The Discovery and Tax Enforcement Division was created in January 1987, as part of an enhanced enforcement initiative that followed the Tax Amnesty Program of 1986.  The division is located within the Tax Compliance Bureau and is comprised of various units with a variety of responsibilities.

Discovery promotes taxpayer education, tax registration and licensing, while helping to maintain voluntary tax compliance.

The Tax Enforcement Unit concentrates on civil and criminal investigation and prosecution of tax fraud cases, working in conjunction with the Michigan State Police, other law enforcement agencies, and the Attorney General. 

The Discovery Unit is responsible for developing and conducting projects designed to identify and contact non-filers and under-reporters of the various taxes administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury.  Taxpayers are notified of their tax discrepancies using letters of inquiry issued in accordance with MCL 205.21 of the Revenue Act.

The Discovery Unit utilizes information from a variety of sources to identify non-compliant taxpayers.

If you received a letter of inquiry regarding a particular tax, your response needs to be sent to the address listed in the letter.  If the letter of inquiry is in regard to your Michigan Individual Income Tax (MI-1040), Homestead Property Tax Credit (MI-1040CR) or Michigan Home Heating Credit (MI-1040CR7)  do not file an amended return.

The Discovery Unit also administers Michigan's Voluntary Disclosure Program and the Taxpayer Initiated Disclosure Penalty Waiver Program.

The Discovery Unit sends letters of inquiry to non-filers of Michigan taxes offering Michigan's Voluntary Disclosure.  The Voluntary Disclosure Program is designed to allow non-resident taxpayers to voluntarily come forward to report unpaid taxes and pay the tax and interest due without the payment of penalty for a limited lookback period in exchange for future tax compliance.

A person that does not qualify under voluntary disclosure legislation may be eligible for a penalty waiver as outlined in RAB 2005-03, Penalty Provisions, Taxpayer Initiated Disclosure.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions pertaining to all tax types go to www.michigan.gov/taxes  and click on "FAQ" in the gray shaded area at the top of the page.  Additional information regarding the various taxes can also be obtained at the www.michigan.gov/taxes web site by typing "tax text" in the "Advanced Search" box located in the upper right hand corner of the page and then clicking go.

A list of helpful hints has been prepared to assist you when calling, writing, or making a payment for a letter of inquiry you have received.

HELPFUL HINTS WHEN CALLING

Always have your letter in front of you so you can refer to it if necessary.  Always read the entire letter before calling.

Call the phone number on the letter you received.  Depending upon the type of letter you received, the receptionist will either ask you for a unique identifier in the upper right hand corner of the letter or your Social Security number so that you will be transferred to the proper person.

A phone call does not constitute a response to our letters.  (See Hints When Writing)

If we are unavailable to take your call, please leave a detailed voice mail message.  Include the following information:

• Your name and phone number
• Your Social Security number and/or federal identification number
• Unique identifier in the upper right hand corner of the letter you received (if there)
• The tax for which you are being contacted
• The years of review
• Any other pertinent information

HELPFUL HINTS WHEN WRITING

• Always mail back the correspondence requested in the letter of inquiry along with the letter, transmittal or form requested so that your information gets routed to the proper person in a timely manner.

• Write your Social Security number or federal identification number on all your correspondence.

• Include your name and telephone number so we can contact you if we have any questions.

• A phone call does not constitute a response to our letter.  A response requires mailing the documentation asked for in our letter, along with any necessary explanations.

• If you are mailing returns, always keep a copy for your records. 

• Never mail original Social Security cards or other original documents.  We do not mail original documentation back.

• Be sure to submit documentation for all years of an inquiry, not just the years for which you have a liability.  We need the documentation for verification purposes.

• All correspondence is reviewed in the order received.  You may be able to check the status of your Income Tax response by visiting www.michigan.gov/taxes and selecting "Check the status of letter sent to Treasury" from the "Services" drop-down list in the "Quick List" section and clicking on go. This function is available for a limited number of Treasury letters at this time.

• Failure to submit copies of all requested information, by the due date on the letter, will result in an adjustment.  Adjustments may result in a reduction/denial of your refund or a bill for tax, interest and penalty.

• If a return envelope was mailed to you, use it when sending your response to us.  If no return envelope was mailed, make sure you mail to the address identified in the letter you received to ensure your correspondence gets routed properly.  Do not use our address for anything else you need to mail to another Treasury division, as each division has its own address and post office box.

HELPFUL HINTS WHEN MAKING A PAYMENT

• Make your check payable to the "State of Michigan".

• Always write your Social Security number and /or federal identification number on your check.

• Write the type of tax and the tax year(s) you are paying on the check:  Single Business tax (SBT); Income tax (IIT); Sales, Use or Withholding tax.  If your check happens to get separated from the returns or documentation you submitted, we know where to apply the money.

• If you are submitting multiple returns for one tax, you can write one check for the total.

• If you are paying several different types of taxes, it is best to write a separate check for each tax and mail them to the address indicated in the letter. 

• Never send a check or money order without some form of documentation.  This could cause delay in processing your payment.

• Never send cash.