Detroit homeowners have until June 30 to lock in A Reduced property tax rate

If you owe back property taxes in Detroit and haven't enrolled in a payment plan, you have until June 30 to do it at a significantly lower interest rate. That deadline is 11 days away.

Wayne County's Interest Reduced Stipulated Payment Agreement program, known as IRSPA, lets homeowners pay off delinquent property taxes over five years at a 6 percent interest rate. The standard rate under Michigan law is 18 percent. That gap, across years of back taxes, can add up to thousands of dollars.

The program's authorizing legislation expires June 30, and Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree has been pressing homeowners to act. "Without action by the Michigan Legislature before June 30, this vital payment plan will end this month," Sabree said in a press release earlier this month.

One important protection for anyone who enrolls before the deadline: the reduced rate stays locked in for the full 60-month repayment period, even if the program expires while you're still making payments. Getting in before June 30 secures your terms for the life of the plan.

There's a chance the program will survive. Michigan Senate Bill 423 passed the Senate in October 2025 and is now in the House. It would remove IRSPA's expiration date and also revive provisions that reduce outstanding taxes and eliminate interest and fees for qualifying low-income homeowners. The enrollment window is real, though, and anyone who qualifies shouldn't count on Lansing to act before the month is out.

Wayne County has offered reduced-rate payment agreements in some form for years. The current deadline comes from the expiration of state authorizing legislation rather than the end of the county's willingness to offer the program. If Senate Bill 423 passes the House, IRSPA would become permanent without requiring future renewals.

The program is part of a longer effort to help Detroit homeowners resolve tax debt without losing their houses. Detroit has one of the highest rates of property tax delinquency of any major American city. Programs like IRSPA give homeowners a path to stay current while paying off what they owe over time.

To enroll, residents can visit the Detroit Taxpayer Service Center at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, or call 313-224-3560. Staff can walk through eligibility and the sign-up process.

The June 30 deadline stands unless the Legislature acts before then. If you've been meaning to look into this program, this week is the time.