Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of February 09, 2022 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
Sec. 476a. (1) Beginning August 3, 1987, whenever, by a law in force outside of this state or country, a domestic insurer or agent of a domestic insurer is required to make a deposit of securities for the protection of policyholders or otherwise, or to make payment for taxes, fines, penalties, certificates of authority, valuation of policies, or otherwise, or a special burden or other burden is imposed, greater in the aggregate than is required by the laws of this state for a similar alien or foreign insurer or agent of an alien or foreign insurer, the alien or foreign insurer of that state or country is required, as a condition precedent to its transacting business in this state, to make a like deposit for like purposes with the state treasurer of this state, and to pay to the revenue commissioner for taxes, fines, penalties, certificates of authority, valuation of policies, and otherwise an amount equal in the aggregate to the charges and payments imposed by the laws of the other state or country upon a similar domestic insurer and the agents of a domestic insurer, regardless of whether a domestic insurer or agent of a domestic insurer is actually transacting business in that state or country. For fire department or salvage corps taxes or other local taxes the amount shall be computed by the revenue commissioner by dividing the total of the payments made by domestic insurers in that state or country by the gross premium received by domestic insurers in that state or country less return premiums. The commissioner shall revoke the certificate of authority of an alien or foreign insurer refusing for 30 days to make payment of fees or taxes as required by this chapter. Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), for purposes of this section, an insurer organized under the laws of a state or country other than these United States shall be considered an insurer of the state in which its general deposit for the benefit of its policyholders is made.
(2) The purpose of this section is to promote the interstate business of domestic insurers by deterring other states from enacting discriminatory or excessive taxes.
(3) Subsection (4) does not apply to a domestic insurer that is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an alien or foreign insurer who prior to 1998 and with the commissioner's approval did not keep books, records, and files or true copies thereof in this state.
(4) For purposes of this section, the state treasurer, after consultation with the commissioner, shall determine that a domestic insurer is an alien or foreign insurer domiciled in a state or country determined by the state treasurer if the insurer does not comply with all of the following:
(a) Maintain its principal place of business in this state.
(b) Maintain in this state officers and personnel responsible for and knowledgeable of the company's operation, books, records, administration, and annual statement.
(c) Conduct in this state a substantial portion of its underwriting, sales, claims, legal, and, if applicable, medical operations relating to Michigan policyholders and certificate holders.
(d) Comply with section 5256(1)(a) and (2) through (6). 1 The commissioner shall inform the state treasurer when a domestic insurer is not in compliance with section 5256(1)(a) or (2) through (6).
(5) Taxes collected pursuant to this section are subject to section 22d of the former single business tax act, 1975 PA 228, 2or section 243 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1243.
(6) The state treasurer shall administer the tax prescribed by this section in the manner provided in 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31.
(7) The requirements of section 28 of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.28, that prohibit an employee or an authorized representative or former employee or authorized representative or anyone connected with the department of treasury from divulging any facts or information obtained in connection with the administration of taxes, do not apply to disclosure of the tax return prescribed in this act.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 500. Insurance Code of 1956 § 500.476a - last updated February 09, 2022 | https://codes.findlaw.com/mi/chapter-500-insurance-code-of-1956/mi-comp-laws-500-476a/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)