Under MCL 211.51, certain property taxpayers may defer until February 15, without penalty or interest, the due date of the summer taxes on their principal residence. Persons applying for a deferral must certify that they qualify for the deferment on a form available through the Township Treasurer's office in order to receive the deferral. The form must be completed each year in order to have taxes deferred without penalty in any given year. The form must be filed with the Genoa Charter Township treasurer by September 15, or the time the tax would otherwise become subject to interest or a late penalty charge for late payment, whichever is later.

Summer Tax Deferment FAQ

Can I defer payment of my summer property tax?

An owner of eligible property may file a completed summer property tax deferment form with the Township Treasurer by September 15. A valid deferment permits summer property taxes to be paid by February 15 without any additional penalty interest.

What type of property is eligible for property tax deferment?

Taxpayers may defer their summer SET if they meet the following criteria. Payment may be deferred until February 15. Homestead property owned by a taxpayer who:

• Has a total household income of $40,000 or less and
• is totally and permanently disabled, blind, paraplegic, quadriplegic; or
• an eligible serviceperson, eligible veteran, or eligible widow or widower; or
• is at least 62 years
• Agricultural real property, if the gross receipts of the agricultural or horticultural operations in the previous year, or the average gross receipts of the operations in the previous three years, are not less than the total household income of the owner in the previous year.

What is included in total household income for the purposes of summer property tax deferment?

Household Income is the total income (taxable and nontaxable) of both spouses or of a single person maintaining a household and other sources of income for all individuals living in the household.

It is your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), plus all income exempt or excluded from AGI. Total household income includes - wages, salaries, tips; net income from a business, rent or farm; Social Security less the amount deducted for Medicare premiums; SSI (Supplemental Security Income), DHS (Department of Human Services) and FIP (Family Independence Program) benefits; child support; alimony; unemployment, workers' and veterans' disability compensation; pension benefits; interest income; gifts and winnings in excess of $300.00 and other sources of income. Total household income includes gains realized on the sale of your residence regardless of your age or whether or not these gains are exempt from federal income tax.

Household income does NOT include:

• Federal economic stimulus payments (rebates) issued by the IRS
  
• Payments received by participants in the foster grandparent or senior companion program
  
• Energy assistance grants
• Government payments to a third party (e.g., a doctor) Note: If payment is made from money withheld from your benefit, the payment is part of household income. (For example, the DHS may pay your rent directly to the landlord.)
  
• Money received from a government unit to repair or improve your homestead
• Surplus food or food stamps
• State and city income tax refunds and homestead property tax credits
  
• Chore service payments (these payments are income to the provider of the service)
  
• The first $300 from gambling, bingo, lottery, awards or prizes
  
• The first $300 in gifts, cash or expenses paid on your behalf by a family member or friend
  
• Amounts deducted from Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits for Medicare premiums
  
• Life, health and accident insurance premiums paid by your employer. However, if you pay medical insurance or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) premiums for you or your family, you may deduct the cost from household income.
  
• Loan proceeds
  
• Inheritance from a spouse
  
• Life insurance benefits from a spouse.
  
• Payments from a long-term care policy made to a nursing home or other care facility.

Where do I file a summer property tax deferment form?

As the property owner you must file your deferment form with the Township Treasurer and you should keep a copy for your records.

Who reviews and approves the tax deferment this summer?

The Township Treasurer will review the submitted tax deferment forms for completeness. If as the property owner you are requesting a summer tax deferment, you will be responsible for determining that you qualify for the deferment. If the deferment form contains any misleading or false statements, as the property owner you may be subject to penalties and late payments on the taxes deferred.

Can a corporation, LLC, or partnership defer summer taxes?

No. A corporation, LLC, or partnership does not satisfy the deferment requirements of the General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.51) with respect to homestead property (i.e., an owner must also be a totally and permanently disabled, blind, paraplegic, quadriplegic, an eligible serviceperson, eligible veteran, or eligible widow or widower, or who is at least 62 years of age), nor the household gross income requirement of $40,000 or less. A corporation also would not meet the following requirement for agricultural property for deferment, as this is based on the household income of the owner and not the income or profits of a corporation: " . . . if the gross receipts of the agricultural or horticultural operations in the previous year or the average gross receipts of the operations in the previous 3 years are not less than the household income of the owner in the previous year."

When do I have to pay the deferred summer taxes?

Payment is due by no later than February 15. Interest and penalty payments are not accessed for the deferment period. The Township may allow certain homeowners and farmers to pay deferred property taxes in the last two weeks of February without penalty or interest (see MCL 211.44(3)). County boards of commissioners may allow certain homeowners to pay deferred property taxes before May 1 without penalty or interest (see MCL 211.59(3)). Contact your local collecting treasurers for more information.