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

If you owe back property taxes in Wayne County and have not enrolled in a payment plan, you have until June 30 to do it at a sharply lower interest rate.

The Wayne County Treasurer's Interest Reduction Stipulated Payment Agreement, known as IRSPA, lets eligible homeowners pay off delinquent taxes over five years at a 6 percent interest rate. The standard rate under Michigan law is 18 percent. Across years of unpaid taxes, that difference can run into thousands of dollars.

The program's authorizing legislation is set to expire June 30, and Treasurer Eric Sabree has been pressing residents to act before then. "Without action by the Michigan Legislature before June 30, this vital payment plan will end this month," Sabree said in a statement released earlier this month. "We are urging Wayne County property owners who may be struggling to pay back taxes to enroll while they still can, before the Legislature puts an end to this program."

There is one protection worth understanding for anyone who signs up in time. Homeowners who enroll before the deadline stay in the plan for the full 60-month period at the reduced rate, even if the program expires while they are still making payments. Getting in before June 30 locks in those terms for the life of the agreement.

To qualify, the property must be the owner's principal residence with a Principal Residence Exemption on file. The Treasurer's office requires documentation of that exemption, and proof of ownership by deed if the taxes are listed under a different name.

There is still a chance the window stays open. Michigan Senate Bill 423 passed the state Senate in October 2025 and is now in the House. It would remove the expiration date on these payment agreements and revive provisions that reduce outstanding taxes and waive interest and fees for qualifying low-income homeowners. The bill has not cleared the House, so anyone who qualifies should not count on Lansing acting before the month is out.

The Treasurer's office reports that the program has worked. Since 2015, 33,770 of 43,955 completed agreements have fully paid off their delinquent taxes. About 6,455 properties are enrolled now.

Homeowners can reach the Wayne County Treasurer's office at 313-224-5990 or [email protected]. In the city, the Detroit Taxpayer Service Center at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 130, can walk through eligibility at 313-224-3560.

The June 30 deadline stands unless the Legislature acts first. If you have been meaning to look into this, this is the week.