June 01, 2022

With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declaring a “state of emergency” for Otsego County on May 20, the Michigan Department of Treasury is providing an opportunity for tornado survivors to obtain tax relief.

Individual and business taxpayers who reside in Otsego County can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived. The northern Michigan county has been severely affected by an EF-3 tornado, destroying homes and businesses and causing widespread property damage.

“Families and businesses in Otsego County need relief to recover from this tornado,” Whitmer said. “The last thing a tornado survivor should worry about right now is paying a state tax bill. Taxpayers need to focus on their recovery and there will not be any late penalties or interest if taxpayers need more time to file and pay because of the tornado. We will get through this challenge together.”  

In addition, affected taxpayers may write to Treasury to request emergency-related tax relief. When writing, the following must be included in the correspondence:

• Name and account number of the individual or business taxpayer.
• Reason for the relief request.
• Taxpayer address within one emergency area or address of the tax preparer located in the emergency area.

“A natural disaster can be devastating both personally and financially,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “By providing tax relief, tornado survivors will have more time to focus on recovering and getting their lives back to a sense of normalcy. Taxpayers should reach out to us to learn more about the process for obtaining this relief.” 

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