Michigan's flat 4.25% income tax keeps things simple — until you add quarterly estimated payments, payroll withholding, sales tax, and the flow-through entity election on top of it. Stout Tax Strategies handles the numbers so you can focus on running your business or living your life in Macomb County.
Michigan tax rates confirmed by the Michigan Department of Treasury for tax year 2026. General information only — not tax advice for your specific situation.
An accountant keeps your financial records accurate, files your tax returns, and identifies opportunities to reduce what you owe. In Michigan, that means more than just plugging numbers into TurboTax:
Tax software can fill in the boxes. An accountant can tell you whether the FTE election saves you more than it costs, whether your quarterly payments are actually covering your liability, and whether your entity structure still makes sense as your income changes.
W-2 employees, retirees, and Michigan residents with investment income. We file your federal Form 1040 and Michigan MI-1040 together, check for credits you may be missing (homestead property tax credit, Michigan retirement income exemption), and make sure the numbers match before they hit the IRS.
Sole proprietors (Schedule C), S-corps (Form 1120-S, due March 15), C-corps (Form 1120, due April 15), and partnerships (Form 1065). We prepare the federal and Michigan returns, calculate any CIT liability, and evaluate whether the FTE election makes sense for your pass-through entity.
Monthly transaction categorization, bank and credit card reconciliation, financial statement preparation. Clean books mean faster tax filing, fewer surprises at year-end, and reliable profit/loss visibility every month — not just once a year.
Wage calculation, federal and Michigan withholding, quarterly Form 941 filing, annual W-2/W-3 preparation, and Michigan unemployment insurance reporting. If your employees work across multiple Michigan cities, we handle the separate city income tax filings too.
Quarterly check-ins to project your full-year liability, adjust estimated payments, evaluate entity structure, and identify deductions before December 31 — not after. Proactive planning is the difference between paying what you owe and paying more than you owe.
Received a CP2000, CP14, or a Michigan Treasury assessment? We review the notice, pull your IRS transcripts, prepare the response documentation, and file it before the deadline — typically 30 days from the notice date.
Missing a deadline doesn't just mean a late fee — it means penalties that compound. Here's the calendar we keep our St. Clair Shores clients on:
| Deadline | Who | What's Due |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2026 | Self-employed, S-corp/partnership owners | Q4 2025 estimated tax payment (federal + MI) |
| Jan 31, 2026 | All employers | W-2s / 1099s to employees & IRS |
| Mar 15, 2026 | S-corps, partnerships | Form 1120-S / Form 1065 + Michigan return |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Individuals, C-corps, sole proprietors | Form 1040 + MI-1040 / Form 1120 + Q1 estimated payment |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Self-employed, S-corp/partnership owners | Q2 estimated tax payment |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Self-employed, S-corp/partnership owners + extended S-corps/partnerships | Q3 estimated payment + extended S-corp/partnership returns |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Individuals, C-corps with extension | Extended individual + C-corp returns |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Self-employed, S-corp/partnership owners | Q4 2026 estimated tax payment |
Michigan grants an automatic 6-month extension if you file a federal extension — but an extension to file is not an extension to pay. At least 90% of liability must be paid by the original deadline.
We review your current tax setup: what entity structure you're using, who's filing what, whether estimated payments are on track, and where the pain points are. No charge, no commitment.
We gather your prior returns, IRS wage & income transcripts, bank/brokerage statements, and payroll records. If your books are behind, we start with cleanup bookkeeping to get a clean baseline.
We prepare and e-file your returns (federal + Michigan), calculate your next quarter's estimated payment, and flag any planning opportunities — entity restructuring, FTE election, retirement contribution timing — before year-end.
Bookkeeping clients get monthly reconciled books. Tax planning clients get quarterly projections. Payroll clients get weekly/biweekly runs. You pick the cadence that fits your business.
Tax software works well for simple W-2 filings with standard deductions. But if any of the following apply, you're leaving money on the table — or exposing yourself to penalties:
No judgment — but if you're reading a page about accountants in St. Clair Shores, you've probably outgrown the software.
Our office is at 32008 Harper Ave — just south of Masonic Blvd, a few minutes from the Nautical Mile and Blossom Heath Park. We serve individuals and businesses across:
One advantage of being in St. Clair Shores: unlike Detroit, Grand Rapids, and 22 other Michigan cities, St. Clair Shores does not impose a city income tax. That's one less filing and one less withholding calculation for businesses operating here. However, if your business has employees or contracts in a city that does levy one, we handle the split-jurisdiction filings.
Pricing depends on the scope of work. Here's a general framework so you know what to expect before the first call:
| Service | Typical Range | What Drives the Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Individual tax return (W-2, standard) | $150 – $350 | Number of income sources, itemized vs. standard |
| Self-employed / Schedule C | $300 – $600 | Expense volume, home office, vehicle deductions |
| S-corp or partnership return | $600 – $1,500+ | Revenue, K-1s, FTE election, multi-state activity |
| Monthly bookkeeping | $200 – $800/mo | Transaction volume, number of bank/card accounts |
| Payroll (per employee/month) | $30 – $75 | Pay frequency, city income tax jurisdictions |
| Tax planning (annual engagement) | $500 – $2,000 | Entity complexity, quarterly projection needs |
We discuss scope and pricing during your free consultation — no surprise invoices after the work is done.
Michigan has a flat individual income tax rate of 4.25% for the 2026 tax year. The Michigan Department of Treasury confirmed in April 2026 that conditions for a rate reduction were not met, so the rate remains unchanged from 2025. The corporate income tax (CIT) for C-corporations is a separate flat 6%.
If you're self-employed, an S-corp or partnership owner, or have significant non-withheld income, yes. Michigan follows the federal quarterly schedule: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. If your annual tax liability exceeds $800, quarterly payments are required. The penalty for missing one is 25% of the underpayment or 10% per quarter, plus interest at 1% above the prime rate.
The FTE tax lets S-corps, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs pay the 4.25% Michigan income tax at the entity level instead of the individual level. Members then receive a refundable credit on their personal returns. The main benefit is that it effectively bypasses the federal $10,000 SALT deduction cap. The election must be made annually, and quarterly estimated payments are required if liability exceeds $800. Whether it saves you money depends on your total federal tax picture — we evaluate this for every eligible client.
No. St. Clair Shores does not levy a city income tax. However, 24 Michigan cities do — including Detroit (2.4% for residents, 1.2% for nonresidents), Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing, and Pontiac. If your business operates in or has employees working in one of those cities, you'll need to file separate city income tax returns.
A bookkeeper records transactions, reconciles bank accounts, and maintains day-to-day financial records. An accountant interprets those records, prepares tax returns, evaluates entity structures, builds tax strategy, and represents you if the IRS or Michigan Treasury sends a notice. Most small businesses need both — we provide both under one roof.
Calendar-year S-corporations and partnerships must file by March 15. Michigan follows the federal schedule. If you file a federal extension (Form 7004), the Michigan deadline automatically extends to September 15. However, an extension to file is not an extension to pay — any estimated tax liability must be paid by the original March 15 deadline.
Yes. We offer cleanup bookkeeping to bring your records current — typically covering the gap in 2–4 weeks depending on volume. Once caught up, we transition to ongoing monthly bookkeeping so you don't fall behind again.
Yes. We review CP2000, CP14, CP22A, and other IRS notices, pull your transcripts, prepare the response documentation, and file it before the deadline. We also handle Michigan Department of Treasury notices and coordinate both when a federal adjustment triggers a state follow-up.
Whether you need a one-time tax return or year-round accounting support, the first conversation is free and there's no obligation.
Schedule a Free Consultation Call 586-757-6116