Sec. 301.

(1) Every person on a calendar year basis, if the person’s annual tax can reasonably be expected to exceed the amount withheld under section 351 and the credits allowed under this act by more than $500.00, shall pay to the department installments of estimated tax under this act on or before April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the person’s tax year and January 15 in the following year. Subject to subsection (3), each installment shall be equal to 1/4 the taxpayer’s estimated tax under this act after first deducting the amount estimated to be withheld under section 351.

(2) For a taxpayer on other than a calendar year basis, there shall be substituted for the due dates provided in subsection (1) the appropriate due dates in the taxpayer’s fiscal year that correspond to those in the calendar year.

(3) For a taxpayer that pays estimated tax for the taxpayer’s first tax year of less than 12 months, the amount paid shall be that fraction of the estimated tax that is obtained by dividing the total amount of estimated tax by the number of payments to be made with respect to the tax year.

(4) There shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this act the amounts paid to the department pursuant to this section.

(5) Instead of quarterly payments, a person subject to this section may pay an estimated annual tax for the succeeding tax year. The payment shall be made at the same time the person files the annual return for the previous full tax year.

(6) A farmer or fisherman who elects to file and pay his or her federal income tax under an alternative schedule provided in section 6654 of the internal revenue code may file and pay the tax imposed by this act in the same manner. A seafarer may file and pay the tax imposed by this act in the same manner as a farmer or fisherman under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “seafarer” means an individual whose wages may not be withheld for taxes by the state or a political subdivision of the state as provided in section 11108 of title 46 of the United States code, 46 U.S.C. 11108.

(7) A bank or financial institution that submits quarterly estimated income tax payment information through the federal tax deposit system on magnetic tape and acts as fiduciary for 200 or more taxable trusts shall submit Michigan quarterly tax payment information on magnetic tape to the department.

(8) A bank or financial institution that acts as fiduciary for more than 49 and fewer than 200 taxable trusts may enter into an irrevocable agreement with the department to submit estimated income tax payment information on magnetic tape to the department.

(9) The payment of tax based on the information required under subsections (7) and (8) shall be made through a wire transfer to the state of Michigan contractual deposit account.

(10) A payment of estimated tax shall be computed on the basis of the annualized rate established under section 51 for the appropriate tax year to which the estimated tax payment is applicable.

(11) Except as provided in subsection (1), the amount of an estimated tax installment shall be computed, payment of estimated tax shall be credited, and a period of underpayment shall be determined in the same manner as provided in the internal revenue code.

(12) As used in this section, “taxable trust” means a trust required to make payments of estimated tax pursuant to subsection (1).

History: 1967, Act 281, Eff. Oct. 1, 1967 ;– Am. 1969, Act 332, Imd. Eff. Nov. 4, 1969 ;– Am. 1971, Act 25, Imd. Eff. May 13, 1971 ;– Am. 1975, Act 233, Imd. Eff. Aug. 27, 1975 ;– Am. 1982, Act 515, Imd. Eff. Dec. 31, 1982 ;– Am. 1983, Act 15, Imd. Eff. Mar. 29, 1983 ;– Am. 1987, Act 254, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 1987 ;– Am. 1988, Act 70, Imd. Eff. Mar. 28, 1988 ;– Am. 1996, Act 484, Eff. Jan. 17, 1998

Compiler’s Notes: Section 2 of Act 15 of 1983 provides: “Because a severe economic recession has caused an actual deficit in state funds, the legislature finds that this amendatory act is necessary to, and it is the purpose of this amendatory act to, meet the actual deficiencies existing in state funds at the time of this enactment.”