      (25) Interest distributed under subsection (23) is in                       

                                                                                

19  addition to and shall not affect the levy or collection of the              

                                                                                

20  county property tax administration fee established under this               

                                                                                

21  act.                                                                        

                                                                                

22      (26) A cooperative housing corporation is entitled to a full                

                                                                                

23  or partial exemption under this section for the tax year in which           

                                                                                

24  the cooperative housing corporation files all of the following              

                                                                                

25  with the local tax collecting unit in which the cooperative                 

                                                                                

26  housing corporation is located if filed on or before May 1:                 

                                                                                

27      (a) An affidavit form.                                                      


                                                                                

1       (b) A statement of the total number of units owned by the                   

                                                                                

2   cooperative housing corporation and occupied as the principal               

                                                                                

3   residence of a tenant stockholder as of the date of the filing              

                                                                                

4   under this subsection.                                                      

                                                                                

5       (c) A list that includes the name, address, and social                      

                                                                                

6   security number of each tenant stockholder of the cooperative               

                                                                                

7   housing corporation occupying a unit in the cooperative housing             

                                                                                

8   corporation as his or her principal residence as of the date of             

                                                                                

9   the filing under this subsection.                                           

                                                                                

10      (d) A statement of the total number of units of the                         

                                                                                

11  cooperative housing corporation on which an exemption under this            

                                                                                

12  section was claimed and that were transferred in the tax year               

                                                                                

13  immediately preceding the tax year in which the filing under this           

                                                                                

14  section was made.                                                           

                                                                                

15      (27) Before May 1, 2004 and before May 1, 2005, the treasurer               

                                                                                

16  of each county shall forward to the department of education a               

                                                                                

17  statement of the taxable value of each school district and                  

                                                                                

18  fraction of a school district within the county for the preceding           

                                                                                

19  4 calendar years.  This requirement is in addition to the                   

                                                                                

20  requirement set forth in section 151 of the state school aid act            

                                                                                

21  of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1751.