Michigan state law requires all cities to offer homeowners with low incomes an opportunity to reduce their property taxes. In Detroit, that requirement takes the form of the “Homeowner Property Tax Assistance Program” (HPTAP) or the “Property Tax Exemption” (PTE).
The PTE offers homeowners an opportunity to apply for a 100%, 50%, or 25% exemption from their current year’s property taxes.
In the City of Detroit, tax foreclosure has driven displacement, homelessness, speculation, high crime, blight, and low property values in record-breaking numbers.
Through our partnership with the City of Detroit's Board of Review and more than 20 local community development corporations, the Quicken Loans Community Fund has developed, organized, and funded PTE workshops in the City of Detroit since 2017.
At a PTE workshop, Detroit residents receive one-on-one assistance completing their PTE application. This assistance includes access to printers, notaries, trained volunteers, and community partners that are there to help alleviate the stress of the often-overwhelming PTE application process. Three times a year, the City’s Board of Review meets to review applications and grant property tax exemptions.
Detroit residents from all over the city are invited to participate in Property Tax Exemption Workshops in their communities free of charge.
Materials Needed to Apply:
· Copy of recorded proof of home ownership (deed, land contract, court order, divorce settlement, etc.)
· Current ID for all adults over 18 years old
· Recent report card, transcript or other document that includes address for all minors under 18 years
· 2019 Federal & State tax returns for all adults, if filed
· Proof of income for all adults without tax returns (Ex: W2’s, paystubs, SSI/SSD, pension, food stamps, FIA/DHS, child support, self-employment, signed letter from anyone who is helping you financially, etc.)
· Proof of expenses or debts, if household income is over the income guidelines (Ex: all pages of utility
· bills, medical bills, phone/cable/internet bills, tax payment plan, credit cards/loans, insurance bills, etc.)
· Proof of assets, if over $12,000 (Ex. bank statements, 401k, insurance settlement, etc.)
Eligibility:
What Happens after I apply?
After you submit your application, you will receive an ‘Affidavit of Correction’ letter in the mail from the City of Detroit’s Board of Review office within 3 months.
The letter will provide information on whether you were granted a full exemption, a partial exemption or no exemption, and how to proceed. If you have any questions regarding your application’s status or about the Affidavit of Correction you receive in the mail, please contact the community group who helped you with the application, or the Board of Review directly:
City of Detroit - Board of Review
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Suite 804
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313-628-0722
