Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
- You are here:
- Home
- Government
- City Council
- Income Tax
Income Tax
The 2018 East Lansing income tax ballot proposal was approved by voters during the August 7, 2018 Special Election. The approval of the income tax will help move the City of East Lansing forward with much-needed reinvestment in public safety and infrastructure, while also helping to address long-term legacy cost challenges for the future financial sustainability of the City. The income tax will also help to prevent deep cuts to City services, including the closure of facilities and additional cuts to public safety. The tax will expire after 12 years and revenue from the tax will be dedicated for specific purposes (see below).
The income tax will be implemented on January 1, 2019. East Lansing residents' taxable income will be taxed at 1% and non-residents' taxable income will be taxed at 0.5%. If an individual lives in East Lansing and works in another community with an income tax or works in East Lansing and lives in another community with an income tax, they would split the 1% tax with both communities. The tax would never be more than 1%. There will be $600 deductions for each personal and dependency exemption claimed.
Income exempt from the City income tax will include retirement income, unemployment income, military pay and tax refunds (city, state and federal). Additionally, per a City ordinance, individuals who make less than $5,000 annually and do not have a personal exemption because they are claimed on someone else’s taxes would be exempt from the income tax. This would apply to students who are still claimed on their parent or guardian's taxes, for example. There will also be $600 deductions for all
Yes. With the approval and implementation of the income tax, the City Charter amendment approved by voters in November 2017 will go into effect, reducing property taxes by 5 mills. Property owners will see the property tax reduction on their July 2019 tax bills.
According to Plante Moran’s Income Tax Study, the East Lansing income tax is estimated to generate approximately $10 million annually, but with approximately $5 million less in property taxes collected, the net revenue is expected to be approximately $5 million. These funds will be used for the purposes outlined in the ballot proposal: 20% to police and fire protection, 20% to infrastructure (maintenance and improvement of streets and sidewalks; water and sewer systems; and parks, recreation and City-owned facilities) and 60% to supplemental payments for unfunded pension liabilities for retired City employees. The income tax will expire after 12 years, unless reauthorized by voters. Both the time limit and purposes for which the net revenue will be used will be written into the City Charter, which cannot be changed without another vote of the people.
Similar to other communities with an income tax, City of East Lansing staff is currently looking at outside agencies with expertise in administering income taxes. Residents can expect regular communication on the income tax and how the revenue from the tax is being used via the Dialog and e-Dialog newsletters. Community members can sign up for the e-Dialog at www.cityofeastlansing.com/eNews.
The East Lansing Finance Department is working to generate all income tax-related forms and guides, which will be posted on this website soon. Employers can email East Lansing Finance Director Jill Feldpausch, jfeldpa@cityofeastlansing.com, to request that the forms/guides be sent via email once they are ready. Please include the company name, your name, email address, phone number and info/materials requested in your email. The 3 digit code is ELA and the 5 digit code is MI-ELA. The City plans to use the common form for withholding the tax with the EFW-2 specifications or the CSV format for the electronic W-2s.
When will the tax be implemented and who will pay the tax?
The income tax will be implemented on January 1, 2019. East Lansing residents' taxable income will be taxed at 1% and non-residents' taxable income will be taxed at 0.5%. If an individual lives in East Lansing and works in another community with an income tax or works in East Lansing and lives in another community with an income tax, they would split the 1% tax with both communities. The tax would never be more than 1%. There will be $600 deductions for each personal and dependency exemption claimed.
What income is exempt from the tax?
Income exempt from the City income tax will include retirement income, unemployment income, military pay and tax refunds (city, state and federal). Additionally, per a City ordinance, individuals who make less than $5,000 annually and do not have a personal exemption because they are claimed on someone else’s taxes would be exempt from the income tax. This would apply to students who are still claimed on their parent or guardian's taxes, for example. There will also be $600 deductions for all
Will there be a property tax reduction?
Yes. With the approval and implementation of the income tax, the City Charter amendment approved by voters in November 2017 will go into effect, reducing property taxes by 5 mills. Property owners will see the property tax reduction on their July 2019 tax bills.
How much revenue will be generated from the tax and how will that revenue be used?
According to Plante Moran’s Income Tax Study, the East Lansing income tax is estimated to generate approximately $10 million annually, but with approximately $5 million less in property taxes collected, the net revenue is expected to be approximately $5 million. These funds will be used for the purposes outlined in the ballot proposal: 20% to police and fire protection, 20% to infrastructure (maintenance and improvement of streets and sidewalks; water and sewer systems; and parks, recreation and City-owned facilities) and 60% to supplemental payments for unfunded pension liabilities for retired City employees. The income tax will expire after 12 years, unless reauthorized by voters. Both the time limit and purposes for which the net revenue will be used will be written into the City Charter, which cannot be changed without another vote of the people.
Now that the ballot proposal has been approved, what happens next?
Similar to other communities with an income tax, City of East Lansing staff is currently looking at outside agencies with expertise in administering income taxes. Residents can expect regular communication on the income tax and how the revenue from the tax is being used via the Dialog and e-Dialog newsletters. Community members can sign up for the e-Dialog at www.cityofeastlansing.com/eNews.
The East Lansing Finance Department is working to generate all income tax-related forms and guides, which will be posted on this website soon. Employers can email East Lansing Finance Director Jill Feldpausch, jfeldpa@cityofeastlansing.com, to request that the forms/guides be sent via email once they are ready. Please include the company name, your name, email address, phone number and info/materials requested in your email. The 3 digit code is ELA and the 5 digit code is MI-ELA. The City plans to use the common form for withholding the tax with the EFW-2 specifications or the CSV format for the electronic W-2s.