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June 11, 2004
Watch for a letter from the Michigan Department
of Treasury headed "REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HOMEOWNER'S
PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE EXEMPTION CLAIM". Be very cautious in responding to this
letter.
On or about May 17 the Michigan Department of
Treasury began sending out a mass mailing of letters to property owners
requesting that they produce evidence substantiating their eligibility for the
lower property tax rate applicable to a principal residence. Your-property tax
assessment you received sometime in March will have “100% HOMESTEAD” on it if
you are claiming this exemption on your residence. Because we can only have one
“home” legally, other property you own will not be eligible far the lower
homestead rate and, therefore, should not state “homestead” on the notice.
The Michigan Department of Treasury is doing
the mailing on behalf of those taxing districts (Cities, townships, etc.) that
elected to have them assist in order to ensure that we the taxpayers, are only
claiming one homestead as our principal residence.
The letter requests that you reply by mail
within 30 days. The letter lists acceptable documentation you may send in. I
CAUTION YOU, if you send in the requested “driver's license and/or voter
registration, cancelled checks with the property address, statements such as
medical, bank or charge account, income tax records indicating the mailing
address, and insurance policies,” PLEASE, PLEASE be sure and DELETE your driver
license number, account numbers, bank name, medical information and social
security numbers appearing on those records.
All it takes is for one "identity theft"
professional to get a hold of those envelopes (all going to a certain Post
Office Box number) and you will have thousands of people in trouble financially
due to one envelope containing so much confidential information.
There are many unanswered questions regarding
these letters and the telephone number listed has been overwhelmed with calls
and questions.
The only thing I can advise is YOU MUST RESPOND
within the 30 days and DELETE identifying numbers which should remain
confidential.
If you have additional questions, please feel
free to e-mail or call me. As soon as I know more, I can share it with you.
Sincerely, Millian M. Toms 248-541-2052
or
milliantoms@aol.com
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