The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth’s Corporation Division is now offering expedited services and significantly reduced fees to better serve businesses, as a part of legislation creating the 21st Century Jobs for Michigan Fund. Fee Reductions:
Public Act 212 of 2005 substantially cuts fees for profit corporations. For example, under the new fee schedule a corporation with 10,000,000 shares will pay $500 instead of $5,000 previously paid and a corporation with 20,000,000 shares will pay $1,500 instead of $20,000. The legislation originally targeted start-up high-tech companies, but was expanded to include all for-profit businesses.
Expedited Services:
Public Acts 217-220 now allow businesses to request expedited services for a fee in order to meet their time constraints or deadlines to file corporation paperwork. Customers can choose from four expedited service options: 1-hour, 2-hour, same day and 24 hours. The expedited service fees are in addition to the regular fees applicable to the specific document and will allow DLEG to carry out its duties as required by law. Unless expedited service is requested, documents will continue to be reviewed in the order received and the customer notified within 10 days.
The Corporation Division has an electronic filing system, MICH-ELF, which enables the customer to use a fax to submit a document which is received by the state as an electronic document. The document is reviewed and processed as an electronic document, fees are paid by credit card, and the customer receives an endorsement page and the document as proof of filing. First time MICH-ELF users requesting expedited service must obtain a MICH-ELF filer number prior to submitting a document for expedited service. An application form for a MICH-ELF filer number is available on the web at http://www.cis.state.mi.us/bcsc/forms/corp/elf/901.pdf or by contacting the agency at (517) 241-6470. Documents submitted via MICH-ELF are reviewed during regular business hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Electronic Mail & Internet Filings:
The new laws also require the agency to accept entity documents for profit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships and nonprofit corporations via electronic mail or internet filings by December, 2006. The Corporation Division is taking steps to begin accepting internet and electronic mail annual report and statement filings later in 2006. DLEG is working closely with the Michigan Department of Information Technology to provide these services.
For more information about the new expedited service and new fee schedule for profit corporations contact the Corporation Division, Bureau of Commercial Services, at (517) 241-6470.
