August 19, 2003

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced today that the Michigan Department of Treasury is joining the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in offering relief to taxpayers impacted by last week’s power outage. Individual income tax filers who were unable to submit returns on extension by August 15 due to the blackout now have until Friday to file their returns.

Any individual income tax return postmarked by August 22, 2003, will be considered timely filed by both the Michigan Department of Treasury and the IRS. It is important to note that federal and state laws do not allow either agency to abate interest on overdue taxes during this period.

"Given the effect last Thursday’s power outages had on the state of Michigan, many taxpayers were unable to meet the August 15 deadline for extended individual income tax returns," said Treasurer Jay B. Rising. "This extension gives those taxpayers some additional time to recover tax records and properly submit their returns to the state."

In addition to individual income taxpayers, taxpayers responsible for the Single Business Tax, Sales, Use, and Withholding taxes, as well as fuel and tobacco taxes may also have experienced difficulty getting forms and payments filed on time and will be granted an extension until August 22. Taxpayers impacted by the blackout should contact the Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4730.

For more on the Internal Revenue Service extension, log onto www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040.

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