Due to the number of questions received regarding the taxability of a conveyance of an easement, a request for advice was submitted to the Revenue Division of the Department of the Attorney General. The following is a reprint of the advice received from the Revenue Division. This advice does not constitute an opinion of the Attorney General and may not be relied upon as such.
You have requested my advice as to whether the conveyance of an easement is subject to the county real estate transfer and state real estate transfer tax.
Both the County Real Estate Transfer Tax Act, 1966 PA 134, MCL 207.501 et seq. And the State Real Estate Transfer Tax Act, 1993 PA 330, MCL 207.521 et seq. Impose a tax upon, inter alia:
In Michigan an easement, whether appurtenant or in gross, is an interest in real property. Ladd v Teichman; 359 Mich 587; 103 NW2d 338 (960); Peaslee v Saginaw County Drain Commissioner, 365 Mich 338; 112 NW2d 562.
Accordingly, unless otherwise exempted by law, the conveyance of an easement is taxable under each act when the instrument of conveyance is offered to the Register of Deeds for recordation.
With respect to exemptions, both acts, exempt, inter alia:
The quoted provisions, classify only certain easements for ad valorem property tax purposes as personal property. These easements, held by gas and coke companies, natural gas companies, electric light companies, waterworks companies, hydraulic companies, and pipeline companies transporting oil or gas as public or common carriers are exempt from the transfer taxes.
Of course, a conveyance of an interest in real property, whether an easement or another interest in real property, may be exempt for other reasons set forth in the acts here discussed.
This memorandum does not, however, discuss the other basis for exemption but rather conveys the advice that:
The instrument, a copy of which you have provided me, conveys an "avigation easement" pursuant to which the grantors, husband and wife, for a consideration in excess of $100.00 granted to a public airport authority:
The grantors are subject to the taxes imposed by 1966 PA 134, supra, and 1993 PA 330, supra. I find no provision of either act which would exempt the grantors from the taxes.
This memorandum sets forth the advice of the Revenue Division of the Department of The Attorney General. The memorandum is not an expression of an opinion by the Attorney General himself.