Personal Property Information

Real & Personal Property Statement forms

Personal Property Tax General Information

Guide to the Small Business Taxpayer Exemption Revised 12-22.pdf

Every year, the Assessing Department determines the value of all taxable personal property within the City. This applies to anyone who owns a business, and it's separate from real property. Auditors go out to identify the names and locations of all businesses located in the City.

The Assessing Department relies on Personal Property Tax Statements to determine the value of the personal property. Property owners are required to file their Personal Property Tax Statement no later than February 20th every year.

While processing statements, auditors flag statements that may be incorrect. If they find errors, staff will follow up with the business owner to conduct an audit. Audits typically require a review of certain company books. In some cases, audits may also include a site inspection.

Audits are an important part of the annual personal property review program. Businesses that do not file a personal property tax statement (L-4175) may also be audited.

Business owners need to notify the Assessing Department when they open, close, sell, or change the name of their business. Providing this information will assist in keeping accurate records.


NOTICE - If you had assessable personal property in your possession on December 31, each year, you must submit a completed Form -4175 to the assessor of the local unit where the property is located by the statutory due date, even if the assessor does not send you a form to complete.

Forms: L-4175 aka 632

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This affidavit will exempt property owned only by the entity filing the affidavit. If personal property is leased to or used by an entity other than the property’s owner, the owner of that personal property must file the affidavit for that property, not the lessee or the user. The owner may file the affidavit and claim the exemption only if the True Cash Value of all of the commercial or industrial personal property located within the city or township that is owned by, leased to, or in the possession of the owner or a related entity was less than $80,000 on December 31, "tax day" each year.

Request to Rescind the Small Business Property Tax Exemption Claim Under MCL 211.9o

On October 24, 2023, Governor Whitmer signed into law P.A. 176 of 2023.  This act made changes to MCL 211.9o, requiring all eligible claimants with personal property totaling $80,000 or more but less than $180,000 in true cash value within the local assessing unit to annually file both the Small Business Property Tax Exemption Claim (Form 5076) and a personal property statement (Form 632) to qualify for the exemption.  Taxpayers wishing to claim the small business property tax exemption with true cash value greater than or equal to $80,000 but less than $180,000 must file both forms each year in which they wish to receive the exemption.

Furthermore, the act requires that assessors transmit parcel information for exempt parcels with true cash value between $80,000 and $180,000 to Treasury via their CAMA software no later than April 1.

Taxpayers receiving the small business exemption with property valued at less than $80,000 true cash value within the local assessing unit will continue to receive the exemption until they are no longer eligible for the exemption or until the true cash value of their property exceeds $80,000.

At their November 14, 2023 meeting, the State Tax Commission approved Form 5076 - Affidavit to Claim Small Business Tax Exemption under MCL 211.9o.

The form is attached and available on the State Tax Commission's website at www.michigan.gov/statetaxcommission.

A person claiming an exemption under MCL 211.9o shall rescind the claim of exemption by February 20th of the year in which the personal property is no longer eligible for the exemption, by filing this form along with a personal property statement (Form 632 aka L-4175) with the assessor of the local unit (City or Township) where the personal property is located. An owner who fails to file a rescission and whose property is later discovered to be ineligible for the exemption is subject to repayment of any additional taxes with interest at a rate of 1% per month or fraction of a month and penalties compute from the date the taxes were last payable without interest or penalty.

MCL 211.9o

(2) An owner of eligible personal property shall claim the exemption under this section by annually filing an affidavit with the local tax collecting unit in which the eligible personal property is located not later than February 20 in each tax year. The affidavit shall be in a form prescribed by the state tax commission and shall include any address where any property owned by, leased to, or in the possession of that owner or a related entity is located within that local tax collecting unit. The affidavit shall require the owner to attest that the combined true cash value of all industrial personal property and commercial personal property in that local tax collecting unit owned by, leased to, or in the possession of that owner or a related entity on December 31 of the immediately preceding year is LESS than $80,000.00.

(6) If a person fraudulently claims an exemption for personal property under this section, that person is subject to the penalties provided for in section 21(2).

As a business owner, you are required to file if you were in business as of December 31, each year. It is your obligation to complete the Personal Property Statement or Affidavit and submit it to your local assessing office - whether a statement was mailed to you or not.

NOTICE: This form is issued under the authority of the General Property Tax Act. Filing is mandatory. Failure to file may result in imprisonment for a period not less than thirty days, nor more than six months; a fine not less than $100, nor more than $1,000; or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. See MCL 211.21.

CAUTION: Read these instructions carefully before completing the form. Complete all sections. Because this form has been coded, it is imperative that it be returned to assure proper processing. If all of the personal property formerly in your possession has been removed from this assessing unit before December 31, each year, you must notify the assessor at once in order to change the records accordingly. This statement is subject to audit by State Tax Commission, County Equalization Department, and/or Assessor.

Failure to file this form by its due date will jeopardize your right to file a Section 154 appeal with the State Tax Commission. You are advised to make a copy of the completed statement for your records. This form must be filed in the city or township where the personal property is located on December 31, each year.

Personal Property Frequently Asked Questions - State of Michigan