LANSING, Mich., Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Job providers from across the state today joined together to speak out against legislation that would mandate suburban employers become the tax collectors for Michigan cities that impose an income tax on their residents. Legislation in both the Michigan Senate (Senate Bill 1127) and House (House Bill 4829) would penalize employers who hire residents of cities that impose a local income tax.

"If cities are unwilling or unable to carry out the responsibilities that come with imposing an income tax on their residents, then maybe they should repeal the tax outright," said Tricia Kinley, Senior Director of Tax & Regulatory Reform for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. "Or, cities should work to improve their own enforcement mechanisms."

"The legislation should not be viewed as 'just another withholding' that employers can easily do," noted Jeff Wiggins, State Director for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan. "These bills would expose employers to unknown liabilities and never-ending audits."

Twenty-two Michigan cities impose a local city income tax. Under current law, employers located in a city with a tax have an obligation to withhold and remit the tax on behalf of their employees. It is legally sound since the employer has a connection to the city and receives services. However, requiring employers who have no connection to a city to be the tax collector is legally suspect and creates a tremendous amount of complexity for payroll withholding.  

"Senate Bill 1127 and House Bill 4829 are government-imposed mandates on job providers in response to cities that complain they are losing revenue because they are ineffective at collections or due to taxpayer fraud," said Amy Drumm, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Michigan Retailers Association. "Shifting their governmental responsibilities onto employers who otherwise have nothing to do with the city in question is simply unfair."

"This legislation would impose an administrative nightmare on any employer who employs workers who live in cities with a city income tax," said Delaney McKinley, Director of Human Resource Policy and Membership Development for the Michigan Manufacturers Association. "What's most concerning is that the job provider would be liable for the tax debt as well as penalties and interest and enforcement actions and audits."

"Many Michigan employers, particularly small business, do their payroll manually in-house; the complexity of complying with potentially 22 different city tax regimes would just be another regulatory headache that employers don't deserve," noted Charles Owens, State Director, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). "There is no way to improve this unfair legislation."

"To make matters worse, this mandate could easily backfire," concluded Bob VanDeventer, President & CEO of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. "If the state makes it so difficult for employers to hire city residents, they may look elsewhere for employees. There are many city residents who are eagerly looking for work and this legislation throws barriers in front of their opportunities."

Senate Bill 1127 is now on floor of the Senate and House Bill 4829 is on the floor of the Michigan House. Either bill could be acted on in the remaining days of the 2016 legislative session. The job providers represented today are collectively calling on the Michigan Legislature to reject these bills and focus instead on productive legislation that does not result in damaging burdens placed on job providers.

CONTACTS:

Associated Builders and Contractors
Jeff Wiggins
(517) 853-2545

Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers
Dan Papineau
(800) 666-6233 

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Allie Bush
(616) 771-0311

Auto Dealers of Michigan, LLC
Kurt Berryman
(517) 351-7800

Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Tricia Kinley
(517) 371-7669

Michigan Grocers Association
Linda Gobler
(517) 372-6800

National Federation of Independent Business
Charles Owens
(517) 485-3409

Michigan Manufacturers Association
Delaney McKinley
(517) 487-8530

Michigan Retailers Association
Amy Drumm
(800) 366-3699

Michigan Restaurant Association
Robert O'Meara
(517) 482-5244

Saginaw Chamber of Commerce
Veronica Horn
(989) 757-2113

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SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce