Michigan Tax Tribunal Letter.pdf
Peter H Lett, Petitioner V Township Of Williamstown, Respondent · 26-000268-TT
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Page 1
Your Honor, I respectfully submit this letter regarding the property tax balance that has been assessed on our home, and I ask the Tribunal to consider granting relief hy allowing my Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption to be applied retroactively to the 2024 tax year. My family purchased our home in Williamstown Township in 2023. At the time of closing, the title company assisted us with completing the paperwork for the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption. Because we had previously owned homes in other states, including Colorado and Texas, where the exemption only needed to be filed once, we genuinely believed the exemption would continue without needing to reapply each year. We did not understand that Michigan requires the exemption to be filed annually, and as a result, the exemption was never denied — it simply was never submitted for the 2024 year due to our misunderstanding. Our relocation to Michigan was not planned under normal circumstances. My brother-in- law passed away unexpectedly, and my wife and | made the decision to move in order to support my mother-in-law during a very difficult time for our family. The move happened quickly and under emotional stress, and during that period we were doing our best to manage family responsibilities, relocation, and caring for our children. In the process, we failed to realize the yearly filing requirement for the exemption. Throughout 2024, this property at 4120 Goldfinch, Williamston, Michigan was our full-time residence. We do not own any other property in Michigan or any other state, and this home has been our family's primary residence. Our children attended Williamston Middle School and Williamston High School for the entire school year, and we have fully established our lives in this community. As a dual disabled veteran household, the property tax exemption is extremely important to our family’s financial stability. We served our country honorably, and the exemption exists to recognize the sacrifices made by disabled veterans and their families. The additional tax burden for 2024 has created a hardship that we never intended and would have avoided had we understood the annual filing requirement.
Page 2
1 respectfully ask the Tribunal to consider the circumstances of our relocation, the loss in our family, our good-faith belief that the exemption had already been properly filed, and our status as disabled veterans. Based on these factors, we are requesting that the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption be applied retroactively to the 2024 tax year and that the assessed tax balance be removed. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and for the work you do on behalf of the citizens of Michigan. Respectfully, Peter Lett 4120 Goldfinch Williamston, M1 I hereby certify that a copy of this letter was sent to the Williamstown Township Assessor. Signature: © £ vip Date: 3/1 / 2