May 17, 2011, Introduced by Reps. Genetski, Haveman, Kowall and McBroom and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.
A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled
"The general property tax act,"
by amending sections 2, 27, and 27a (MCL 211.2, 211.27, and
211.27a), section 2 as amended by 2002 PA 620, section 27 as
amended by 2003 PA 274, and section 27a as amended by 2008 PA 506.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2. (1) For the purpose of taxation, real property
includes all of the following:
(a) All land within this state, all buildings and fixtures on
the land, and all appurtenances to the land, except as expressly
exempted by law.
(b) All real property owned by this state or purchased or
condemned for public highway purposes by any board, officer,
commission, or department of this state and sold on land contract,
notwithstanding the fact that the deed has not been executed
transferring title.
(c) For taxes levied after December 31, 2002, buildings and
improvements located upon leased real property, except buildings
and improvements exempt under section 9f or improvements assessable
under section 8(h), if the value of the buildings or improvements
is not otherwise included in the assessment of the real property.
However, buildings and improvements located on leased real property
shall not be treated as real property unless they would be treated
as real property if they were located on real property owned by the
taxpayer.
(2)
The Except as otherwise
provided in section 27a, the
taxable status of persons and real and personal property for a tax
year shall be determined as of each December 31 of the immediately
preceding year, which is considered the tax day, any provisions in
the charter of any city or village to the contrary notwithstanding.
An assessing officer is not restricted to any particular period in
the preparation of the assessment roll but may survey, examine, or
review property at any time before or after the tax day.
(3) Notwithstanding a provision to the contrary in any law, if
real property is acquired for public purposes by purchase or
condemnation, all general property taxes, but not penalties, levied
during the 12 months immediately preceding, but not including, the
day title passes to the public agency shall be prorated in
accordance with this subsection. The seller or condemnee is
responsible for the portion of taxes from the levy date or dates
to, but not including, the day title passes and the public agency
is responsible for the remainder of the taxes. If the date that
title will pass cannot be ascertained definitely and an agreement
in advance to prorate taxes is desirable, an estimated date for the
passage of title may be agreed to. In the absence of an agreement,
the public agency shall compute the proration of taxes as of the
date title passes. The question of proration of taxes shall not be
considered in any condemnation proceeding. As used in this
subsection, "levy date" means the day on which general property
taxes become due and payable. In addition to the portion of taxes
for which the public agency is responsible under the provisions of
this subsection, the public agency is also responsible for all
general property taxes levied on or after the date title passes and
before the property is removed from the tax rolls.
(4) In a real estate transaction between private parties in
the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the seller is
responsible for that portion of the annual taxes levied during the
12 months immediately preceding, but not including, the day title
passes, from the levy date or dates to, but not including, the day
title passes and the buyer is responsible for the remainder of the
annual taxes. As used in this subsection, "levy date" means the day
on which a general property tax becomes due and payable.
Sec. 27. (1) As used in this act, "true cash value" means the
usual selling price at the place where the property to which the
term is applied is at the time of assessment, being the price that
could be obtained for the property at private sale, and not at
auction sale except as otherwise provided in this section, or at
forced sale. The usual selling price may include sales at public
auction held by a nongovernmental agency or person if those sales
have become a common method of acquisition in the jurisdiction for
the class of property being valued. The usual selling price does
not include sales at public auction if the sale is part of a
liquidation of the seller's assets in a bankruptcy proceeding or if
the seller is unable to use common marketing techniques to obtain
the usual selling price for the property. A sale or other
disposition by this state or an agency or political subdivision of
this state of land acquired for delinquent taxes or an appraisal
made in connection with the sale or other disposition or the value
attributed to the property of regulated public utilities by a
governmental regulatory agency for rate-making purposes is not
controlling evidence of true cash value for assessment purposes. In
determining the true cash value, the assessor shall also consider
the advantages and disadvantages of location; quality of soil;
zoning; existing use; present economic income of structures,
including farm structures; present economic income of land if the
land is being farmed or otherwise put to income producing use;
quantity and value of standing timber; water power and privileges;
and mines, minerals, quarries, or other valuable deposits known to
be available in the land and their value. In determining the true
cash value of personal property owned by an electric utility
cooperative, the assessor shall consider the number of kilowatt
hours of electricity sold per mile of distribution line compared to
the average number of kilowatt hours of electricity sold per mile
of distribution line for all electric utilities.
(2) The assessor shall not consider the increase in true cash
value that is a result of expenditures for normal repairs,
replacement, and maintenance in determining the true cash value of
property for assessment purposes until the property is sold. For
the purpose of implementing this subsection, the assessor shall not
increase the construction quality classification or reduce the
effective age for depreciation purposes, except if the appraisal of
the property was erroneous before nonconsideration of the normal
repair, replacement, or maintenance, and shall not assign an
economic condition factor to the property that differs from the
economic condition factor assigned to similar properties as defined
by appraisal procedures applied in the jurisdiction. The increase
in value attributable to the items included in subdivisions (a) to
(o) that is known to the assessor and excluded from true cash value
shall be indicated on the assessment roll. This subsection applies
only to residential property. The following repairs are considered
normal maintenance if they are not part of a structural addition or
completion:
(a) Outside painting.
(b) Repairing or replacing siding, roof, porches, steps,
sidewalks, or drives.
(c) Repainting, repairing, or replacing existing masonry.
(d) Replacing awnings.
(e) Adding or replacing gutters and downspouts.
(f) Replacing storm windows or doors.
(g) Insulating or weatherstripping.
(h) Complete rewiring.
(i) Replacing plumbing and light fixtures.
(j) Replacing a furnace with a new furnace of the same type or
replacing an oil or gas burner.
(k) Repairing plaster, inside painting, or other redecorating.
(l) New ceiling, wall, or floor surfacing.
(m) Removing partitions to enlarge rooms.
(n) Replacing an automatic hot water heater.
(o) Replacing dated interior woodwork.
(3) A city or township assessor, a county equalization
department, or the state tax commission before utilizing real
estate sales data on real property purchases, including purchases
by land contract, to determine assessments or in making sales ratio
studies to assess property or equalize assessments shall exclude
from the sales data the following amounts allowed by subdivisions
(a), (b), and (c) to the extent that the amounts are included in
the real property purchase price and are so identified in the real
estate sales data or certified to the assessor as provided in
subdivision (d):
(a) Amounts paid for obtaining financing of the purchase price
of the property or the last conveyance of the property.
(b) Amounts attributable to personal property that were
included in the purchase price of the property in the last
conveyance of the property.
(c) Amounts paid for surveying the property pursuant to the
last conveyance of the property. The legislature may require local
units of government, including school districts, to submit reports
of revenue lost under subdivisions (a) and (b) and this subdivision
so that the state may reimburse those units for that lost revenue.
(d) The purchaser of real property, including a purchaser by
land contract, may file with the assessor of the city or township
in which the property is located 2 copies of the purchase agreement
or of an affidavit that identifies the amount, if any, for each
item listed in subdivisions (a) to (c). One copy shall be forwarded
by the assessor to the county equalization department. The
affidavit shall be prescribed by the state tax commission.
(4) As used in subsection (1), "present economic income" means
for leased or rented property the ordinary, general, and usual
economic return realized from the lease or rental of property
negotiated under current, contemporary conditions between parties
equally knowledgeable and familiar with real estate values. The
actual income generated by the lease or rental of property is not
the controlling indicator of its true cash value in all cases. This
subsection does not apply to property subject to a lease entered
into before January 1, 1984 for which the terms of the lease
governing the rental rate or tax liability have not been
renegotiated after December 31, 1983. This subsection does not
apply to a nonprofit housing cooperative subject to regulatory
agreements between the state or federal government entered into
before January 1, 1984. As used in this subsection, "nonprofit
cooperative housing corporation" means a nonprofit cooperative
housing corporation that is engaged in providing housing services
to its stockholders and members and that does not pay dividends or
interest upon stock or membership investment but that does
distribute all earnings to its stockholders or members.
(5)
Beginning December 31, 1994, the The purchase price paid
in
a transfer of property is not the presumptive true cash value of
the
property transferred. In determining the true cash value of
transferred
property, an assessing officer shall assess that
property
using the same valuation method used to value all other
property
of that same classification in the assessing jurisdiction.
As used in this subsection, "purchase price" means the total
consideration
agreed to in an arms-length arm's-length
transaction
and not at a forced sale paid by the purchaser of the property,
stated in dollars, whether or not paid in dollars.
(6) For purposes of a statement submitted under section 19,
the true cash value of a standard tool is the net book value of
that standard tool as of December 31 in each tax year as determined
using generally accepted accounting principles in a manner
consistent with the established depreciation method used by the
person submitting that statement. The net book value of a standard
tool for federal income tax purposes is not the presumptive true
cash value of that standard tool. As used in this subsection,
"standard tool" means that term as defined in section 9b.
Sec. 27a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
property shall be assessed at 50% of its true cash value under
section 3 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), for taxes
levied in 1995 and for each year after 1995, the taxable value of
each parcel of property is the lesser of the following:
(a) The property's taxable value in the immediately preceding
year minus any losses, multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the
inflation rate, plus all additions. For taxes levied in 1995, the
property's taxable value in the immediately preceding year is the
property's state equalized valuation in 1994.
(b) The property's current state equalized valuation.
(3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the
property's taxable value for the calendar year following the year
of the transfer is the property's state equalized valuation for the
calendar year following the transfer. However, notwithstanding tax
day as described in section 2, upon a transfer of ownership of
property for which an exemption as a principal residence is claimed
under section 7cc after the effective date of the amendatory act
that added this sentence and before January 1, 2015, the taxable
value of that property shall be adjusted in the year that the
property is transferred. If adjustment of the property's taxable
value under this section results in an overpayment, a rebate,
including any interest paid, shall be made to the taxpayer by the
local tax collecting unit.
(4) If the taxable value of property is adjusted under
subsection (3), a subsequent increase in the property's taxable
value is subject to the limitation set forth in subsection (2)
until a subsequent transfer of ownership occurs. If the taxable
value of property is adjusted under subsection (3) and the assessor
determines that there had not been a transfer of ownership, the
taxable value of the property shall be adjusted at the July or
December board of review. Notwithstanding the limitation provided
in section 53b(1) on the number of years for which a correction may
be made, the July or December board of review may adjust the
taxable value of property under this subsection for the current
year and for the 3 immediately preceding calendar years. A
corrected tax bill shall be issued for each tax year for which the
taxable value is adjusted by the local tax collecting unit if the
local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or by the
county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll. For
purposes of section 53b, an adjustment under this subsection shall
be considered the correction of a clerical error.
(5) Assessment of property, as required in this section and
section 27, is inapplicable to the assessment of property subject
to the levy of ad valorem taxes within voted tax limitation
increases to pay principal and interest on limited tax bonds issued
by any governmental unit, including a county, township, community
college district, or school district, before January 1, 1964, if
the assessment required to be made under this act would be less
than the assessment as state equalized prevailing on the property
at the time of the issuance of the bonds. This inapplicability
shall continue until levy of taxes to pay principal and interest on
the bonds is no longer required. The assessment of property
required by this act shall be applicable for all other purposes.
(6) As used in this act, "transfer of ownership" means the
conveyance of title to or a present interest in property, including
the beneficial use of the property, the value of which is
substantially equal to the value of the fee interest. Transfer of
ownership of property includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
(a) A conveyance by deed.
(b) A conveyance by land contract. The taxable value of
property conveyed by a land contract executed after December 31,
1994 shall be adjusted under subsection (3) for the calendar year
following the year in which the contract is entered into and shall
not be subsequently adjusted under subsection (3) when the deed
conveying title to the property is recorded in the office of the
register of deeds in the county in which the property is located.
(c) A conveyance to a trust after December 31, 1994, except if
the settlor or the settlor's spouse, or both, conveys the property
to the trust and the sole present beneficiary or beneficiaries are
the settlor or the settlor's spouse, or both.
(d) A conveyance by distribution from a trust, except if the
distributee is the sole present beneficiary or the spouse of the
sole present beneficiary, or both.
(e) A change in the sole present beneficiary or beneficiaries
of a trust, except a change that adds or substitutes the spouse of
the sole present beneficiary.
(f) A conveyance by distribution under a will or by intestate
succession, except if the distributee is the decedent's spouse.
(g) A conveyance by lease if the total duration of the lease,
including the initial term and all options for renewal, is more
than 35 years or the lease grants the lessee a bargain purchase
option. As used in this subdivision, "bargain purchase option"
means the right to purchase the property at the termination of the
lease for not more than 80% of the property's projected true cash
value at the termination of the lease. After December 31, 1994, the
taxable value of property conveyed by a lease with a total duration
of more than 35 years or with a bargain purchase option shall be
adjusted under subsection (3) for the calendar year following the
year in which the lease is entered into. This subdivision does not
apply to personal property except buildings described in section
14(6) and personal property described in section 8(h), (i), and
(j). This subdivision does not apply to that portion of the
property not subject to the leasehold interest conveyed.
(h) A conveyance of an ownership interest in a corporation,
partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, or other legal entity if the
ownership interest conveyed is more than 50% of the corporation,
partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, or other legal entity. Unless
notification is provided under subsection (10), the corporation,
partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, or other legal entity shall notify
the assessing officer on a form provided by the state tax
commission not more than 45 days after a conveyance of an ownership
interest that constitutes a transfer of ownership under this
subdivision.
(i) A transfer of property held as a tenancy in common, except
that portion of the property not subject to the ownership interest
conveyed.
(j) A conveyance of an ownership interest in a cooperative
housing corporation, except that portion of the property not
subject to the ownership interest conveyed.
(7) Transfer of ownership does not include the following:
(a) The transfer of property from 1 spouse to the other spouse
or from a decedent to a surviving spouse.
(b) A transfer from a husband, a wife, or a husband and wife
creating or disjoining a tenancy by the entireties in the grantors
or the grantor and his or her spouse.
(c) A transfer of that portion of property subject to a life
estate or life lease retained by the transferor, until expiration
or termination of the life estate or life lease. That portion of
property transferred that is not subject to a life lease shall be
adjusted under subsection (3).
(d) A transfer through foreclosure or forfeiture of a recorded
instrument under chapter 31, 32, or 57 of the revised judicature
act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.3101 to 600.3285 and MCL 600.5701
to 600.5759, or through deed or conveyance in lieu of a foreclosure
or forfeiture, until the mortgagee or land contract vendor
subsequently transfers the property. If a mortgagee does not
transfer the property within 1 year of the expiration of any
applicable redemption period, the property shall be adjusted under
subsection (3).
(e) A transfer by redemption by the person to whom taxes are
assessed of property previously sold for delinquent taxes.
(f) A conveyance to a trust if the settlor or the settlor's
spouse, or both, conveys the property to the trust and the sole
present beneficiary of the trust is the settlor or the settlor's
spouse, or both.
(g) A transfer pursuant to a judgment or order of a court of
record making or ordering a transfer, unless a specific monetary
consideration is specified or ordered by the court for the
transfer.
(h) A transfer creating or terminating a joint tenancy between
2 or more persons if at least 1 of the persons was an original
owner of the property before the joint tenancy was initially
created and, if the property is held as a joint tenancy at the time
of conveyance, at least 1 of the persons was a joint tenant when
the joint tenancy was initially created and that person has
remained a joint tenant since the joint tenancy was initially
created. A joint owner at the time of the last transfer of
ownership of the property is an original owner of the property. For
purposes of this subdivision, a person is an original owner of
property owned by that person's spouse.
(i) A transfer for security or an assignment or discharge of a
security interest.
(j) A transfer of real property or other ownership interests
among members of an affiliated group. As used in this subsection,
"affiliated group" means 1 or more corporations connected by stock
ownership to a common parent corporation. Upon request by the state
tax commission, a corporation shall furnish proof within 45 days
that a transfer meets the requirements of this subdivision. A
corporation that fails to comply with a request by the state tax
commission under this subdivision is subject to a fine of $200.00.
(k) Normal public trading of shares of stock or other
ownership interests that, over any period of time, cumulatively
represent more than 50% of the total ownership interest in a
corporation or other legal entity and are traded in multiple
transactions involving unrelated individuals, institutions, or
other legal entities.
(l) A transfer of real property or other ownership interests
among corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,
limited liability partnerships, or other legal entities if the
entities involved are commonly controlled. Upon request by the
state tax commission, a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity shall
furnish proof within 45 days that a transfer meets the requirements
of this subdivision. A corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity that
fails to comply with a request by the state tax commission under
this subdivision is subject to a fine of $200.00.
(m) A direct or indirect transfer of real property or other
ownership interests resulting from a transaction that qualifies as
a tax-free reorganization under section 368 of the internal revenue
code, 26 USC 368. Upon request by the state tax commission, a
property owner shall furnish proof within 45 days that a transfer
meets the requirements of this subdivision. A property owner who
fails to comply with a request by the state tax commission under
this subdivision is subject to a fine of $200.00.
(n) A transfer of qualified agricultural property, if the
person to whom the qualified agricultural property is transferred
files an affidavit with the assessor of the local tax collecting
unit in which the qualified agricultural property is located and
with the register of deeds for the county in which the qualified
agricultural property is located attesting that the qualified
agricultural property shall remain qualified agricultural property.
The affidavit under this subdivision shall be in a form prescribed
by the department of treasury. An owner of qualified agricultural
property shall inform a prospective buyer of that qualified
agricultural property that the qualified agricultural property is
subject to the recapture tax provided in the agricultural property
recapture act, 2000 PA 261, MCL 211.1001 to 211.1007, if the
qualified agricultural property is converted by a change in use. If
property ceases to be qualified agricultural property at any time
after being transferred, all of the following shall occur:
(i) The taxable value of that property shall be adjusted under
subsection (3) as of the December 31 in the year that the property
ceases to be qualified agricultural property.
(ii) The property is subject to the recapture tax provided for
under the agricultural property recapture act, 2000 PA 261, MCL
211.1001 to 211.1007.
(o) A transfer of qualified forest property, if the person to
whom the qualified forest property is transferred files an
affidavit with the assessor of the local tax collecting unit in
which the qualified forest property is located and with the
register of deeds for the county in which the qualified forest
property is located attesting that the qualified forest property
shall remain qualified forest property. The affidavit under this
subdivision shall be in a form prescribed by the department of
treasury. An owner of qualified forest property shall inform a
prospective buyer of that qualified forest property that the
qualified forest property is subject to the recapture tax provided
in the qualified forest property recapture tax act, 2006 PA 379,
MCL 211.1031 to 211.1036, if the qualified forest property is
converted by a change in use. If property ceases to be qualified
forest property at any time after being transferred, all of the
following shall occur:
(i) The taxable value of that property shall be adjusted under
subsection (3) as of the December 31 in the year that the property
ceases to be qualified forest property.
(ii) The property is subject to the recapture tax provided for
under the qualified forest property recapture tax act, 2006 PA 379,
MCL 211.1031 to 211.1036.
(p) Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that
added this subdivision, a transfer of land, but not buildings or
structures located on the land, which meets 1 or more of the
following requirements:
(i) The land is subject to a conservation easement under
subpart 11 of part 21 of the natural resources and environmental
protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.2140 to 324.2144. As used in
this subparagraph, "conservation easement" means that term as
defined in section 2140 of the natural resources and environmental
protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.2140.
(ii) A transfer of ownership of the land or a transfer of an
interest in the land is eligible for a deduction as a qualified
conservation contribution under section 170(h) of the internal
revenue code, 26 USC 170.
(q) A transfer of real property or other ownership interests
resulting from a consolidation or merger of a domestic nonprofit
corporation that is a boy or girl scout or camp fire girls
organization, a 4-H club or foundation, a young men's Christian
association, or a young women's Christian association and at least
50% of the members of that organization or association are
residents of this state.
(8) If all of the following conditions are satisfied, the
local tax collecting unit shall revise the taxable value of
qualified agricultural property taxable on the tax roll in the
possession of that local tax collecting unit to the taxable value
that qualified agricultural property would have had if there had
been no transfer of ownership of that qualified agricultural
property since December 31, 1999 and there had been no adjustment
of that qualified agricultural property's taxable value under
subsection (3) since December 31, 1999:
(a) The qualified agricultural property was qualified
agricultural property for taxes levied in 1999 and each year after
1999.
(b) The owner of the qualified agricultural property files an
affidavit with the assessor of the local tax collecting unit under
subsection (7)(n).
(9) If the taxable value of qualified agricultural property is
adjusted under subsection (8), the owner of that qualified
agricultural property shall not be entitled to a refund for any
property taxes collected under this act on that qualified
agricultural property before the adjustment under subsection (8).
(10) The register of deeds of the county where deeds or other
title documents are recorded shall notify the assessing officer of
the appropriate local taxing unit not less than once each month of
any recorded transaction involving the ownership of property and
shall make any recorded deeds or other title documents available to
that county's tax or equalization department. Unless notification
is provided under subsection (6), the buyer, grantee, or other
transferee of the property shall notify the appropriate assessing
office in the local unit of government in which the property is
located of the transfer of ownership of the property within 45 days
of the transfer of ownership, on a form prescribed by the state tax
commission that states the parties to the transfer, the date of the
transfer, the actual consideration for the transfer, and the
property's parcel identification number or legal description. Forms
filed in the assessing office of a local unit of government under
this subsection shall be made available to the county tax or
equalization department for the county in which that local unit of
government is located. This subsection does not apply to personal
property except buildings described in section 14(6) and personal
property described in section 8(h), (i), and (j).
(11) As used in this section:
(a) "Additions" means that term as defined in section 34d.
(b) "Beneficial use" means the right to possession, use, and
enjoyment of property, limited only by encumbrances, easements, and
restrictions of record.
(c) "Converted by a change in use" means that term as defined
in the agricultural property recapture act, 2000 PA 261, MCL
211.1001 to 211.1007.
(d) "Inflation rate" means that term as defined in section
34d.
(e) "Losses" means that term as defined in section 34d.
(f) "Qualified agricultural property" means that term as
defined in section 7dd.
(g) "Qualified forest property" means that term as defined in
section 7jj[1].