Licensing, Regulation & Tax

“So, I’ve heard the horror stories about doing business in Detroit.  And, yes, I am a little crazy ‘cause those stories didn’t scare me off, yet.  I’m tough and scrappy, but may not be tough enough to navigate what appears to be a crazy bureaucracy. Thoughts?”

We know the reputation and agree that more can always be done to streamline efficiencies, but making sense of all the different licenses, permits and taxes is not quite as difficult as some would make it out.  Scores of new businesses have opened shop in the Creative Corridor, and each have managed with the help of dedicated city workers, a tight community and certain specialized organizations– and they did not have this nifty guide!  Use these resources to help you navigate city, state and federal departments.

Licensing

• Detroit Buildings & Safety Engineering Department | Issues Change of Use Permits for buildings and structures (if required).  Visit the Buildings & Safety Engineering Department Zoning Counter in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Room 402 to obtain any required permits.  Also issues Certificate of Occupancy when a permit is completed. For clarification as to when you need to pull a permit for certain infrastructure and facilities improvement, click Here for more information.
• Detroit Business License Center Registration | Issues Business Licenses (if required).  Located in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Room 105.
• For a list of business purposes that require permitting click Here for more information.

Registration

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth | Serves to promote and ensure Michigan’s Future through education, job training, innovation and collaborative partnerships in service and protection of our customer needs. Click Here for more information.  To register an incorporation or a limited partnership, click Here for more information.
• Internal Revenue Service | Issues Federal Tax ID numbers, which are required for corporations and partnerships.  Obtain the federal tax ID forms at the McNamara Building, 477 Michigan Avenue (at Cass), Detroit, MI 48226. Click Here for an online version of federal tax ID forms and more more information.

Taxation

• City of Detroit, Assessment Division | Handles annual assessments of residential, commercial, personal, and industrial property for purposes of levying property taxes. Assessment rolls are open for public inspection during business hours in Room 804 – City-County Bldg. Also, certain forms, such as the Affidavit for Homestead Exemption From Some School Property Taxes (Form T-1056) and the Property Transfer Affidavit (Form L-4260) are filed with the Division. Click Here for more information.
• City of Detroit, Income Tax Division | Administers the City’s income tax and the utility users tax. Additional services include tax return preparation, taxpayer assistance, collection of income and utility users tax, payment plans, and enforcement of the income and utility users tax ordinances. Click Here for more information.
• City of Detroit, Property Tax Division | Levies and collects property taxes.  Property tax records are searchable online via the below link. Visit here. Click Here for more information.
• State of Michigan, Department of Treasury | Levies and collects any state taxes in Michigan. Click Here for more information.  To obtain a sales tax id number click Here.
• Internal Revenue Service | The IRS is organized to carry out the responsibilities of the secretary of the Treasury under section 7801 of the Internal Revenue Code. Click Here for more information.