Homepage Blank 447 Michigan PDF Form
Article Guide

The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 plays a critical role in the submission of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s for employers operating within the state. This form is mandatory for those who report W-2 information using magnetic media, particularly for employers with 250 or more Michigan employees. The form serves as a transmittal document, ensuring that the accompanying magnetic media is properly identified and organized. Employers must adhere to specific packaging requirements, labeling their shipments as containing fragile magnetic media to prevent damage during transit. The submission must include essential details such as the type of data being reported—whether original or corrected—and information about the employer, including the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and contact details. Additionally, the form requires information about the media type and quantity, as well as the software used to create the files. Timeliness is crucial; W-2 reports are due by February 28, and late submissions may incur penalties. Failure to comply with the technical specifications outlined by the Treasury could result in the return of the media, necessitating resubmission. Understanding these requirements is vital for employers to ensure compliance and avoid potential delays or penalties.

Document Preview

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

City

3-4

State Code “26”

139-140

State Abbreviation

5-9

Blank

141-145

ZIP Code

10-18

SSN

146-149

ZIP Code Extension

19-33

Employee First Name

150-247

Blank

34-48

Employee Middle Name

248-267

State Employer Acct #

49-68

Employee Last Name

268-275

Blank

69-72

Blank

276-286

State Taxable Wages

73-94

Location Address

287-297

State Income Tax

 

 

 

Withheld

95-116

Deliver Address

298-512

Blank

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.

Form Specifications

Fact Name Fact Details
Form Title Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447
Purpose This form is used for the transmittal of magnetic media reporting of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the State of Michigan.
Governing Law Issued under the authority of Public Act 281 of 1967.
Filing Requirement Filing is mandatory for employers submitting magnetic W-2 information.
Submission Deadline W-2 reports are due by February 28 each year.
Media Specifications Magnetic media must be in good condition, packed in cartons, and labeled as "fragile."
Contact Information For questions, call (517) 636-4730.
Record Format The State of Michigan accepts the federal EFW2 format for magnetic W-2 reporting.
Retention Policy Keep a copy of the magnetic media file for 14 months; W-2 data must be retained for six years.

447 Michigan: Usage Guidelines

Filling out the Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 is an essential step for employers who need to report W-2, W-2G, and 1099 information using magnetic media. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted along with the magnetic media to the appropriate department. Properly following the instructions ensures compliance with state requirements and helps avoid potential penalties.

  1. Begin with Part 1: General Information.
  2. Indicate the Type of Submission by checking the appropriate box (Original, Corrected W-2, W-2C, W-2G, or 1099).
  3. Fill in the Transmitter Name and the Tax Year.
  4. Enter your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
  5. Specify the Number of employees being reported.
  6. Provide your Address, City, State, and ZIP Code.
  7. Complete the Contact Person Name, Contact Person Title, and Contact Person Telephone Number.
  8. Move to Part 2: Description.
  9. Indicate the Media Type and the Quantity of Media Submitted.
  10. Fill in the Computer Manufacturer and Model, and specify whether you are using Tape (cartridge) or CD-R.
  11. Provide the Operating System/Version.
  12. Proceed to Part 3: Media Information.
  13. List the Software Program/version used to create the file.
  14. Indicate the Tape Density and Recording Mode (choose between 6250 bpi, 1600 bpi, EBCDIC, or ASCII).
  15. State whether Labels are followed by Tape Marks (Yes or No).
  16. Provide the Record Length (number of characters) and the Number of records per block.
  17. List all employers included in this file, attaching additional pages if necessary.
  18. For each employer, include the Employer Name and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
  19. Once completed, review the form for accuracy.
  20. Package the magnetic media securely, labeling the package as containing magnetic media and marking it as “fragile.”
  21. Send the completed Form 447 along with the magnetic media to the Michigan Department of Treasury at the specified address.

Your Questions, Answered

What is Form 447 and when is it required?

Form 447 is the Transmittal for Magnetic Media Reporting of W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s to the State of Michigan. 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 file using the state copy of the federal W-2. The due date for W-2 reports is February 28. Late filings may incur penalties.

What are the requirements for submitting magnetic media?

When submitting magnetic media, it must arrive in good condition and be packed in cartons labeled as containing magnetic media. Each package should be marked “fragile.” Additionally, the media must meet specific technical requirements set by the Michigan Department of Treasury. If the submission does not meet these requirements, it will be returned unprocessed.

What information must be included on Form 447?

Form 447 requires general information such as the type of submission (original or corrected), type of data being reported (W-2, W-2C, W-2G, 1099), and details about the transmitter, including name, tax year, and federal employer identification number. It also requires media type, quantity submitted, and software program/version used to create the file. Employers must list all included employers and their respective FEINs.

What happens if my submission is rejected?

If your transmittal or magnetic media does not meet the required specifications, it will be returned to you. It is your responsibility to resubmit the information in an acceptable format. However, if the original submission was mailed by February 28, it will still be considered timely, even if it was later rejected.

Are there any penalties for late filing?

Yes, late filing of W-2 reports is subject to penalties as outlined under the Revenue Act. To avoid penalties, ensure that your magnetic media and Form 447 are submitted on time, by February 28. Keep in mind that the Michigan Department of Treasury cannot grant extensions for filing.

Common mistakes

  1. Incorrect Type of Submission: Many individuals fail to check the correct box for the type of data being reported, such as Original or Corrected.

  2. Missing Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): Omitting the FEIN can lead to processing delays or rejections.

  3. Improper Packaging: Not labeling packages as containing magnetic media or neglecting to mark them as “fragile” can result in damage during transit.

  4. Failure to Include Form 447: If Form 447 is not submitted with the magnetic media, the media may be returned unprocessed.

  5. Inaccurate Media Information: Providing incorrect details about the media type, such as the computer manufacturer or operating system, can cause issues.

  6. Not Following Specifications: Submissions that do not meet the Treasury’s specifications will be returned. This includes incorrect tape density or recording mode.

  7. Neglecting to Mark Corrected Files: Corrected magnetic media must be clearly marked as “CORRECTED” to avoid confusion.

  8. Inaccurate Record Length and Blocking Factor: Providing incorrect values for record length or blocking factor can lead to processing errors.

  9. Not Keeping Copies: Failing to retain a copy of the magnetic media file for 14 months can result in difficulties if there are questions later.

  10. Late Filing: Submitting reports after the February 28 deadline may incur penalties, so it’s crucial to be timely.

Documents used along the form

The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 is a crucial document for employers submitting magnetic media reports for W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s. Alongside this form, several other documents are often required to ensure compliance with state regulations. Below is a list of additional forms and documents that are commonly used in conjunction with Form 447.

  • MI-W-2 Form: This is the state-specific version of the W-2 form. Employers must file this form to report wages and taxes withheld for Michigan employees. It is mandatory for employers with 250 or more employees to submit this information using magnetic media.
  • W-2C Form: This form is used to correct errors on previously filed W-2 forms. If any mistakes are found after the initial submission, employers must file a W-2C to report the corrected information to both the employee and the state.
  • 1099-MISC Form: Employers use this form to report miscellaneous income paid to non-employees, such as independent contractors. This form must be filed with the state regardless of whether taxes were withheld.
  • Transmitter Control Code (TCC): This code is issued by the IRS and is necessary for electronic submissions of W-2s and 1099s. Employers must include this code when filing their magnetic media to ensure proper processing.
  • Annual Reconciliation Return: This return summarizes the total wages and taxes withheld for the year. It must be filed alongside the W-2 and 1099 submissions by the deadline to avoid penalties.
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN): This unique number is assigned by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. It is essential for accurately completing all tax-related forms, including Form 447.

Employers should ensure that all required forms are completed accurately and submitted on time to avoid penalties and complications. Proper documentation is essential for compliance with Michigan state tax laws.

Similar forms

The Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447 is essential for reporting W-2s, W-2Gs, and 1099s. Here are five documents that share similarities with Form 447:

  • Form W-2: This form reports wages and taxes withheld for employees. Like Form 447, it is mandatory for employers to file and must be submitted by February 28.
  • Form W-2C: This is a corrected version of the W-2. Similar to Form 447, it requires accurate information and must be clearly marked as corrected to avoid processing issues.
  • Form 1099-MISC: Used to report miscellaneous income, this form also requires submission to the state. Just like Form 447, it must be filed by February 28, regardless of whether taxes were withheld.
  • Form 1099-NEC: This form reports non-employee compensation. It shares the same deadline as Form 447 and must be filed with the state if applicable.
  • Form 941: This is the employer's quarterly federal tax return. While it serves a different purpose, it also requires accurate reporting of employee wages and taxes, similar to the requirements of Form 447.

Dos and Don'ts

When filling out the Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447, it is important to follow specific guidelines to ensure your submission is processed smoothly. Below is a list of things you should and shouldn't do.

  • Do ensure that your magnetic media is in good condition and properly packed.
  • Do label your packages clearly as containing magnetic media and mark them as “fragile.”
  • Do complete Form 447 accurately and include it with your magnetic media submission.
  • Do submit your W-2 reports by the deadline of February 28 to avoid penalties.
  • Do keep a copy of your magnetic media file for 14 months for your records.
  • Don't send your annual return with your W-2 report; mail them separately.
  • Don't duplicate any information on paper forms that you have filed on magnetic media.
  • Don't submit magnetic media that does not meet Treasury specifications, as it will be returned.
  • Don't forget to mark corrected magnetic media files clearly as “CORRECTED.”

By adhering to these guidelines, you can help ensure that your submission is processed efficiently and without unnecessary delays. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the Michigan Department of Treasury for assistance.

Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions surrounding the Michigan Department of Treasury Form 447. Understanding these can help ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary penalties. Here are six common misconceptions:

  • Only large employers need to file Form 447. Many believe that only employers with 250 or more Michigan employees are required to file. However, smaller employers are encouraged to use magnetic media as well, even if not mandatory.
  • Late filings do not incur penalties. Some think that submitting Form 447 after the deadline is acceptable. In reality, late filings are subject to penalties as outlined in the Revenue Act.
  • Form 447 is optional for magnetic media submissions. It is a common belief that Form 447 can be omitted when submitting magnetic media. This is incorrect; the form must be included to avoid rejection of the media.
  • Any format can be used for magnetic media. Some may assume that any digital format is acceptable. The State of Michigan specifically requires the federal EFW2 format for W-2 reporting.
  • W-2G information is always required. Many think that W-2G forms must be filed regardless of tax withholding. In fact, filing is only necessary if Michigan taxes have been withheld.
  • There is no need to keep copies of submitted media. A misconception exists that once media is submitted, it can be discarded. In reality, copies of magnetic media should be retained for 14 months, and W-2 data for six years after the due date.

Key takeaways

When filling out and using the Michigan Form 447, keep the following key takeaways in mind:

  • Mandatory Filing: If you are submitting magnetic W-2 information, filing Form 447 is required.
  • Packaging Requirements: Magnetic media must be packed in cartons labeled “fragile” and clearly indicating they contain magnetic media.
  • Submission Deadline: W-2 reports are due by February 28. Late filings may incur penalties.
  • Corrected Submissions: Clearly mark corrected magnetic media files as “CORRECTED” and submit them to the designated address.
  • Do Not Duplicate: Avoid duplicating information on paper forms that you have already filed on magnetic media.
  • Record Keeping: Retain a copy of your magnetic media file for 14 months and keep W-2 data for six years after the report's due date.
  • Technical Specifications: Ensure that your magnetic media meets the technical requirements set by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Adhering to these guidelines can help ensure a smooth filing process and avoid unnecessary complications.