Bill Text: MI SB0369 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Michigan business tax; tax base; treatment of personal investment income and disregarded entities; clarify. Amends secs. 105, 111, 405 & 505 of 2007 PA 36 (MCL 208.1105 et. seq.) & adds sec. 512.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-12-28 - Assigned Pa 0305'11 With Immediate Effect [SB0369 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2011-SB0369-Enrolled.html

STATE OF MICHIGAN

96TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2011

Introduced by Senators Brandenburg and Bieda

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 369

AN ACT to amend 2007 PA 36, entitled “An act to meet deficiencies in state funds by providing for the imposition, levy, computation, collection, assessment, reporting, payment, and enforcement of taxes on certain commercial, business, and financial activities; to prescribe the powers and duties of public officers and state departments; to provide for the inspection of certain taxpayer records; to provide for interest and penalties; to provide exemptions, credits, and refunds; to provide for the disposition of funds; to provide for the interrelation of this act with other acts; and to make appropriations,” by amending sections 105, 111, 405, and 505 (MCL 208.1105, 208.1111, 208.1405, and 208.1505), sections 105 and 405 as amended by 2007 PA 145 and section 111 as amended by 2010 PA 133, and by adding section 512.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 105. (1) “Business activity” means a transfer of legal or equitable title to or rental of property, whether real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or the performance of services, or a combination thereof, made or engaged in, or caused to be made or engaged in, whether in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce, with the object of gain, benefit, or advantage, whether direct or indirect, to the taxpayer or to others, but does not include the services rendered by an employee to his or her employer or services as a director of a corporation. Although an activity of a taxpayer may be incidental to another or to other of his or her business activities, each activity shall be considered to be business engaged in within the meaning of this act.

(2) “Business income” means that part of federal taxable income derived from business activity. For a partnership or S corporation, business income includes payments and items of income and expense that are attributable to business activity of the partnership or S corporation and separately reported to the partners or shareholders. For an organization that is a mutual or cooperative electric company exempt under section 501(c)(12) of the internal revenue code, business income equals the organization’s excess or deficiency of revenues over expenses as reported to the federal government by those organizations exempt from the federal income tax under the internal revenue code, less capital credits paid to members of that organization, less income attributed to equity in another organization’s net income, and less income resulting from a charge approved by a state or federal regulatory agency that is restricted for a specified purpose and refundable if it is not used for the specified purpose. For a tax-exempt person, business income means only that part of federal taxable income derived from unrelated business activity. For a person that is organized exclusively to conduct investment activity and that does not conduct investment activity for any person other than an individual or a person related to that individual and for a common trust fund established under the collective investments funds act, 1941 PA 174, MCL 555.101 to 555.113, business income excludes income derived from investment activity unless the activity is in the regular course of the person’s trade or business. For purposes of this subsection, a person is related to an individual if that person is a spouse, brother or sister, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, ancestor, lineal descendant of that individual or related person, or a trust benefiting that individual or 1 more persons related to that individual. For an individual, estate, or person organized for estate or gift planning purposes, business income is that part of federal taxable income derived from transactions, activities, and sources in the regular course of the person’s trade or business, including the following:

(a) All income from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, rental, lease, management, or disposition of the property constitutes integral parts of the person’s regular trade or business operations.

(b) Gains or losses incurred in the person’s trade or business from stock and securities of any foreign or domestic corporation and dividend and interest income.

(c) Income derived from isolated sales, leases, assignments, licenses, divisions, or other infrequently occurring dispositions, transfers, or transactions involving tangible, intangible, or real property if the property is or was used in the person’s trade or business operation.

(d) Income derived from the sale of an interest in a business that constitutes an integral part of the person’s regular trade or business.

(e) Income derived from the lease or rental of real property.

(f) Income not included in business income for an individual, estate, or person organized for estate or gift planning purposes includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) Income from investment activity, including interest, dividends, royalties, and gains from an investment portfolio or retirement account, if the investment activity is not part of the person’s trade or business.

(ii) Income from the disposition of tangible, intangible, or real property held for personal use and enjoyment, such as a personal residence or personal assets.

Sec. 111. (1) “Gross receipts” means the entire amount received by the taxpayer as determined by using the taxpayer’s method of accounting used for federal income tax purposes, less any amount deducted as bad debt for federal income tax purposes that corresponds to items of gross receipts included in the modified gross receipts tax base for the current tax year or a past tax year phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter, from any activity whether in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce carried on for direct or indirect gain, benefit, or advantage to the taxpayer or to others except for the following:

(a) Proceeds from sales by a principal that the taxpayer collects in an agency capacity solely on behalf of the principal and delivers to the principal.

(b) Amounts received by the taxpayer as an agent solely on behalf of the principal that are expended by the taxpayer for any of the following:

(i) The performance of a service by a third party for the benefit of the principal that is required by law to be performed by a licensed person.

(ii) The performance of a service by a third party for the benefit of the principal that the taxpayer has not undertaken a contractual duty to perform.

(iii) Principal and interest under a mortgage loan or land contract, lease or rental payments, or taxes, utilities, or insurance premiums relating to real or personal property owned or leased by the principal.

(iv) A capital asset of a type that is, or under the internal revenue code will become, eligible for depreciation, amortization, or accelerated cost recovery by the principal for federal income tax purposes, or for real property owned or leased by the principal.

(v) Property not described under subparagraph (iv) that is purchased by the taxpayer on behalf of the principal and that the taxpayer does not take title to or use in the course of performing its contractual business activities.

(vi) Fees, taxes, assessments, levies, fines, penalties, or other payments established by law that are paid to a governmental entity and that are the legal obligation of the principal.

(c) Amounts that are excluded from gross income of a foreign corporation engaged in the international operation of aircraft under section 883(a) of the internal revenue code.

(d) Amounts received by an advertising agency used to acquire advertising media time, space, production, or talent on behalf of another person.

(e) Amounts received by a newspaper to acquire advertising space not owned by that newspaper in another newspaper on behalf of another person. This subdivision does not apply to any consideration received by the taxpayer for acquiring that advertising space.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, amounts received by a taxpayer that manages real property owned by a third party that are deposited into a separate account kept in the name of that third party and that are not reimbursements to the taxpayer and are not indirect payments for management services that the taxpayer provides to that third party.

(g) Proceeds from the taxpayer’s transfer of an account receivable if the sale that generated the account receivable was included in gross receipts for federal income tax purposes. This subdivision does not apply to a taxpayer that during the tax year both buys and sells any receivables.

(h) Proceeds from any of the following:

(i) The original issue of stock or equity instruments or equity issued by a regulated investment company as that term is defined under section 851 of the internal revenue code.

(ii) The original issue of debt instruments.

(i) Refunds from returned merchandise.

(j) Cash and in-kind discounts.

(k) Trade discounts.

(l) Federal, state, or local tax refunds.

(m) Security deposits.

(n) Payment of the principal portion of loans.

(o) Value of property received in a like-kind exchange.

(p) Proceeds from a sale, transaction, exchange, involuntary conversion, maturity, redemption, repurchase, recapitalization, or other disposition or reorganization of tangible, intangible, or real property, less any gain from the disposition or reorganization to the extent that the gain is included in the taxpayer’s federal taxable income, if the property satisfies 1 or more of the following:

(i) The property is a capital asset as defined in section 1221(a) of the internal revenue code.

(ii) The property is land that qualifies as property used in the trade or business as defined in section 1231(b) of the internal revenue code.

(iii) The property is used in a hedging transaction entered into by the taxpayer in the normal course of the taxpayer’s trade or business primarily to manage the risk of exposure to foreign currency fluctuations that affect assets, liabilities, profits, losses, equity, or investments in foreign operations; interest rate fluctuations; or commodity price fluctuations. For purposes of this subparagraph, the actual transfer of title of real or tangible personal property to another person is not a hedging transaction. Only the overall net gain from the hedging transactions entered into during the tax year is included in gross receipts. As used in this subparagraph, “hedging transaction” means that term as defined under section 1221 of the internal revenue code regardless of whether the transaction was identified by the taxpayer as a hedge for federal income tax purposes, provided, however, that transactions excluded under this subparagraph and not identified as a hedge for federal income tax purposes shall be identifiable to the department by the taxpayer as a hedge in its books and records.

(iv) The property is investment and trading assets managed as part of the person’s treasury function. For purposes of this subparagraph, a person principally engaged in the trade or business of purchasing and selling investment and trading assets is not performing a treasury function. Only the overall net gain from the treasury function incurred during the tax year is included in gross receipts. As used in this subparagraph, “treasury function” means the pooling and management of investment and trading assets for the purpose of satisfying the cash flow or liquidity needs of the taxpayer’s trade or business.

(q) The proceeds from a policy of insurance, a settlement of a claim, or a judgment in a civil action less any proceeds under this subdivision that are included in federal taxable income.

(r) For a sales finance company, as defined in section 2 of the motor vehicle sales finance act, 1950 (Ex Sess) PA 27, MCL 492.102, and directly or indirectly owned in whole or in part by a motor vehicle manufacturer as of January 1, 2008, and for a person that is a broker or dealer as defined under section 78c(a)(4) or (5) of the securities exchange act of 1934, 15 USC 78c, or a person included in the unitary business group of that broker or dealer that buys and sells for its own account, contracts that are subject to the commodity exchange act, 7 USC 1 to 27f, amounts realized from the repayment, maturity, sale, or redemption of the principal of a loan, bond, or mutual fund, certificate of deposit, or similar marketable instrument provided such instruments are not held as inventory.

(s) For a sales finance company, as defined in section 2 of the motor vehicle sales finance act, 1950 (Ex Sess) PA 27, MCL 492.102, and directly or indirectly owned in whole or in part by a motor vehicle manufacturer as of January 1, 2008, and for a person that is a broker or dealer as defined under section 78c(a)(4) or (5) of the securities exchange act of 1934, 15 USC 78c, or a person included in the unitary business group of that broker or dealer that buys and sells for its own account, contracts that are subject to the commodity exchange act, 7 USC 1 to 27f, the principal amount received under a repurchase agreement or other transaction properly characterized as a loan.

(t) For a mortgage company, proceeds representing the principal balance of loans transferred or sold in the tax year. For purposes of this subdivision, “mortgage company” means a person that is licensed under the mortgage brokers, lenders, and servicers licensing act, 1987 PA 173, MCL 445.1651 to 445.1684, or the secondary mortgage loan act, 1981 PA 125, MCL 493.51 to 493.81, and has greater than 90% of its revenues, in the ordinary course of business, from the origination, sale, or servicing of residential mortgage loans.

(u) For a professional employer organization, any amount charged by a professional employer organization that represents the actual cost of wages and salaries, benefits, worker’s compensation, payroll taxes, withholding, or other assessments paid to or on behalf of a covered employee by the professional employer organization under a professional employer arrangement.

(v) Any invoiced items used to provide more favorable floor plan assistance to a person subject to the tax imposed under this act than to a person not subject to this tax and paid by a manufacturer, distributor, or supplier.

(w) For an individual, estate, or person organized for estate or gift planning purposes, amounts received other than those from transactions, activities, and sources in the regular course of the person’s trade or business. For purposes of this subdivision, all of the following apply:

(i) Amounts received from transactions, activities, and sources in the regular course of the person’s business include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Receipts from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, rental, lease, management, or disposition of the property constitutes integral parts of the person’s regular trade or business operations.

(B) Receipts received in the course of the person’s trade or business from stock and securities of any foreign or domestic corporation and dividend and interest income.

(C) Receipts derived from isolated sales, leases, assignments, licenses, divisions, or other infrequently occurring dispositions, transfers, or transactions involving tangible, intangible, or real property if the property is or was used in the person’s trade or business operation.

(D) Receipts derived from the sale of an interest in a business that constitutes an integral part of the person’s regular trade or business.

(E) Receipts derived from the lease or rental of real property.

(ii) Receipts excluded from gross receipts include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Receipts derived from investment activity, including interest, dividends, royalties, and gains from an investment portfolio or retirement account, if the investment activity is not part of the person’s trade or business.

(B) Receipts derived from the disposition of tangible, intangible, or real property held for personal use and enjoyment, such as a personal residence or personal assets.

(x) Receipts derived from investment activity other than receipts from transactions, activities, and sources in the regular course of the person’s trade or business by a person that is organized exclusively to conduct investment activity and that does not conduct investment activity for any person other than an individual or a person related to that individual or by a common trust fund established under the collective investment funds act, 1941 PA 174, MCL 555.101 to 555.113. For purposes of this subdivision, a person is related to an individual if that person is a spouse, brother or sister, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption, ancestor, lineal descendent of that individual or related person, or a trust benefiting that individual or 1 or more persons related to that individual.

(y) Interest income and dividends derived from obligations or securities of the United States government, this state, or any governmental unit of this state. As used in this subdivision, “governmental unit” means that term as defined in section 3 of the shared credit rating act, 1985 PA 227, MCL 141.1053.

(z) Dividends and royalties received or deemed received from a foreign operating entity or a person other than a United States person, including, but not limited to, the amounts determined under section 78 of the internal revenue code and sections 951 to 964 of the internal revenue code, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(aa) To the extent not deducted as purchases from other firms under section 203, each of the following:

(i) Sales or use taxes collected from or reimbursed by a consumer or other taxes the taxpayer collected directly from or was reimbursed by a purchaser and remitted to a local, state, or federal tax authority, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(ii) In the case of receipts from the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products by a wholesale dealer, retail dealer, distributor, manufacturer, or seller, an amount equal to the federal and state excise taxes paid by any person on or for such cigarettes or tobacco products under subtitle E of the internal revenue code or other applicable state law, phased in over a 3-year period starting with 60% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 75% in the 2009 tax year, and 100% in the 2010 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(iii) In the case of receipts from the sale of motor fuel by a person with a motor fuel tax license or a retail dealer, an amount equal to federal and state excise taxes paid by any person on such motor fuel under section 4081 of the internal revenue code or under other applicable state law, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(iv) In the case of receipts from the sale of beer, wine, or intoxicating liquor by a person holding a license to sell, distribute, or produce those products, an amount equal to federal and state excise taxes paid by any person on or for such beer, wine, or intoxicating liquor under subtitle E of the internal revenue code or other applicable state law, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(v) In the case of receipts from the sale of communication, video, internet access and related services and equipment, any government imposed tax, fee, or other imposition in the nature of a tax or fee required by law, ordinance, regulation, ruling, or other legal authority and authorized to be charged on a customer’s bill or invoice, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter. This subparagraph does not include the recovery of net income taxes, net worth taxes, property taxes, or the tax imposed under this act.

(vi) In the case of receipts from the sale of electricity, natural gas, or other energy source, any government imposed tax, fee, or other imposition in the nature of a tax or fee required by law, ordinance, regulation, ruling, or other legal authority and authorized to be charged on a customer’s bill or invoice, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter. This subparagraph does not include the recovery of net income taxes, net worth taxes, property taxes, or the tax imposed under this act.

(vii) Any deposit required under any of the following, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter:

(A) 1976 IL 1, MCL 445.571 to 445.576.

(B) R 436.1629 of the Michigan administrative code.

(C) R 436.1723a of the Michigan administrative code.

(D) Any substantially similar beverage container deposit law of another state.

(viii) An excise tax collected pursuant to the airport parking tax act, 1987 PA 248, MCL 207.371 to 207.383, collected from or reimbursed by a consumer and remitted as provided in the airport parking tax act, 1987 PA 248, MCL 207.371 to 207.383, phased in over a 5-year period starting with 50% of that amount in the 2008 tax year, 60% in the 2009 tax year, 60% in the 2010 tax year, 75% in the 2011 tax year, and 100% in the 2012 tax year and each tax year thereafter.

(bb) Amounts attributable to an ownership interest in a pass-through entity, regulated investment company, real estate investment trust, or cooperative corporation whose business activities are taxable under section 203 or would be subject to the tax under section 203 if the business activities were in this state. For purposes of this subdivision:

(i) “Cooperative corporation” means those organizations described under subchapter T of the internal revenue code.

(ii) “Pass-through” entity means a partnership, subchapter S corporation, or other person, other than an individual, that is not classified for federal income tax purposes as an association taxed as a corporation.

(iii) “Real estate investment trust” means that term as defined under section 856 of the internal revenue code.

(iv) “Regulated investment company” means that term as defined under section 851 of the internal revenue code.

(cc) For a regulated investment company as that term is defined under section 851 of the internal revenue code, receipts derived from investment activity by that regulated investment company.

(dd) For fiscal years that begin after September 30, 2009, unless the state budget director certifies to the state treasurer by January 1 of that fiscal year that the federally certified rates for actuarial soundness required under 42 CFR 438.6 and that are specifically developed for Michigan’s health maintenance organizations that hold a contract with this state for medicaid services provide explicit adjustment for their obligations required for payment of the tax under this act, amounts received by the taxpayer during that fiscal year for medicaid premium or reimbursement of costs associated with service provided to a medicaid recipient or beneficiary.

(ee) For a taxpayer that provides health care management consulting services, amounts received by the taxpayer as fees from its clients that are expended by the taxpayer to reimburse those clients for labor and nonlabor services that are paid by the client and reimbursed to the client pursuant to a services agreement.

(2) “Insurance company” means an authorized insurer as defined in section 106 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.106.

(3) “Internal revenue code” means the United States internal revenue code of 1986 in effect on January 1, 2008 or, at the option of the taxpayer, in effect for the tax year.

(4) “Inventory” means, except as provided in subdivision (e), all of the following:

(a) The stock of goods held for resale in the regular course of trade of a retail or wholesale business, including electricity or natural gas purchased for resale.

(b) Finished goods, goods in process, and raw materials of a manufacturing business purchased from another person.

(c) For a person that is a new motor vehicle dealer licensed under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, floor plan interest expenses for new motor vehicles. For purposes of this subdivision, “floor plan interest” means interest paid that finances any part of the person’s purchase of new motor vehicle inventory from a manufacturer, distributor, or supplier. However, amounts attributable to any invoiced items used to provide more favorable floor plan assistance to a person subject to the tax imposed under this act than to a person not subject to this tax is considered interest paid by a manufacturer, distributor, or supplier.

(d) For a person that is a securities trader, broker, or dealer or a person included in the unitary business group of that securities trader, broker, or dealer that buys and sells for its own account, contracts that are subject to the commodity exchange act, 7 USC 1 to 27f, the cost of securities as defined under section 475(c)(2) of the internal revenue code and for a securities trader the cost of commodities as defined under section 475(e)(2) and for a broker or dealer the cost of commodities as defined under section 475(e)(2)(b), (c), and (d) of the internal revenue code, excluding interest expense other than interest expense related to repurchase agreements. As used in this subdivision:

(i) “Broker” means that term as defined under section 78c(a)(4) of the securities exchange act of 1934, 15 USC 78c.

(ii) “Dealer” means that term as defined under section 78c(a)(5) of the securities exchange act of 1934, 15 USC 78c.

(iii) “Securities trader” means a person that engages in the trade or business of purchasing and selling investments and trading assets.

(e) Inventory does not include either of the following:

(i) Personal property under lease or principally intended for lease rather than sale.

(ii) Property allowed a deduction or allowance for depreciation or depletion under the internal revenue code.

(5) “Officer” means an officer of a corporation other than a subchapter S corporation, including all of the following:

(a) The chairperson of the board.

(b) The president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of the corporation or board.

(c) Persons performing similar duties to persons described in subdivisions (a) and (b).

Sec. 405. For the 2008 tax year, a taxpayer may claim a credit against the tax imposed by this act equal to 1.52% of the taxpayer’s research and development expenses in this state in the tax year. For the 2009 tax year and each tax year after 2009, a taxpayer may claim a credit against the tax imposed by this act equal to 1.90% of the taxpayer’s research and development expenses in this state in the tax year. The credit under this section combined with the total combined credit allowed under section 403 shall not exceed 65% of the tax liability imposed under this act before the imposition and levy of the surcharge under section 281. As used in this section, “research and development expenses” means qualified research expenses as that term is defined in section 41(b) of the internal revenue code.

Sec. 505. (1) An annual or final return shall be filed with the department in the form and content prescribed by the department by the last day of the fourth month after the end of the taxpayer’s tax year. Any final liability shall be remitted by the last day of the fourth month after the end of the taxpayer’s tax year. A taxpayer, other than a taxpayer subject to the tax imposed under chapter 2A or 2B, whose apportioned or allocated gross receipts are less than $350,000.00 does not need to file a return or pay the tax imposed under this act.

(2) If a taxpayer has apportioned or allocated gross receipts for a tax year of less than 12 months, the amount in subsection (1) shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the tax year and the denominator of which is 12.

(3) The department, upon application of the taxpayer and for good cause shown, may extend the date for filing the annual return. Interest at the rate under section 23(2) of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.23, shall be added to the amount of the tax unpaid for the period of the extension. The treasurer shall require with the application payment of the estimated tax liability unpaid for the tax period covered by the extension.

(4) If a taxpayer is granted an extension of time within which to file the federal income tax return for any tax year, the filing of a copy of the request for extension together with a tentative return and payment of an estimated tax with the department by the due date provided in subsection (1) shall automatically extend the due date for the filing of an annual or final return under this act until the last day of the eighth month following the original due date of the return. Interest at the rate under section 23(2) of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.23, shall be added to the amount of the tax unpaid for the period of the extension.

Sec. 512. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act except as provided under subsections (2) and (3), a person that is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes under the internal revenue code shall be classified as a disregarded entity for purposes of this act.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person that is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes under the internal revenue code that prior to January 1, 2012 in an originally filed return was treated as a person separate from its owner or prior to December 1, 2011 in an amended return was treated as a person separate from its owner under this act for a tax year that begins after December 31, 2007, is not required to file an amended return with its owner as a disregarded entity.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person that is a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes under the internal revenue code that prior to January 1, 2012 in an originally filed return was treated as a person separate from its owner or prior to December 1, 2011 in an amended return was treated as a person separate from its owner under this act for its first tax year that begins after December 31, 2009, may be treated as a person separate from its owner under this act for its tax year that begins after December 31, 2010 and ends before January 1, 2012.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act is curative and intended to clarify the original intent of 2007 PA 36. This amendatory act is retroactive and effective for taxes levied on and after January 1, 2008.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor