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1. Who qualifies for the principal residence / homestead exemption?

If you own and occupy your principal residence, it may be exempt from a portion of your local school operating taxes. To claim an exemption, you must complete the Principal Residence Exemption Affidavit and file it with the Assessor’s office by November 1 of the year of the claim. The Assessor’s Office will adjust your taxes on your next property tax bill. Note that this is an exemption from part of the taxes and does not affect your assessment. You must own and occupy your principal residence to receive this exemption. Owning means you hold the legal title to the principal residence or that you are currently buying it on a notarized or recorded land contract. Renters should not file this form.

Occupying means this is your principal residence, the place you intend to return to whenever you go away. It is the address that appears on your driver’s license or voter registration card. You may have only one principal residence at a time* (See Exception below). Vacation Homes and Income property which you do not occupy as your principal residence may not be claimed. If you are living only in a part of the home you may file a partial homestead exemption. Please call the Assessor’s Office at 517-694-1502. We will help you calculate the proper percentage.

You may also file an exemption(s) if you own vacant and contiguous land next to your homestead property. View more information from the state about the principal residence and homestead exception:

• Active Duty Military PRE Affidavit
• Claim for Farmland Exemption from Some School Operating Taxes (PDF)
• PRE Affidavit (PDF)
• PRE Guidelines (PDF)
• Qualified Ag Exemption Guidelines (PDF)
• Request to Rescind Principal Residence Exemption (PDF)
• Request to Rescind Qualified Agricultural Exemption Property (PDF)
• Treasury Website: What is a PRE/ Forms

2. How do I rescind my exemption?

If you claim an exemption, then stop using the property as a principal residence, you must notify the Township Assessor within 90 days of the change or you may be penalized. This can be done using the Form 2602 (PDF) request to rescind homeowner’s principal residence exemption.

• Conditional Rescind FAQ (PDF)
• Conditional Rescind Form (PDF)
• Conditional Rescind Guidelines
  
  

A conditional rescission allows an owner to receive a principal residence exemption (pre) on his or her current property and on previously exempted property simultaneously if the previous principal residence (all must apply): is not occupied, is for sale, is not leased, is not used for any business or commercial purpose.

In general, an owner may receive the PRE on the previous principal residence for up to three years if the conditions above are met. The owner must annually submit Form 4640 on or before May 1 in the initial year and December 31 thereafter. Only the owner who previously occupied the property as his or her principal residence qualifies for the conditional rescission. Conditional rescissions are not retroactive. At this time the July and December Boards of review do not have jurisdiction over them to make changes if you miss the filing deadline.

3. I have not been claiming a homestead exemption on my home. What should I do?

With the exception of conditional rescinds, recent tax law changes allow the Township to correct the homestead status for the current year, and with Board of Review approval, three prior years. After Board of Review approval, if you are due a refund from prior year’s tax payments, your refund will be issued by the Ingham County Treasurers Office.

To correct your exemption, please complete a PRE application and submit to the Assessor’s Office as soon as possible. Also, please make sure we are alerted that your property PRE status needs a correction.