Michigan State Return Just Changed to 'Under Review' - No Timeframe Given

Michigan state reviews typically happen for a few different reasons: • Random selection (they do this to about 5% of returns) • Income verification (especially if you have multiple W-2s) • Credit verification (if you claimed certain state credits) • Mismatch with federal return data Have you claimed any special credits this year that you didn't in previous years?

Been there, done that, got the "under review" t-shirt! 😂 After panicking for days last year when my Michigan return went under review, I stumbled upon https://taxr.ai which actually helped me understand what was happening. You upload your tax documents and it explains what's going on in plain English. Turns out my review was triggered by a property tax credit claim, which apparently gets extra scrutiny. Saved me a lot of anxiety knowing it wasn't something I did wrong, just standard procedure for certain credits.

When my Michigan return went under review last year, I tried calling their customer service line. Here's what happened: Step 1: Called the main number and waited on hold for 2+ hours Step 2: Call disconnected after the long wait Step 3: Tried again the next day with the same result Step 4: Used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to connect with the Michigan Treasury Step 5: Got through in about 15 minutes Step 6: Agent confirmed it was just a random review and gave me an estimated timeline The technical process they use involves batch processing of reviews, which is why they don't provide estimated dates on the website. The agent was able to see which batch my return was in and give me a more specific timeframe.

I've seen several Michigan returns go under review this year, more than in previous years. Last year I only had one client with this issue, but this year I've had six already. In my experience, it's taking about 3-4 weeks for them to complete the review process, compared to the usual 2-3 weeks in prior years. I suspect they're dealing with staffing shortages like many other state departments.

According to the Michigan Department of Treasury website (https://www.michigan.gov/taxes), review periods typically last 2-6 weeks. I recommend taking these steps while waiting: 1. Verify your return was actually received by checking the status online 2. Ensure you have copies of all supporting documentation ready in case they request it 3. Check if you have any outstanding state debts that might affect your refund 4. Monitor your mail daily for any correspondence from Treasury 5. If it exceeds 6 weeks, call (517) 636-4486 with your tax information ready I've been tracking Michigan return patterns for several years, and reviews tend to resolve faster after April 15th when their initial processing rush slows down.

This happened to me last month - it's like being stuck in tax limbo! Think of it as your return going through airport security - sometimes they just randomly select people for additional screening. Nothing to worry about in most cases. I was anxious too because I had medical bills coming up, just like you. My review took 19 days from start to finish, and then the refund was deposited 3 days later. No communication during the process, it just suddenly updated to approved.

I've been carefully following Michigan's processing patterns this year, and there seems to be a slightly longer review period compared to previous years. This might be related to the new identity verification measures they implemented in January 2024. From what I've observed, returns claiming certain credits like the Home Heating Credit or Property Tax Credit are more likely to be selected for review. If your return is relatively straightforward, the review should probably be completed within 2-3 weeks.

If your return has been in review status for more than 14 days, you might want to consider contacting the Michigan Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes expedite reviews when there's a demonstrated financial hardship like medical expenses. The Michigan TAS operates independently from the regular Treasury Department and has special channels to check on stuck returns. Their direct line is 517-636-4759. I've had several clients use this approach successfully when facing extended delays with medical needs as the justification.