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General Instructions
Significant income tax changes took effect in 2012 and going
forward. As a result, your pension payment may be subject to
tax and an underpayment may result if the incorrect amount of
tax is withheld. These changes may result in a balance due if the
incorrect amount is withheld from pension or annuity payment(s).
Caution: Some benefits do not meet the definition of “pension
and retirement benefits” under Michigan’s individual income
tax laws and are not eligible for subtraction on your Michigan
income tax return. Visit www.michigan.gov/taxes for additional
information. For these instructions the words “retirement
benefits” mean pensions, annuities, and other retirement benefits.
Taxpayers born before 1946 may deduct all retirement benefits
paid from public employment and retirement benefits from
private plans up to $48,302 on a single return or $96,605 on a
joint return. Recipients born during the period 1947 through
1952 are eligible to deduct retirement benefits up to $20,000 for
single or married filing separate taxpayers, or $40,000 if married
filing a joint return. For joint filers, the age of the oldest spouse
determines the age category.
For tax year 2013, single recipients born in 1946 or recipients
filing a joint return where the older spouse was born in 1946 are
eligible to deduct $20,000 (or $40,000 if filing a joint return)
against all income, not just retirement benefits. Recipients born
in 1946 may continue to use the MI W-4P so that they have the
appropriate amount withheld from their income.
Recipients born after 1952 may not deduct retirement benefits on
the Michigan Income Tax Return (MI-1040).
Multiple pensions: If you (and your spouse) receive multiple
pension payments, your withholding on those payments may not
cover your entire tax liability. Married couples where each spouse
receives retirement benefits may choose to have withholding
calculated as if each was single on the MI W-4P and select one
personal exemption in order to have sufficient withholding to
cover the tax liability. Taxpayers with multiple pensions may
need to make quarterly estimated payments (MI-1040ES) or
consult a tax advisor to ensure the proper amount is withheld or
paid through estimated payments.
Estimated Payments: There are penalties for not paying enough
state income tax during the year, either through withholding or
estimated tax payments. Taxpayers who choose not to have tax
withheld from their retirement benefits may be required to make
estimated tax payments. Refer to Form MI-1040ES for estimated
tax requirements.
When should I complete this form? Complete Form MI W-4P
and give it to the administrator of your retirement benefits as
soon as possible.
Your tax situation may change from year to year; you may want
to evaluate your withholding each year. You can change the
amount to be withheld by submitting an updated Form MI W-4P
to your pension administrator at any time.
Is every pension administrator required to withhold
Michigan tax? Only companies over which Michigan has taxing
jurisdiction are required to withhold Michigan tax from your
retirement benefits. If your pension administrator does not fall
under Michigan jurisdiction, you may request to have Michigan
tax withheld, but the company is not required to do so. If no taxes
are withheld from your payments, it is likely you will be required
to make estimated payments in place of the withholding. Contact
your pension and/or annuity administrator to verify whether tax
will be withheld from your payments.
Line-by-Line Instructions
Line 1: You may opt out of withholding tax from your
retirement benefits if you believe you will not have a balance
due on your MI-1040. If you (and your spouse) opt to have no
Michigan tax withheld from your retirement benefits by checking
the box on line 1, it may result in a balance due on your MI-1040
as well as penalty and/or interest.
Line 2: If you (or your spouse) were born prior to 1946, all
benefits from public sources are exempt and benefits from
private sources may be subtracted up to $48,302 for a single filer
or married filer filing separately or $96,605 if married filing a
joint return for the 2013 tax year. In addition, benefits that will
be rolled into another qualified plan or IRA will not be taxable
if the amount rolled over is not included in federal adjusted gross
income (AGI). Any private retirement benefits in excess of the
limits above are taxable.
Line 3: If you, or your spouse if your spouse is older than
you, were born in 1946 you may deduct the Michigan standard
deduction equal to $20,000 ($40,000 on a joint return) from your
taxable income instead of retirement benefits. If you (or your
spouse if older) were born during the period 1947 through 1952,
the first $20,000 for single filers or $40,000 for joint filers of all
private and public pension and annuity benefits may be subtracted
from Michigan taxable income. Benefits in excess of these limits
are taxable.
Line 4: If you were born during the period 1947 through 1952
and received retirement benefits from employment with a
governmental agency that was exempt from the Social Security
Act, the first $35,000 for single filers or $55,000 for joint filers of
all retirement benefits may be subtracted from Michigan taxable
income. The Michigan standard deduction for those born in 1946
is also increased by $15,000 if you received retirement benefits
from employment with a governmental entity that was exempt
from the Social Security Act.
Line 5: If you (and your spouse) were born after 1952, all private
and public retirement benefits are fully taxable and may not be
subtracted from Michigan taxable income.
Line 6: Enter personal exemptions you are claiming for
withholding. Do not claim more than your allowable personal
exemptions on all MI W-4s (wages) or MI W-4P forms combined.
Line 7: You may designate additional withholding if you expect
to owe more than the amount withheld. The amount on line 7
must be a percentage. Check with your pension administrator to
see if they permit additional withholding.
Line 8: If allowed by your pension administrator, you may enter
an additional dollar amount to be withheld from each payment.
Failure to have sufcient tax withheld from your
retirement benets may result in a balance due on
your MI-1040 as well as penalty and/or interest.
Form 4924, Page 2
Instructions for Completing MI W-4P,
Withholding Certicate for Michigan Pension or Annuity Payments