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News & Events Digest: June 2025





Fostering Futures
Michigan Education Trust Pizza Party Raises More Than $13,000 for Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund

The more than 300 people who attended the Michigan Education Trust's 13th annual Pizza Party on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn got their fill of pizza and helped fill the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, which awards scholarships to students enrolled in Michigan colleges and universities who have experienced foster care.

The $13,000 raised at the Wednesday, June 18, pizza party fundraiser will help make the dream of a college education a reality for students who otherwise might lack resources to pursue higher education when they age out of the foster care system.

For a minimum donation of $10, attendees received a slice of pizza, dessert and a drink.

This year, the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Black History Committee partnered with the Fostering Futures Scholarship to hold a celebration in honor of Juneteenth.

Students who receive this scholarship can use the money for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses. Funds raised through the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund [ [link removed] ] provide scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university. Awards are paid to the students’ college or university for expenses.

Approximately10,000 youth  are currently in Michigan’s foster care system. Nationally, fewer than 10% of former foster youth enroll in college after high school, and only 3% earn a degree. The Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund, established in 2012, has raised more than $1.4 million through events and contributions.

In addition, over 140 pillows and more than 200 pillowcases were collected during the pizza party for The Pillow Effect, a Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI) project. Because children entering foster care often don’t have their essential personal items with them, donations will benefit counties across Michigan, including Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Ionia and Shiawassee.

The Pizza Party on the Capitol Lawn is sponsored by Hungry Howie’s, Park West Foundation, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan College Access Network, LAFCU, Güd Marketing, Michigan First Credit Union, WKAR PBS, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, WLNS-TV 6, and MSU Federal Credit Union, with support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and MYOI.

Couldn’t attend and want to make a difference?

Donate or register online using a credit card [ [link removed] ], or to make a donation by check, complete and submit the Fostering Futures Scholarship Contribution Form [ [link removed] ] along with a check made payable to the State of Michigan — Fostering Futures Scholarship. 

Contributions made by Dec. 31 are eligible for a tax deduction on federal and state income tax forms in the year they are made. MET’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is an IRC Section 170(c) organization, making all donations tax deductible.

To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund or to donate, go to www.michigan.gov/fosteringfutures [ [link removed] ].

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City of Flint Sign
City of Flint, State of Michigan Sign Income Tax Agreement

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks on June 3 announced that the City of Flint and State of Michigan have entered into an agreement to streamline taxpayer services for those who live or work in the city.

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the Michigan Department of Treasury will begin processing City of Flint income tax returns for the 2026 tax year. This includes processing individual, corporate, partnership and fiduciary income tax returns, as well as collecting and enforcing income tax withholding.

City of Flint taxpayers will have the ability to file and pay through a state administrated system—like the process used for the City of Detroit.

“Partnering with the Michigan Department of Treasury will provide Flint taxpayers with streamlined services and reflects our commitment to efficient and effective governance,” Mayor Neeley said. “I look forward to building our relationship with the State of Michigan to better serve Flint taxpayers.”

Currently, the City of Flint's Income Tax Division oversees the collection and enforcement of the city's income tax, which includes a 1% tax rate for residents and a 0.5% tax rate for non-residents working within the city. 

The new partnership will benefit city taxpayers by allowing them to electronically file their Flint return along with their state individual income tax return beginning in 2027. The combined electronic filing of city and state returns will provide the following benefits:


* Enable online services for taxpayers to electronically file, pay, and self-manage their accounts
* Provide faster refunds and improve accuracy with built-in validations
* Allow for centralized support with multichannel communications, such as messaging, phone and email

The move marks the second city in the State of Michigan that has entered into an agreement with the state Treasury Department. Since 2015, the City of Detroit has been in an agreement with the State of Michigan to process its individual and business taxes.

Since Treasury began partnering with the City of Detroit to administer its income tax in 2015, the city has experienced a 54% increase in tax revenue—an outcome that reflects not only improved administration but also the City’s leadership in driving economic growth, expanding employment opportunities, and restoring fiscal stability.

“Our city income tax partnerships are a win for both residents and city governments,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “Using state mechanisms to file and pay tax returns makes it easier for taxpayers and city administrators. Imagine being able to electronically file both your state and city income tax returns at the same time. All tax business can be done in one place at one time.”

Over the next year, the City of Flint and State of Michigan will be working together to plan for the rollout of the state processing the city’s individual income tax returns in 2027. Until that time, Flint taxpayers are to work with Flint officials for filing city income tax returns and paying city taxes.

For more information, please contact the City of Flint Income Tax Division at 810-766-7015 or visit our website at www.cityofflint.com/income-tax-division [ [link removed] ]. To learn more about the partnership between the State of Michigan and city of Flint, go to www.michigan.gov/citytax [ [link removed] ].

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Crown Act

NEW Special Edition Episode!
"The CROWN Act: What It Means,
How It Helps" [ [link removed] ]



Find Your Fit

Your Career Starts Here! [ [link removed] ]






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Tax Extension

Tax Extension Relief Available to Taxpayers Affected by Severe Weather Emergency

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks recently announced that individuals and businesses affected by the severe weather on May 15 can obtain state tax extension relief.

Individual and business taxpayers who reside in the city of Lansing and Allegan and Baraga counties can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived [ [link removed] ].

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency [ [link removed] ] for our capital city and these counties to help with response and recovery efforts after a severe weather system on May 15 brought 11 tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain and flash flooding to communities across the state.

“A natural disaster can be devastating both personally and financially,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “By providing additional time to file tax returns or meet certain other payment deadlines, individuals and businesses will have more time to focus on recovering and getting their lives back to a sense of normalcy. Affected taxpayers should reach out to us to learn more about the process for obtaining this relief.” 

The tax extension relief is not automatic. Taxpayers must contact Treasury either by eService, U.S. Postal Service or phone to request relief.

When requesting tax extension relief, the following must be included:


* Name and account number of the individual or business taxpayer.
* A description of how the taxpayer was affected by the severe weather.
* Taxpayer address within one emergency area or address of the tax preparer located in the emergency area.

Online submissions for state tax extension relief can be made through Individual Income Tax eService [ [link removed] ] or Business Taxes eService [ [link removed] ].

Taxpayers opting to send their request through the U.S. Postal Service should use the following address:

Michigan Department of Treasury
Attn: Disaster Tax Relief
Lansing, Michigan 48922

Taxpayers can inquire about state individual income tax extension relief by phone at 517-636-4486. For business taxes, taxpayers should contact 517-636-6925.

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

Specific details related to the types of individual and business state tax extension relief available can be found in a Treasury-issued Taxpayer Notice [ [link removed] ]. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to contact the Internal Revenue Service about federal tax extension relief options.

For the latest updates about this emergency tax extension relief, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes [ [link removed] ].

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Local Government Update

New and Revised Numbered Letters

The Michigan Department of Treasury's Local Audit and Finance Division (LAFD) guides local governments on accounting and auditing through Numbered Letters. Recently, the division announced several new and revised Numbered Letters.

The LAFD is in the final process of changing the Michigan Committee on Governmental Accounting and Auditing Statements (MCGAA) to Numbered Letters. The remaining two MCGAA Statements are Statements 4 and 10 will be changed to Numbered Letters. The revisions include updating to our current format, ensuring all weblinks are accurate and content updates. 

The exposure draft period ended on May 23, 2025. The LAFD is issuing the below Numbered Letters: 


* Numbered Letter 2002-8 - Accounting and Reporting Infrastructure Assets Local Water and Sewer Systems and County Drains [ [link removed] ]
* Numbered Letter 2005-7 - Definition of the Financial Reporting Entity [ [link removed] ]

Additionally, the LAFD is publishing two new Numbered Letters, issuing guidance on Public Act 202 of 2017, the Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (Numbered Letter 2025-1), and the Prior Approval Process (Numbered Letter 2025-2). These Numbered Letters recently underwent a 30-day public comment period, ending on June 8, 2025.

Numbered Letter 2025-1

Numbered Letter 2025-1 [ [link removed] ] provides guidance and information around requirements for defined benefit retirement health benefit systems (OPEB) found in Section 4 (1)(c-d) of the Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act, Public Act 202 of 2017. The Retirement System Annual Report (Form 5572) has annually communicated these general requirements; however, this numbered letter is designed to provide additional guidance and clarity.

Numbered Letter 2025-2

Numbered Letter 2025-2 [ [link removed] ] creates a single source of information by incorporating elements of Bulletin 1 and replacing Bulletin 5 (last revised 2009), Bulletins 8, 9, and 10 (last revised 2018), and Numbered Letter 2020-2 (last revised 2021). Our goals with this revision include improving the overall user experience and creating efficiencies.

You can view all the Numbered Letters, including the new and revised letters at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

If you have any questions or comments, please contact LAFD by phone at 517-335-7469 or email at [email protected]. Inquiries can be also mailed to:

Local Audit and Finance Division
Michigan Department of Treasury
P.O. Box 30728
Lansing, MI 48909-8228

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State Tax Commission Training
Michigan Certified Assessing Officer Course Offering in September

The State Tax Commission (STC) announced that a September offering of the Michigan Certified Assessing Officer (MCAO) program is now open for enrollment. 

The nine-month MCAO program covers 10 chapters with weekly virtual classroom sessions. Classroom sessions will either be on Monday or Tuesday evenings and breaks are scheduled into the program. 

Specific classroom dates will be given after acceptance to the program. 

Applications must be received (not postmarked) by the STC no later than Aug. 8, 2025. Further details can be found on the program application [ [link removed] ]. 

The link to the application is below and available on our website at www.michigan.gov/statetaxcommission [ [link removed] ].

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Lance Wilkinson

Lance Wilkinson Named Chief Deputy Treasurer 

Lance Wilkinson has been named the chief deputy treasurer for the Michigan Department of Treasury, effective July 6, 2025.

"Lance’s extensive Treasury experience, policy and legal acumen, leadership qualities and even keel make him an ideal Chief Deputy,” Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “He has been a mentor and sounding board to a number of us at various levels across the Department. Lance also adds an important perspective and skill set to our senior leadership team. I am looking forward to working with him in his new role to advance Treasury’s mission of providing exceptional financial services to Michiganders.” 

Lance replaces Jeff Guilfoyle who left Treasury last month. Lance currently serves as the director of the Bureau of Tax Policy at Treasury.

As the director of the Bureau of Tax Policy, Lance was responsible for planning, organizing and directing the activities of the Direct Tax Division, Indirect Taxes Division, Hearings Division, Tax Technical Unit, and Tribal Affairs. He supervised the development and revision of rules, procedures and guidance to meet changes in law or policy for internal and external stakeholders, and conferred with state officials, legislators and professional organizations on matters relating to tax policy and administration. Wilkinson also managed and curated the litigation docket for Revenue Act and Major Property Tax Appeals and represented Treasury as a subject matter expert at professional conferences and seminars.

Employed by Treasury since 2006, Lance has held previous positions as administrator of the Tax Policy Division, and administrative law specialist in the Tax Policy Division. Prior to joining Treasury, Lance was an associate attorney at Warner Norcross & Judd and an analyst at Intel Corporation. Lance is currently one of Michigan’s delegates to the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board and 1st Vice President. 

Lance graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and a Juris Doctor degree.  

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Social Media Day

Social Media Day on June 30

In honor of Social Media Day in Michigan on June 30, State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks created a video message [ [link removed] ] about our social goal to empower residents and businesses with the tools and resources they need.

Read the #SMDayMI Proclamation at [link removed] [ [link removed] ] and learn more at Michigan.gov/SocialMedia [ [link removed] ].

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Treasury · Lansing, MI 48922 · 517-335-7508
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