From the Desk of Senator Hertel
It continues to be an honor serving you in the State Senate, and I look forward to all this New Year holds — the many conversations with constituents, movement on important legislation, exciting events around District 12 and more.
The new year also means tax season is upon us. This year, however, differs a great deal from previous ones, as it is the first year Michigan families can take advantage of historic tax relief passed by Senate Democrats last March. As always, should you ever need assistance communicating with the Michigan Department of Treasury or any other state agency throughout the year, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and my office — we are here to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
Prepared by the Michigan Legislature.
Senate Democrats Secured $1 Billion in Tax Relief FOR SENIORS & WORKING FAMILIES
Repealing the Retirement Tax
Michigan’s retirement tax robbed seniors of their promised retirement benefits for more than a decade. Last year, I led the effort to repeal this unfair tax, which will help nearly 500,000 seniors save $1,000 annually — enabling them to enjoy a safe, secure and happy retirement.
Public police officers and firefighters, county correction officers, state troopers and sergeants will receive the full exemption beginning on February 13, 2024. Michiganders from other professions will have the option to choose the best taxing situation for their retirement benefits, by opting into either the tier structure subtraction or phase-in subtraction until the full repeal takes effect in 2026. You may wish to consult a qualified tax preparer to ensure you can deduct the maximum amount of retirement benefits. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/taxes.
Expanding Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit to 30%
Every hardworking family deserves to afford the basics — housing, food and childcare. To help alleviate financial hardship for families, Senate Democrats spearheaded the effort to quintuple Michigan’s match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 6% to 30%. This expansion will help nearly 16,000 families in District 12 save an additional $689 on average.*
To claim the Michigan EITC, you must already qualify for the federal EITC — visit IRS.gov/EITC to verify your eligibility. The expanded Michigan EITC is also retroactive to the 2022 tax year. Individuals who claimed the Michigan EITC on their 2022 taxes will begin to receive tax rebate checks averaging approximately $550 starting on February 13, 2024.
* Estimate of families and average savings is based on 2019 data from the Michigan League for Public Policy.
DO YOU QUALIFY FOR THE ETIC?
Verify if you are eligible for the Michigan EITC by visiting Michigan.gov/EITC.
Tax season is here, so it’s time to get out your tax documents and file with the state and federal government before the national deadline on Monday, April 15, 2024. Here are a few quick tips to help you maximize your return this year:
AVOID SCAMS: For federal returns, the IRS will only initiate contact with you through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Do not share your personal tax information via phone, email or social media.
UTILIZE FREE RESOURCES: Michigan Free Tax Help connects Michiganders with free, high-quality income tax preparation assistance. Visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org to find local help.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AVAILABLE DEDUCTIONS:
You can deduct charitable contributions, property taxes, medical expenses and more from your federal 2023 taxes. Visit IRS.gov/credits-deductions for a full list. Every year the Michigan Legislature publishes a state taxpayer guid with information to help residents prepare their taxes. If you would like to receive a digital copy of this resource, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at SenKHertel@michigan.senate.gov
