Flint, Michigan – For Flint residents, filing city income taxes is about to become a different experience. Instead of dealing with a separate local process, taxpayers will soon have access to a state-run system designed to make filing returns, making payments, and managing accounts easier.
The change is approaching quickly. With January just over two months away, Flint officials are working to make sure residents understand how the new system will operate and what it means for their next tax return.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the Michigan Department of Treasury will assume responsibility for processing Flint income tax returns for the 2026 tax year and subsequent years. The move will bring the city’s income tax administration into Michigan’s centralized tax system, giving residents access to several services that are currently handled through a separate process.
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One of the biggest changes will be the ability for individual taxpayers to electronically submit their Flint city income tax returns alongside their State of Michigan returns. The updated system will also provide online payment options, account management tools, and built-in checks intended to reduce filing errors.
State officials say taxpayers can also expect faster refunds and centralized customer support, making it easier to find assistance when questions or problems arise.
The transition was first announced in June 2025, when Flint and the State of Michigan reached an agreement to transfer responsibility for administering the city’s income taxes.
Now, with implementation approaching, officials are shifting their attention toward helping taxpayers prepare.
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Mayor Sheldon Neeley joined Chief Deputy Treasurer Lance Wilkinson and other city and state representatives at Flint City Hall on Thursday, October 22, to discuss the upcoming changes and explain how the new arrangement will work.
“This transition is about making the income tax process easier for our residents while ensuring Flint has the tools it needs to collect the revenue owed to our community,” said Mayor Sheldon Neeley.
“With January approaching, we want taxpayers to understand what is changing, what services will be available and what they need to do as we move to the new system.”
Beyond convenience for residents, the partnership could also have financial implications for Flint.
City officials have pointed to Detroit’s experience with a similar state-administered income tax arrangement, which began in 2015. Following that transition, Detroit reported a 54% increase in income tax revenue.
Although that figure does not guarantee similar results for Flint, it offers an example of how centralized tax administration has worked in another Michigan city.
For Flint, the immediate priority remains a smooth transition that gives taxpayers access to the new filing tools while supporting the city’s ability to collect the revenue it is owed.
Residents preparing to file their 2026 income taxes will be among the first to use the state-administered services after the January launch.
Additional details about the transition, including answers to common questions about Flint income taxes, are available through the Michigan Department of Treasury’s official City of Flint Taxes information page.