Legislation Seeks to Reform Tax Tribunal

Liz Gullett

Apr 14, 2017

Representative Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo Township) introduced legislation seeking to reform the Michigan Tax Tribunal, looking to make it more reliable and efficient. Specifically, the legislation would do the following:

Establish required training for new Tribunal members including state and local tax issues, proper courtroom procedures and accepted appraisal practices.
Require the governor to consider candidates solicited from appropriate professional associations when appointing Tribunal members.
Allow the governor to remove a Tribunal member for failure to perform duties or other good cause.
Establish procedures to eliminate potential conflicts of interest for Tribunal members, including rules for outside employment.
Provide deadlines for decisions and other procedures to speed up cases.
Allow regional Tribunal offices to make access easier for taxpayers.
Define the types of rules the Tribunal may establish.

The Michigan Tax Tribunal’s seven members are appointed by the governor. Most of the appeals heard by the administrative court deal with property tax assessments, although it also has jurisdiction in other tax disputes.

The bill was referred to the House Tax Policy Committee for consideration.

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