DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY  
BUREAU OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES  
CITY INCOME TAX  
(By authority of Act No. 284 of the Public Acts of 1964, being S141.501 et seq. of  
the Michigan Compiled Laws)  
R 205.901 Nature of appeal.  
Rule 1. Appeals to the commissioner of revenue are limited to:  
(a) A final determination of the board of review on a final assessment, denial in  
whole or part of a claim for refund, or a special ruling.  
(b) Adoption of a rule or regulation by the administrator.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.902 Time and place of appeal.  
Rule 2. The appeal, in form and content as provided in R 205.905, shall be filed  
with the commissioner of revenue at his offices in Lansing, Michigan, not later than  
30 days after notice of the final determination of the board of review or the date of the  
adoption of the rule or regulation.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.903 Representation.  
Rule 3. A taxpayer or any other person entitled to appeal may appear for himself  
or by a duly authorized representative. The commissioner may require adequate  
identification and authority.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.904 Form and style of papers.  
Rule 4. (1) All papers filed with the commissioner of revenue shall be either  
printed or typewritten, and if typewritten, shall be on only one side of plain white  
paper. This paper shall be no more than 8 1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long. Copies  
shall be legible but may be on any weight paper. Citations shall be in italics when  
printed, and underscored when typewritten.  
(2) The proper caption shall be placed upon all papers filed. If the petitioner is  
an individual, the full given name and surname shall be set forth in the caption. If the  
petitioner is a married woman, her given name shall be used, not the name of her  
husband preceded by "Mrs." If the petitioner is a husband and wife who have filed a  
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joint return, the full given name and surname of each shall be set forth. If the  
petitioner is a fiduciary, the names of the estate, trust, or other person for whom he  
acts, shall be given first, followed by the name of the fiduciary.  
(3) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, a signed original and 1 copy of all  
papers shall be filed. Whenever any paper is filed in more than 1 proceeding (as a  
motion to consolidate proceedings or  
in proceedings already consolidated), 1  
additional copy shall be filed for each additional proceeding.  
(4) The written signature, whether of the representative or of the petitioner,  
shall be in individual and not in the firm name, except that where the petitioner is a  
corporation the written signature shall be by an active officer of the corporation. The  
name and mailing address of the petitioner or of the representative shall be typed or  
printed immediately following the written signature.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.905 Initiation of a proceeding.  
Rule 5. (1) A proceeding shall be initiated by filing with the commissioner  
of revenue a notice of appeal by petition as provided in R 205.904, and substantially  
in accordance with the form hereinafter set forth.  
(2) The petition shall be complete in itself so as to fully state the  
issues and shall contain the following:  
STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
________________________________________ Appellant  
vs. DOCKET NO.  
City of ________________________________ Appellee  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
PETITION  
TO THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE:  
The above-named appellant hereby petitions for a redetermination of the (final  
assessment, denial in whole or part of a claim for refund, special ruling, adoption of a  
rule or regulation by the administrator) set forth by the City of ________ in its  
determination, decision or order dated ______, 19 ______ and as a basis of his  
proceeding alleges as follows:  
1. The appellant is (set forth whether individual, corporation, etc.) with principal  
office or residence at ____________________________________.  
(Street) (City)  
(State)  
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2. The matter in controversy is  
______________________________________________  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
_____________________________________________________________________  
_____  
3. The determination, decision or order is based upon the following errors:  
(Enumerate specifically the assignments of error in  
a
concise manner and avoid  
pleading facts which properly belong in the succeeding paragraph.) Copy of said  
determination, decision or order is hereto attached and marked exhibit A.  
4. The facts upon which the appellant relies as the basis of this proceeding are  
as follows:  
(Here set forth allegations of facts relied upon, the prior legal steps taken by the  
petitioner, in orderly and logical sequence, with subparagraphs lettered, so as to  
inform the commissioner of revenue of the issues to be presented and to enable the  
city to admit or deny each specific allegation.) Wherefore, the appellant prays that the  
commissioner of revenue may hear the proceedings and (state the relief desired).  
Signed ___________________________ Appellant  
___________________________  
Address  
State of ____________________________________  
County of _________________________________  
_________________________, being duly sworn, says that he is the petitioner (if a  
corporation, or fiduciary, state title of office or trust of person verifying and that he is  
duly authorized to verify the foregoing petition) above named; that he has read the  
foregoing petition, or had the same read to him, and is familiar with the statements  
contained therein, and that the statements contained therein are true, except those  
stated to be upon information and belief, and that those he believes to be true.  
Signed ____________________________  
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ________day of ___________, 19____  
Signed __________________________________  
(Official title)  
(Seal)  
History: 1979 AC.  
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R 205.906 Filing.  
Rule 6. Any document to be filed with the commissioner of revenue must be filed  
at the office of the commissioner of revenue in Lansing, Michigan; provided  
that, whenever hearings are held outside of Lansing, Michigan, documents pertaining  
thereto may be filed at the hearings; provided, further, that any document to be filed  
with the commissioner of revenue may be filed by mail. The postmark will be  
considered the date of filing.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.907 Docket.  
Rule 7. Upon receipt of the petition, the proceedings will be docketed and  
assigned a number, and the parties notified thereof. This number shall be placed by the  
parties on all papers thereafter filed in the proceeding.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.908 Service of petition.  
Rule 8. (1) The appellant in any case initiated before the commissioner of revenue  
shall forthwith serve a copy of the petition upon the administrator of the city, or  
any agent within the city, designated by the administrator. The appellant shall then file  
proof of service with the  
commissioner of revenue within 5 days after such service. If proof of service is  
filed with the commissioner of revenue by mail the postmark will be considered the  
date of filing.  
(2) Such service upon the administrator or his designated agent may be made by  
the appellant or his representative either personally or by registered or certified  
mail with the return receipt demanded.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.909 Answer.  
Rule 9. (1) After service of a copy of the petition, the city shall have 20 days within  
which to file an answer to the petition. The answer shall be drawn fully and  
completely so as to advise the appellant and the commissioner of revenue of the  
nature of the defense. It shall contain a specific admission or denial of each material  
allegation of fact contained in the petition, and a statement of any facts upon which the  
city relies for defense, and shall contain any affirmative allegations to be relied upon  
by the city.  
(2) Each paragraph contained in the answer shall be numbered to correspond  
with the paragraphs of the petition. An original and 1 copy of the answer shall be filed,  
of which the original shall be signed by the administrator of the city or his counsel  
and the copies conformed by him.  
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(3) The city shall forthwith serve a copy of the  
answer  
upon the  
representative of record, or if there is no representative of record then upon the  
appellant, and shall file proof of service with the commissioner of revenue within 5 days  
after such service.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.910 Stipulations.  
Rule 10. Matters involving interpretation of law and statements of fact in which  
parties are in agreement shall be stipulated 5 days prior to the date set for the hearing.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.911 Notice of hearings.  
Rule 11. (1) Upon the filing of the answer, the commissioner of revenue shall  
have jurisdiction to review such determination, decision or order, and both the  
appellant and the city shall have the right to swear witnesses and to be represented  
by counsel.  
(2) Said hearing shall be had within 60 days after filing of the answer.  
(3) When a proceeding has been placed upon the calendar for hearing, the  
commissioner of revenue will notify the parties of the time and place of hearing not  
less than 15 days prior thereto. In his discretion the commissioner may adjourn the  
hearing to another time or place. Parties  
shall arrange to have their witnesses at the time and place designated in the notice  
of hearing, and exhibits must be ready for presentation at such time.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.912 Failure to appear.  
Rule 12. The unexcused absence of a party or his representative at the place and  
hour set for hearing of any proceeding before the commissioner of revenue will not be  
an occasion for delay. The hearing will proceed and the case will be regarded as  
submitted on the part of the absent party or parties.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.913 Amendments.  
Rule 13. Either party may amend his petition or answer at any time prior to the  
hearing by consent of the adverse party or by leave of the commissioner of  
revenue. An original and 1 copy of such amendment shall be filed with the  
commissioner of revenue, and the adverse party or his representative of record shall  
be served with a copy thereof. All motions to amend must be accompanied by the  
proposed amendments.  
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History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.914 Hearings.  
Rule 14. (1) The commissioner of revenue may delegate an employee of the  
department of revenue to hold the hearing in his behalf.  
(2) All hearings before the commissioner of revenue shall be public; provided,  
however, that the commissioner of revenue, upon motion of the appellant, may  
exclude from the hearing all  
persons  
not directly interested therein. The  
commissioner of revenue may make such an order upon a proper showing by the  
appellant that information divulged would be detrimental to the appellant's business.  
(3) Either party may, at his own expense, arrange to have a transcript of the  
proceedings.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.915 Briefs.  
Rule 15. The commissioner of revenue, or his delegate, in his discretion, may  
require that briefs be submitted either before or after the hearing and may designate the  
manner of filing and serving the same and the time therefor.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.916 Proposed findings of fact.  
Rule 16. The commissioner of revenue or his delegate may require either party to  
a proceeding to submit proposed findings of fact at the close of the hearing or within  
such time as he may direct.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 205.917 Order and opinion.  
Rule 17. The commissioner of revenue, after completion of the hearing, shall  
review the record, briefs, and such other matters as may have been submitted and by  
written order affirm, reverse, or modify the action of the city, and shall further  
serve upon the appellant or his duly authorized representative and the duly  
authorized official of the city by registered or certified mail with the return receipt  
demanded, a copy of his order and opinion.  
History: 1979 AC.  
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