The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 is a crucial document used for the transmittal of magnetic media reporting of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the State of Michigan. Filing this form is mandatory for employers submitting magnetic W-2 information, ensuring compliance with state regulations. To avoid penalties and ensure proper processing, it is essential to complete and submit this form accurately.
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The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 plays a crucial role for employers who need to report W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the state. This form is mandatory for those submitting magnetic media, especially if they have 250 or more Michigan employees. It ensures that all necessary information is accurately transmitted, helping maintain compliance with state tax regulations. When submitting, employers must ensure their magnetic media arrives in good condition, properly packed, and labeled as fragile. Form 447 requires details such as the type of submission, the tax year, and the federal employer identification number. Employers need to specify the media type and provide technical information about the software used to create the file. It’s important to note that the State of Michigan only accepts magnetic W-2 reporting in the format published by the Social Security Administration, and any errors in the submission can lead to rejection. Additionally, the deadlines are strict; W-2 reports are due by February 28, and late filings may incur penalties. Understanding these requirements is essential for a smooth reporting process and to avoid complications with state tax authorities.
Michigan Department of Treasury
Form 447 (Rev. 8-09)
Transmittal for Magnetic Media Reporting of W-2s, W-2Gs and 1099s to the State of Michigan
Issued under the authority of Public Act 281 of 1967. Filing is mandatory if you are submitting magnetic W2 information.
Magnetic media must arrive in good condition and be packed in cartons. The packages must be labeled as containing magnetic media and must be marked “fragile.” If the media you submit does not meet Treasury speciications, it will be returned to you.
Ship packaged media with your completed form to: Return Processing Division; Magnetic Media Unit - SUW; Michigan Department of Treasury; Lansing, MI 48930. Call (517) 636-4730 if you have any questions.
PART 1: GENERAL INFORMATION
Type of Submission
Type of data being reported (check only one)
Original
Corrected
W-2
W-2C
W-2G
1099
Transmitter Name
Tax Year
Federal Employer Identiication Number
Number of employees being reported
Address
City
State
ZIP Code
Contact Person Name
Contact Person Title
Contact Person Telephone Number
PART 2: DESCRIPTION
Media Type
Quantity of Media Submitted
Computer Manufacturer and Model
Tape (cartridge)
CD-R
Operating System/Version
PART 3: MEDIA INFORMATION
Software Program/version used to create ile
Tape Density
Recording Mode
Quantity of Magnetic Labels
6250 bpi
1600 bpi
EBCDIC
ASCII
Are Labels followed by Tape Marks?
Record Length (Number of characters)
Number of records per block
Yes
No
List all employers included in this ile below. Attach additional page(s) if needed.
Employer Name
Federal Employer Identiication Number (FEIN)
General Information
The Michigan Department of Treasury requires employers with 250 or more Michigan employees to ile MI-W-2 information on 3480 and 3490 cartridge or CD. Smaller employers are encouraged to use magnetic media, but may ile using the state copy of the federal W-2. W-2 reports are due February 28. Late iling is subject to penalty as provided under the Revenue Act.
Do not enclose your annual return with your W-2 report. Mail your annual return to the address on that form. Do not duplicate on paper forms any information iled on magnetic media.
For W-2 reporting, the State of Michigan currently accepts the federal EFW2 format. The State accepts magnetic W-2 reporting only in the format published by the Social Security Administration.
Corrected magnetic media iles must be clearly marked “CORRECTED” and sent to the address above. Paper W-2Cs that are correcting information submitted on magnetic media must also be sent to the address above.
If you choose to send a copy of your federal EFW2 iling, you must be sure that the Code RS State Record (optional for federal reporting) is illed in. Within the RS record, Treasury will be looking for the following positions:
1-2
Record Identiier
117-138
3-4
State Code “26”
139-140
State Abbreviation
5-9
Blank
141-145
10-18
SSN
146-149
ZIP Code Extension
19-33
Employee First Name
150-247
34-48
Employee Middle Name
248-267
State Employer Acct #
49-68
Employee Last Name
268-275
69-72
276-286
State Taxable Wages
73-94
Location Address
287-297
State Income Tax
Withheld
95-116
Deliver Address
298-512
Treasury will ignore any other ields included in this record.
You do not need to apply in advance to submit W-2 information on magnetic media or submit test media. You must, however,
send Form 447, Transmittal for Magnetic Media Reporting
of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the State of Michigan with your magnetic media. If Form 447 is not completed and included with your media, your media may be rejected and returned to you unprocessed.
If
your transmittal or media indicate any unacceptable
speciications,
they
will
be returned
to you. If your iling
is
returned,
it is
your
responsibility
to resubmit them in
an acceptable format. However, the original submission is considered a timely iling if it was mailed by February 28.
1099-MISC Reporting
1099-MISC for services performed in the State of Michigan, regardless of the state of residence of the payee, must be iled with the State of Michigan whether there was withholding or not.
Waivers and Extensions
Section 365, subsection 1, of the Income Tax Act of 1967, [MCL 206.365 (1)] states that a duplicate of form W-2 made pursuant to this section and an annual reconciliation return shall be iled with the Department of Treasury by February 28 of the succeeding year. The department cannot grant an extension.
Retention
Magnetic media that are acceptable to process will not be returned. You should keep a copy of your magnetic media ile for 14 months. You must keep a copy of the W-2 data, or be able to reconstruct the data, for six years after the due date of the report.
Michigan Media Technical Requirements
Magnetic media sent must be identiied externally with a stick- on label listing name and federal employer identiication number (FEIN) of transmitter, type of document represented (W-2), payment year, number of employees, density, recording mode, record size and blocking factor.
Treasury accepts IBM 3480 and 3490 compatible cartridges using the same requirements as deined by the IRS (IBM Standard Label, EBCDIC, 37,871 BPI Density). Acceptable W-2 and 1099 data should have Record Length: 276; Blocking Factor: 1-25. Treasury will accept ASCII ix length records submitted on CD-Rom.
Multi-volume tapes are not acceptable.
W-2G and 1099 Series Forms
Treasury does not require the iling of W-2G information by payers unless Michigan taxes have been withheld.
Michigan does not participate in the combined Federal/State Filing Program of W-2G or 1099 series forms. Payers with 250 or more W-2G or 1099 records to report must ile the information to Michigan using the publication 1220 format. Payers with fewer than 250 W-2Gs or 1099s to report may ile either magnetic media or the paper copy of the W-2G or 1099 with the annual return. See the FAQ’s at www.michigan.gov/businesstax.
Filling out the Michigan Form 447 is an important step for employers submitting magnetic media reports for W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s. After completing the form, you will need to package your magnetic media properly and send it to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Make sure to follow all instructions carefully to avoid any delays or issues with your submission.
After filling out the form, double-check all entries for accuracy. Package your magnetic media securely, label it as containing magnetic media, and mark it “fragile.” Send everything to the Michigan Department of Treasury at the specified address. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call the provided number for assistance.
Form 447 is a transmittal form used for reporting W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the State of Michigan. It is required when submitting magnetic media containing W-2 information. The form ensures that the Michigan Department of Treasury can process your submissions correctly.
Employers with 250 or more Michigan employees are required to file MI-W-2 information using magnetic media. Smaller employers are encouraged to use magnetic media but can also submit the state copy of the federal W-2.
W-2 reports must be submitted by February 28. If you miss this deadline, you may face penalties as outlined in the Revenue Act. Make sure to send your submissions on time to avoid complications.
If your magnetic media does not meet the required specifications, it will be returned to you unprocessed. It is crucial to follow the guidelines outlined by the Michigan Department of Treasury to ensure your submission is accepted.
Your magnetic media must be packed in cartons labeled as containing fragile materials. Clearly mark the package as “fragile” to prevent damage during shipping. This will help ensure that your media arrives in good condition.
Yes, if you need to submit corrected magnetic media files, they must be clearly marked “CORRECTED.” Send them along with your Form 447 to the designated address. If you are correcting information that was previously submitted, also include paper W-2Cs.
If you choose to send a copy of your federal EFW2 filing, ensure that the Code RS State Record is filled out correctly. This includes specific positions that the Treasury will review to process your information accurately.
If your filing is returned, you are responsible for resubmitting it in an acceptable format. However, if your original submission was mailed by February 28, it will still be considered timely.
No, the Michigan Department of Treasury cannot grant extensions for filing Form 447. It is important to plan ahead and ensure that your submissions are made by the February 28 deadline.
You should retain a copy of your magnetic media file for 14 months. Additionally, keep the W-2 data or ensure you can reconstruct it for six years after the report's due date.
Failing to include Form 447 with the magnetic media. This form is essential for processing.
Incorrectly marking the packages. The packages must be labeled as containing magnetic media and marked “fragile.”
Not following the format specified by the Social Security Administration for magnetic W-2 reporting. Using a different format will lead to rejection.
Submitting incorrect media types. Ensure that the media type matches what is specified, such as IBM 3480 or 3490 cartridges.
Omitting the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). This number is crucial for identifying the transmitter.
Not providing a complete contact person section. Include the name, title, and telephone number of a contact person for any inquiries.
Failing to indicate the type of submission correctly. Choose only one option: Original, Corrected W-2, W-2C, W-2G, or 1099.
Neglecting to include the quantity of media submitted. This information is necessary for processing your submission.
Not keeping a copy of the magnetic media file for the required 14 months. Retaining a copy is essential for record-keeping purposes.
The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 is essential for employers submitting magnetic media reports of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s. Along with this form, there are several other documents that may be necessary for compliance. Understanding these documents can help ensure that your submissions are complete and accurate.
Being aware of these forms will help you navigate the reporting requirements effectively. Proper submission reduces the risk of penalties and ensures compliance with state regulations.
The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 1099 is similar to Form 447 in that both are used for reporting income information to the state. Form 1099 is specifically designed for reporting various types of income other than wages, salaries, and tips. This includes payments made to independent contractors and other non-employee compensation. Just like Form 447, the 1099 must be submitted to the state by February 28, and it is mandatory for employers to file this form if they meet certain thresholds, such as having paid $600 or more to a non-employee during the tax year.
Form W-2 is another document that shares similarities with Form 447. Both forms are essential for reporting income and tax withholding to the state. The W-2 form is specifically for reporting wages, salaries, and tips paid to employees. Employers must file this form if they have employees, and it must be submitted to the state by the same deadline as Form 447. Both forms require accurate information about the employer and employee, and any errors can lead to penalties.
Form W-2C is a corrected version of the W-2 form, making it similar to Form 447 in terms of reporting corrections. If an employer discovers an error in the information submitted on a W-2, they must file a W-2C to correct it. This corrected form must also be sent to the state, and just like Form 447, it must be clearly marked as “CORRECTED.” Timely filing of corrections is crucial to avoid penalties, making both forms vital for compliance.
Form 1099-MISC is another reporting form that aligns closely with Form 447. This form is used to report miscellaneous income, such as payments made to independent contractors. Employers must file this form with the state if they have made payments that meet the reporting threshold. The deadlines for filing Form 1099-MISC and Form 447 are the same, emphasizing the importance of timely and accurate reporting of income to the state.
Form 1099-NEC is specifically for reporting non-employee compensation, making it a counterpart to Form 447 as both are used for reporting payments made to individuals who are not classified as employees. Employers must file this form if they have paid $600 or more to a non-employee during the tax year. Like Form 447, it must be submitted to the state by February 28, highlighting the shared responsibility of accurate income reporting.
Form EFW2 is another document that has a direct connection to Form 447. The EFW2 format is the electronic version of the W-2 form, which employers can use when filing W-2 information with the state. Both forms require specific formatting and information, and the EFW2 must be submitted in a manner that meets the state’s technical requirements. This ensures that both electronic and magnetic media submissions are processed correctly.
Finally, the IRS Form 1220 is similar to Form 447 in that it is used for electronic filing of information returns, including W-2Gs and 1099s. This form provides a standardized format for reporting to the IRS, and when submitting to the state, employers must ensure that their filings comply with both federal and state requirements. Like Form 447, the 1220 form must be accurately completed and submitted by the established deadlines to avoid penalties.
When filling out the Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447, it's crucial to follow certain guidelines to ensure your submission is processed smoothly. Here’s a helpful list of what to do and what to avoid:
By adhering to these dos and don'ts, you can help ensure that your Form 447 submission is processed efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
Understanding the Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 can be challenging, especially with the various misconceptions that surround it. Here’s a breakdown of some common misunderstandings about this important form:
Clarifying these misconceptions can help ensure compliance and a smoother filing process for employers in Michigan.
When filling out and using the Michigan Form 447, consider the following key takeaways: