THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAX ACT
Act 206 of 1893
211.53b Qualified error; verification, approval, and affidavit; correction of records; rebate; notice and payment; initiation of action; actions of board of review; exemption; appeal; approval; alternative meeting dates; "qualified error" defined.
Sec. 53b.
(1) If there has been a qualified error, the qualified error must be verified by the local assessing officer and approved by the board of review. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), the board of review shall meet for the purposes of this section on Tuesday following the second Monday in December and on Tuesday following the third Monday in July. If approved, the board of review shall file an affidavit within 30 days relative to the qualified error with the proper officials and all affected official records must be corrected. If the qualified error results in an overpayment or underpayment, the rebate, including any interest paid, must be made to the taxpayer or the taxpayer must be notified and payment made within 30 days of the notice. A rebate must be without interest. The treasurer in possession of the appropriate tax roll may deduct the rebate from the appropriate tax collecting unit's subsequent distribution of taxes. The treasurer in possession of the appropriate tax roll shall bill to the appropriate tax collecting unit the tax collecting unit's share of taxes rebated. Except as otherwise provided in section 27a(4), a correction under this subsection may be made for the current year and the immediately preceding year only.
(2) Action under subsection (1) may be initiated by the taxpayer or the assessing officer.
(3) The board of review meeting in July and December must be held only for the purpose described in subsection (1) and to hear appeals provided for in sections 7u, 7ee, and 7jj. If an exemption under section 7u is approved, the board of review shall file an affidavit with the proper officials involved in the assessment and collection of taxes and all affected official records must be corrected. If an appeal under section 7ee or 7jj results in a determination that an overpayment has been made, the board of review shall file an affidavit and a rebate must be made at the times and in the manner provided in subsection (1). Except as otherwise provided in sections 7ee and 7jj, a correction under this subsection must be made for the year in which the appeal is made only. If the board of review approves an exemption or provides a rebate for property under section 7ee or 7jj as provided in this subsection, the board of review shall require the owner to execute the affidavit provided for in section 7ee or 7jj.
(4) An owner or assessor may appeal a decision of the board of review under this section regarding an exemption under section 7ee or 7jj to the residential and small claims division of the Michigan tax tribunal. An owner is not required to pay the amount of tax in dispute in order to receive a final determination of the residential and small claims division of the Michigan tax tribunal. However, interest and penalties, if any, will accrue and be computed based on interest and penalties that would have accrued from the date the taxes were originally levied as if there had not been an exemption.
(5) The governing body of the city or township may authorize, by adoption of an ordinance or resolution, 1 or more of the following alternative meeting dates for the purposes of this section:
(a) An alternative meeting date during the week of the second Monday in December.
(b) An alternative meeting date during the week of the third Monday in July.
(6) As used in this section, "qualified error" means 1 or more of the following:
(a) A clerical error relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation relating to the assessing of taxes.
(b) A mutual mistake of fact.
(c) An adjustment under section 27a(4) or an exemption under section 7hh(3)(b).
(d) An error of measurement or calculation of the physical dimensions or components of the real property being assessed.
(e) An error of omission or inclusion of a part of the real property being assessed.
(f) An error regarding the correct taxable status of the real property being assessed.
(g) An error made by the taxpayer in preparing the statement of assessable personal property under section 19.
(h) An error made in the denial of a claim of exemption for personal property under section 9o.
(i) Any of the following errors regarding an exemption under section 7b:
(i) An error made by the local tax collecting unit in the processing of a timely filed exemption affidavit.
(ii) A delay in the determination by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that a veteran is permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans' benefits at the 100% rate.
(iii) For tax year 2023 only, a denial by the board of review of an exemption claimed under section 7b(1)(b).
(j) An exemption under section 7u(10), for the immediately preceding tax year only, if the exemption was not on the assessment roll and was not denied for that tax year. A claim for exemption must be filed with the board of review on a form prescribed by the state tax commission and provided by the local assessing unit, accompanied by supporting documentation establishing eligibility for the exemption for that immediately preceding tax year under the criteria in section 7u(2) and any other supporting documentation as may be required by the state tax commission.
History: Add. 1967, Act 142, Eff. Nov. 2, 1967 ;-- Am. 1974, Act 379, Imd. Eff. Dec. 23, 1974 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 539, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 14, Imd. Eff. May 3, 1985 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 237, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1994 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 74, Eff. Dec. 31, 1994 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 284, Imd. Eff. July 10, 2000 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 624, Imd. Eff. Dec. 23, 2002 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 105, Imd. Eff. July 24, 2003 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 13, Imd. Eff. Feb. 3, 2006 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 378, Imd. Eff. Sept. 27, 2006 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 122, Imd. Eff. May 9, 2008 ;-- Am. 2010, Act 24, Imd. Eff. Mar. 26, 2010 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 153, Imd. Eff. Nov. 5, 2013 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 108, Imd. Eff. May 6, 2016 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 261, Eff. Dec. 31, 2017 ;-- Am. 2020, Act 206, Imd. Eff. Oct. 15, 2020 ;-- Am. 2022, Act 141, Imd. Eff. July 11, 2022 ;-- Am. 2023, Act 152, Imd. Eff. Oct. 19, 2023 ;-- Am. 2023, Act 191, Imd. Eff. Nov. 7, 2023
Compiler's Notes:
Section 2 of Act 74 of 1995 provides:
“This amendatory act is retroactive and shall take effect December 31, 1994.”
PopularName Notes:
Act 206
Notes of Decisions
Ford Motor Co. v. City of Woodhaven, 716 N.W.2d 247 (Mich. 2006).
· cites it 12× “These claims are also handled initially by a different body, and the time frame in which to bring a claim is different than that provided in MCL 211.”
Ford Motor Co. v. Bruce Twp., 689 N.W.2d 764 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).
· cites it 12× “53a to those explicitly stated in MCL 211.53b, i.e., "mutual mistake[s] of fact relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation relating to the assessing *772 of taxes.”
Wolverine Steel Co. v. City of Detroit, 207 N.W.2d 194 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).
· cites it 8× “This interpretation can be confirmed by looking at MCLA 211.53b; MSA 7.97(2). This section is provided as an "alternative" method of treating a "clerical error or a mutual mistake of fact".”
Superior Hotels, LLC v. MacKinaw Twp., 765 N.W.2d 31 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009).
“The Tax Tribunal further ruled that respondent’s error in calculating the subject property’s taxable value might arguably have been considered “a clerical error or a mutual mistake of fact relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical…”
Michigan Props., LLC v. Meridian Twp., 808 N.W.2d 506 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011).
· cites it 2× “For purposes of [MCL 211.53b], an adjustment under this subsection shall be considered the correction of a clerical error.”
Noll Equip. Co v. City of Detroit, 211 N.W.2d 257 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).
· cites it 4× “He reasons as follows: "This interpretation can be confirmed by looking at MCLA 211.53b; MSA 7.97(2). This section is provided as an 'alternative’ method of treating a 'clerical error or a mutual mistake of fact’.”
Int'l Place Apts.-IV v. Ypsilanti Twp., 548 N.W.2d 668 (Mich. Ct. App. 1996).
· cites it 3× “Guich decided that the filing error that resulted in petitioner’s underassessment was clerical and, therefore, correctable under § 53b of the General Property Tax Act, MCL 211.53b; MSA 7.97(2). However, the Tax Tribunal concluded that the error was not a clerical one, but one of…”
Bluewater Nat. Gas Holding LLC v. Ray Twp. (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 24× “Bluewater appealed that approval to the Michigan Tax Tribunal several months later, after it learned of the exact—and considerable—amount of delinquent-personal-property taxes it owed as a result of the change.”
Aep Charter Genesee LLC v. Charter Twp. of Flint (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
· cites it 22× “In July 2019, Flint Twp BOR agreed this was a qualified error and issued a decision correcting the tax roll as to 2018 and 2019 under MCL 211.53b. Petitioner is seeking to correct the tax roll for 2017.”
Mikelonis v. Alabaster Twp., 861 N.W.2d 354 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).
· cites it 9× “27a(3) and (4) provide as follows: (3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the property’s taxable value for the calendar year following the year of the transfer is the property’s state equalized valuation for the calendar year following the transfer.”
INT'L PLACE APTS. v. Ypsilanti Twp., 548 N.W.2d 668 (Mich. Ct. App. 1996).
· cites it 3× “§ 211.53b; M.S.A. § 7.97(2). However, the Tax Tribunal concluded that the error was not a clerical one, but one of professional judgment, and, therefore, the board of review was not empowered to change the 1988 assessment under § 53b.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(1) — 6 cases
Ford Motor Co. v. Bruce Twp., 689 N.W.2d 764 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).
“53a to those explicitly stated in MCL 211.53b, i.e., "mutual mistake[s] of fact relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation relating to the assessing *772 of taxes.”
Bluewater Nat. Gas Holding LLC v. Ray Twp. (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
“Bluewater appealed that approval to the Michigan Tax Tribunal several months later, after it learned of the exact—and considerable—amount of delinquent-personal-property taxes it owed as a result of the change.”
INT'L PLACE APTS. v. Ypsilanti Twp., 548 N.W.2d 668 (Mich. Ct. App. 1996).
“§ 211.53b; M.S.A. § 7.97(2). However, the Tax Tribunal concluded that the error was not a clerical one, but one of professional judgment, and, therefore, the board of review was not empowered to change the 1988 assessment under § 53b.”
Aep Charter Genesee LLC v. Charter Twp. of Flint (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
“In July 2019, Flint Twp BOR agreed this was a qualified error and issued a decision correcting the tax roll as to 2018 and 2019 under MCL 211.53b. Petitioner is seeking to correct the tax roll for 2017.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(10) — 1 case
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(10)(a) — 1 case
Mikelonis v. Alabaster Twp., 861 N.W.2d 354 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).
“27a(3) and (4) provide as follows: (3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the property’s taxable value for the calendar year following the year of the transfer is the property’s state equalized valuation for the calendar year following the transfer.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(10)(c) — 1 case
Mikelonis v. Alabaster Twp., 861 N.W.2d 354 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).
“27a(3) and (4) provide as follows: (3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the property’s taxable value for the calendar year following the year of the transfer is the property’s state equalized valuation for the calendar year following the transfer.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(2) — 1 case
Ford Motor Co. v. Bruce Twp., 689 N.W.2d 764 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).
“53a to those explicitly stated in MCL 211.53b, i.e., "mutual mistake[s] of fact relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation relating to the assessing *772 of taxes.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(3) — 1 case
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(6) — 1 case
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(6)(a) — 1 case
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(6)(d) — 2 cases
Bluewater Nat. Gas Holding LLC v. Ray Twp. (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
“Bluewater appealed that approval to the Michigan Tax Tribunal several months later, after it learned of the exact—and considerable—amount of delinquent-personal-property taxes it owed as a result of the change.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(8) — 3 cases
Aep Charter Genesee LLC v. Charter Twp. of Flint (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
“In July 2019, Flint Twp BOR agreed this was a qualified error and issued a decision correcting the tax roll as to 2018 and 2019 under MCL 211.53b. Petitioner is seeking to correct the tax roll for 2017.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(8)(a) — 1 case
Aep Charter Genesee LLC v. Charter Twp. of Flint (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
“In July 2019, Flint Twp BOR agreed this was a qualified error and issued a decision correcting the tax roll as to 2018 and 2019 under MCL 211.53b. Petitioner is seeking to correct the tax roll for 2017.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(8)(d) — 1 case
Bluewater Nat. Gas Holding LLC v. Ray Twp. (Mich. Ct. App. 2025).
“Bluewater appealed that approval to the Michigan Tax Tribunal several months later, after it learned of the exact—and considerable—amount of delinquent-personal-property taxes it owed as a result of the change.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(f) — 1 case
Aep Charter Genesee LLC v. Charter Twp. of Flint (Mich. Ct. App. 2021).
“In July 2019, Flint Twp BOR agreed this was a qualified error and issued a decision correcting the tax roll as to 2018 and 2019 under MCL 211.53b. Petitioner is seeking to correct the tax roll for 2017.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 211.53b(l) — 4 cases
Ford Motor Co. v. Bruce Twp., 689 N.W.2d 764 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004).
“53a to those explicitly stated in MCL 211.53b, i.e., "mutual mistake[s] of fact relative to the correct assessment figures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation relating to the assessing *772 of taxes.”
Michigan Props., LLC v. Meridian Twp., 808 N.W.2d 506 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011).
“For purposes of [MCL 211.53b], an adjustment under this subsection shall be considered the correction of a clerical error.”
Int'l Place Apts.-IV v. Ypsilanti Twp., 548 N.W.2d 668 (Mich. Ct. App. 1996).
“Guich decided that the filing error that resulted in petitioner’s underassessment was clerical and, therefore, correctable under § 53b of the General Property Tax Act, MCL 211.53b; MSA 7.97(2). However, the Tax Tribunal concluded that the error was not a clerical one, but one of…”
Mikelonis v. Alabaster Twp., 861 N.W.2d 354 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014).
“27a(3) and (4) provide as follows: (3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the property’s taxable value for the calendar year following the year of the transfer is the property’s state equalized valuation for the calendar year following the transfer.”
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