700,000 Michigan Households to Get Refund Checks – Here’s Who Qualifies

The holidays can be a major crunch on the wallet. Well, if you're in a pinch, some good news is that you may be one of the more than 700,000 Michigan households to get refund checks in early 2024.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday (Dec. 14) that her administration will send checks to roughly 700,000 households in early 2024. It's part of the new Earned Income Tax Credit in Michigan. The checks will average $550.

The checks are part of a new initiative called the "Working Families Tax Credit," which begins in Feb. 2024. "In March, Governor Whitmer signed legislation quintupling the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to 30%, up from 6%. This expansion will deliver an average combined tax refund of $3,150 to 700,000 families." That directly impacts "nearly one million kids – almost half the kids in Michigan," a release states.

"By quintupling the Working Families Tax Credit, we’re putting an average of $550 back in the pockets of 700,000 Michigan families ahead of schedule," Whitmer said. "This directly benefits half the children in Michigan. Moms and dads can use this extra money at tax time to pay the bills, put food on the table, and buy school supplies." She continued, "Across the United States, inflation is decreasing and take-home pay is increasing, proving that our work in Michigan and President Biden’s efforts in Washington are moving us in the right direction. We still have more work to do. Today's announcement will help get you some relief sooner than expected. Let’s keep rolling up our sleeves, lowering costs, and growing our economy."

Starting Feb. 13, 2024, the State of Michigan will mail checks to Michigan families who qualified for the Working Families Tax Credit based on the 2022 tax filing. "The checks will be the difference between the 6% tax credit Michiganders received on their tax return and the 30% that is owed to the under the new law. Based on data from last year’s returns," a press release explains. Residents can update their address here.

Where did 2023 go? The year is almost over, and we're about to usher in a fresh start. As always, some new laws are going into effect at the start of the fresh year. This year, some of these laws are hot topics, including minimum wage and guns. Depending on your situation, these laws could really impact your life, so let's delve into these Michigan laws going into effect in 2024.

Actually, before we get into 2024, let's look at a refresher of what laws went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. First of all, last year going into the current hear, there was a minimum wage increase. At the time, the minimum wage increase went from $9.87 an hour to $10.10 an hour. It's going up again this year, and you'll find more on that below. Also, another law that went into effect this year was automatic expungement of records. That started in April of 2023, and according to Michigan.gov, it's regarding an automated system for expunging convictions. So, now, residents who want to expunge their records don’t have to file an application. According to Michigan.gov, up to two felony convictions will be expunged the later of 10 years after sentencing or the person’s release from custody. Also, up to four misdemeanors will be expunged seven years after sentencing. Some conviction will not qualify for automatic expungement.

Now, that's the past. Let's get into the future. Here are the new laws going into effect in 2024 via Michigan.gov. Most of these laws will actually go into effect 90 days after the legislature ends, which is Feb. 13, 2024. However, the exception to that is the minimum wage increase, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. It's worth pointing out that there are more new laws going into effect this year than last year, at least at this point in the year. There are a ton, actually. So, you might want to keep this list handy throughout the year.

Beginning on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the state of Michigan's minimum wage will increase from $10.10 to $10.33. This change is thanks to Michigan's Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018. That law resulted in an annual schedule of increases.

This year, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill restoring a prevailing wage act. This bill means that Michigan-hired contractors are required to pay their employees at the union level.

Now, 16-year-old high school students in Michigan are able to pre-register to vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says, "This new law helps us prepare the next generation of voters to inherit their democracy, bolstering our state’s commitment to engaging young people, educating them about the democratic process, and getting them ready to cast a ballot once they turn 18."

Michigan's right-to-work law is being repealed. The state's "right-to-work" law was passed over a decade ago. Michigan's "right-to-work" law had enabled workers in union settings to choose not to pay union dues and fees.

Earlier this year, Whitmer signed an expansion of the Elliot-Larsen Act. The act includes protection for those who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. That's includes those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Michigan's third-grade reading law has been repealed. The original 2016 law made schools identify students who were struggling in reading and writing and hold them back a year if they were more than one grade level behind. Now, that requirement has lifted.

New gun laws are here, and these were introduced into Lansing following the tragic shooting at Michigan State University. The House and Senate passed these bills, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them. The new laws require safe storage (gun owners must lock their weapons away, if a minor is expected to be in the home), background checks (mandatory, no matter how you're buying a firearm) and "red flag" (to cut down on possible violence for those who may have mental health problems or have threatened others).

Gov. Whitmer recently signed the Clean Energy & Climate Action Package, with a plan to have Michigan 100% clean energy by 2040. If all goes as planned, the state will produce 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2024.