2007 House Bill 5198 / Public Act 93

Impose new 6 percent tax on many services

Introduced in the House

Sept. 7, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-12)

To repeal a use tax exemption on toll free phone services (800-numbers, WATTS lines, etc.) and international calls.

Referred to the Committee on Tax Policy

Sept. 18, 2007

Substitute offered by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-12)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not impose a tax on services, but would exempt disabled veterans from the state 6 percent use tax.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 57 to 51 (details)

To exempt disabled veterans from the state 6 percent use tax. The bill was passed and sent to the Senate as a "vehicle" for a possible tax on some services, but without that actual provision. This was done because bills must "lay over" in the other body for at least five days before being voted on, and if a tax increase is to be approved by Oct. 1 it is necessary to have a "vehicle" bill that has done so.

Received in the Senate

Sept. 19, 2007

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Sept. 24, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Finance

Sept. 28, 2007

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 24 to 13 (details)

Received in the House

Sept. 28, 2007

Failed in the House 0 to 106 (details)

Received in the Senate

Sept. 29, 2007

Received in the House

Sept. 29, 2007

Sept. 30, 2007

Passed in the House 56 to 53 (details)

To impose a 6 percent tax on a wide variety of services, including various personal services, and a number of services used primarily by businesses. Altogether the new tax will take some $750 million. Major components include a $230 million tax on business consultant services, $98 million on "office administration" services, and $50 million on janitorial services, to name just a few. More than half the revenue is from taxing business services. The bill is part of a package to avoid spending cuts in the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget; the other major tax increase is to raise the state income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent (<a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=237062">House Bill 5194</a>).

In the Senate

Oct. 1, 2007

Passed in the Senate 19 to 19 (details)

To impose a 6 percent tax on a wide variety of services, including various personal services, and a number of services used primarily by businesses. Altogether the new tax will take some $750 million. Major components include a $230 million tax on business consultant services, $98 million on "office administration" services, and $50 million on janitorial services, to name just a few. More than half the revenue is from taxing business services. The bill is part of a package to avoid spending cuts in the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget; the other major tax increase is to raise the state income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent (<a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=237024">House Bill 5194</a>).

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Oct. 1, 2007