Sec. 82.

(1) All taxes imposed in a taxable year before the 1992 taxable year on a taxpayer and money withheld by an employer under this ordinance and remaining unpaid after the taxes or money withheld are due bear interest from the due date at the rate of 1/2 of 1% per month until paid. For the 1992 taxable year and each subsequent taxable year before the 1997 taxable year, all taxes imposed on a taxpayer and money withheld by an employer under this ordinance and remaining unpaid after the taxes or money withheld are due bear interest from the due date at the current monthly rate of 1 percentage point above the adjusted prime rate per annum per month until the tax or money is paid. For taxable years after the 1996 taxable year, if the amount of a tax paid is less than the amount that should have been paid or an excessive claim for credit has been made, the deficiency and interest on the deficiency at the current monthly interest rate of 1 percentage point above the adjusted prime rate per annum from the time the tax was due, and until paid, are due and payable after a final assessment as provided in section 85. A deficiency in an estimated payment required by this ordinance shall be treated in the same manner as a tax due and is subject to the same current monthly interest rate of 1 percentage point above the adjusted prime rate per annum from the time the payment was due, until paid. The term “adjusted prime rate” means the average predominant prime rate quoted by not less than 3 commercial banks to large businesses, as determined by the department of treasury. For tax years before the 1997 tax year, the adjusted prime rate is to be based on the average prime rate charged by not less than 3 commercial banks during the 12-month period ending on September 30. One percentage point shall be added to the adjusted prime rate, and the resulting sum shall be divided by 12 to establish the current monthly interest rate. The resulting current monthly interest rate based on the 12-month period ending September 30 becomes effective on January 1 of the following year. For tax years after the 1996 tax year, “adjusted prime rate” means that term as defined in and determined under section 23(2) of Act No. 122 of the Public Acts of 1941, being section 205.23 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(2) A person who fails to file a return, pay the tax, or remit withholding, when due, is liable, in addition to the interest, to a penalty of 1% of the amount of the unpaid tax for each month or fraction of a month, not to exceed a total penalty of 25% of the unpaid tax. If a return is filed or remittance is paid after the time specified and it is shown to the satisfaction of the city or the department that the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, the penalty shall be waived by the administrator or the department. If the total interest or interest and penalty to be assessed is less than $2.00, the administrator or the department shall instead assess $2.00.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (4), if any part of the deficiency or an excessive claim for credit is due to negligence, but without intent to defraud, a penalty of $10.00 or 10% of the total amount of the deficiency in the tax, whichever is greater, plus interest as provided in subsection (1), shall be added. The penalty becomes due and payable after a final assessment is issued as provided in section 85. If a taxpayer subject to a penalty under this subsection demonstrates to the satisfaction of the administrator or the department that the deficiency or excess claim for credit was due to reasonable cause, the administrator or the department shall waive the penalty.

(4) If any part of the deficiency or an excessive claim for credit is due to intentional disregard of this ordinance, but without intent to defraud, a penalty of $25.00 or 25% of the total amount of the deficiency in the tax, whichever is greater, plus interest as provided in subsection (1), shall be added. The penalty becomes due and payable after a final assessment is issued as provided in section 85. If a penalty is imposed under this subsection and the taxpayer subject to the penalty successfully disputes the penalty, the administrator or the department shall not impose a penalty prescribed by subsection (3) to the tax otherwise due.

(5) If any part of the deficiency or an excessive claim for credit is due to fraudulent intent to evade the tax imposed under this ordinance, or to obtain a refund for a fraudulent claim, a penalty of 100% of the deficiency, plus interest as provided in subsection (1), shall be added. The penalty becomes due and payable after a final assessment is issued as provided in section 85 .

History: 1964, Act 284, Imd. Eff. June 12, 1964 ;-- Am. 1991, Act 198, Eff. Mar. 30, 1992 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 478, Eff. Jan. 1, 1997