LANSING, Mich. — Michigan homeowners who were unable to move in to their new homes before June 1 because of the governor’s COVID-19 response could see property tax relief under Sen. Roger Victory’s legislation sent to the governor on Thursday.
“If signed into law, this measure will help the hardworking people of Michigan affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the governor’s punitive stay-at-home orders,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “Because of the governor’s ban on all nonessential home construction, the completion of some new homes was delayed. This reform will allow impacted Michigan homeowners to reduce their property taxes.”
Senate Bill 940 would extend the time frame a new homeowner has to file their paperwork to receive the principal residence exemption (PRE) for the 2020 summer property tax levy from June 1 to June 30 in cases in which the homeowner could not occupy their new home prior to the deadline due to the governor’s ban on nonessential construction.
The PRE exempts a homeowner’s principal residence from the tax levied by a local school district for operating purposes, up to 18 mills. The homeowner must file an affidavit with their local unit of government where the property is located.
To qualify for the exemption for the summer tax levy in normal years, the affidavit must be submitted by June 1.
###