Section 206.15. Credit for income tax withheld from compensation.

(1) The income tax deducted and withheld from compensation under chapter 7 of Act No. 281 of the Public Acts of 1967, as amended, is allowed as a credit against the income tax of the person from whose wages the tax was withheld. Credit shall be given to the employee even though such tax has not been paid to the department by the employer.

(a)    Example 1. An employee received compensation of $15,000.00 from his employer for the year. The employer withheld  tax  of  $500.00  from  the employee and furnished him with a W-2 wage  and   tax  statement   showing $500.00 withheld. The department shall give the employee   credit  for  tax withheld of $500.00.

(b)   Example 2. The employer paid his employees by check and withheld tax from each payment of wages. Each check contained a stub which itemized all deductions. One of the deductions was headed "Michigan Tax." The employees did not have W-2 wage and tax statements to attach to their individual income tax returns because the employer did not give the  employees  the statements. The employees shall receive credit against the tax established by their individual income tax returns for all tax  they can prove  was withheld. A copy of each check stub shall be accepted as  evidence  of the

tax withheld unless the department can prove otherwise. If the employee cannot support his claim for tax withheld by W-2 wage and tax statements or check stubs, he shall file an employee complaint form with his  income tax return.

(2)    If a taxpayer files individual income tax returns on any basis other than a calendar year basis, the tax deducted and withheld during any calendar year is allowed as a credit against the income tax on the person from whose wages the tax was withheld for the taxable year which begins in such calendar year. If the person from whose wages the tax was withheld has more than 1 taxable year beginning in that calendar year, the credit shall be allowed against the tax for the last taxable year beginning  in such calendar year.

(a)   Example 1. A man and his wife own a business and file  their individual income tax return, MI-1040, on a fiscal year basis ending June 30th. They made 4 estimated payments totaling $700.00 toward their  tax liability for their year ending June 30, 1976. The husband also worked for another business and  the  employer withheld  $325.00  tax  from  his compensation for calendar year 1975. The tax liability of the husband and wife established by the MI-1040 for fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, was $1,100.00. The taxpayer should take credit for the $700.00 estimated payments made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, plus the  $325.00 tax the husband's employer withheld during calendar year   1975.     They     must pay

$75.00 with the MI-1040 when they file.

(b)   Example 2. The situation in this example is the same as in example 1 except the husband worked from January 15, 1976, to May 31, 1976, for the employer but did not work for him during calendar year 1975. The husband and wife cannot claim the

$325.00 tax  the   employer    withheld from the husband's compensation in 1976 on their MI-1040  for   fiscal   year ending June 30, 1976, and must pay $400.00 at the   time   they

file    their annual return, MI-1040. They must take credit for the $325.00 tax withheld in 1976 on their MI-1040 for the year ending June 30, 1977.

(c)    Example 3. After filing his 1976 tax return on a calendar year basis, a taxpayer decides to change his filing to a  fiscal  year  basis using the fiscal period of July 1 to June 30. He must file a return for the period of January 1, 1977, to June 30, 1977, and pay the tax. He shall not receive credit for the tax withheld during that period. When filing his full year return for the fiscal period July 1, 1977, to June 30, 1978, he shall report his income for the last 6 months  of   1977  and  the  first  6 months of 1978 and shall receive credit for the full  amount  of   tax withheld during calendar year 1977. The 1977 W-2 wage   and   tax   statement

shall be attached to the return.

Figure for 206.15

History: 1979 AC.