As used in this act:

  (a) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (ii), “acquisition cost” means that term as defined in subparagraph (i), as follows:

  (i) “Acquisition cost” means the fair market value of personal property at the time of acquisition by the first owner, including the cost of freight, sales tax, and installation, and other capitalized costs, except capitalized interest. There is a rebuttable presumption that the acquisition price paid by the first owner for personal property, and any costs of freight, sales tax, and installation, and other capitalized costs, except capitalized interest, reflect the acquisition cost. For personal property exempt under section 9m or 9n of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.9m and 211.9n, that prior to the current tax year was exempt under section 7k of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7k, under an industrial facilities exemption certificate issued under 1974 PA 198, MCL 207.551 to 207.572, and effective before January 1, 2013, which either has been extended for property not yet exempt under section 9m or 9n of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.9m and 211.9n, or had an expiration date after the date the tax levied under this act is due, and for personal property subject to an extended industrial facilities exemption certificate under section 11a of 1974 PA 198, MCL 207.561a, that is exempt under an industrial facilities exemption certificate issued under 1974 PA 198, MCL 207.551 to 207.572, and effective before January 1, 2013, acquisition cost means 1/2 of the fair market value of that personal property at the time of acquisition by the first owner, including the cost of freight, sales tax, and installation, and other capitalized costs, except capitalized interest. The acquisition cost for personal property exempt under the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696, is $0.00 except for the 3 years immediately preceding the expiration of the exemption of that personal property under the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to 125.2696, during which period of time the acquisition cost for that personal property means the fair market value of that personal property at the time of acquisition by the first owner, including the cost of freight, sales tax, and installation, and other capitalized costs, except capitalized interest, multiplied by the percentage reduction in the exemption as provided in section 9(3) of the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2689. The department may provide guidelines for circumstances in which the actual acquisition price is not determinative of acquisition cost and the basis of determining acquisition cost in those circumstances. When the acquisition cost, year of acquisition by the first owner, or both are unknown, the department may provide guidelines for estimating the acquisition cost and year of acquisition by the first owner. The department may issue guidelines that allow for the reduction of acquisition cost for property that is idle, is obsolete or has material obsolescence, or is surplus.

  (ii) Beginning with the 2017 assessment year, for property that is construction in progress only, “acquisition cost” means 1/2 of the fair market value at the time acquired by the first owner, including the cost of freight, sales tax, and installation. For property that is construction in progress, “acquired by” means the year the property is first reported on the combined form as prescribed in section 7(8) in the report of the fair market value and year of acquisition by the first owner of qualified new personal property or qualified previously existing personal property.

  (b) “Assessment” means the alternative state essential services assessment levied under section 5.

  (c) “Assessment year” means the year in which the alternative state essential services assessment levied under section 5 is due.

  (d) “Eligible claimant” means a person that owns, leases, or is in the possession of eligible personal property.

  (e) “Eligible personal property” means personal property exempt from the tax levied under the state essential services assessment act, 2014 PA 92, MCL 211.1051 to 211.1061, and determined to be subject to the alternative state essential services assessment as provided in section 9 of the state essential services assessment act, 2014 PA 92, MCL 211.1059.

  (f) “Department” means the department of treasury.