What do billion-dollar road funding shifts, a new marihuana tax, and leadership in national tax policy have in common? Michigan’s Treasury is at the center of it all.

In this episode, we meet Chief Deputy Treasurer Lance Wilkinson and hear about his path into public service and tax policy. He shares insights into the role of the Chief Deputy Treasurer and how leadership at Treasury supports the department’s long-term vision and commitment to public service.

We explore Michigan’s involvement in the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board and how it helps support taxpayers nationwide. Then, we dive into the many tax policy changes shaping the year ahead—from the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit and the Fiscal Year 2026 budget’s transportation funding overhaul to new developments like the Wholesale Marihuana Tax—and what these shifts mean for communities and businesses across the state.

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear how Treasury is prioritizing transparency, collaboration, and efforts to make tax systems that focus on improving the customer experience. From internal teamwork to national coordination, this conversation offers a clear look at how policy, leadership, and service come together behind the scenes.

Did you know you might have money waiting for you—and not even know it?

In this episode, we’re joined by Terry Stanton to explore Michigan’s Unclaimed Property program. Learn how the program works, discover recent improvements driven by human-centered web design, and hear about the friendly rivalry heating up between Michigan and Ohio this November as both states compete to return forgotten funds to their residents.

This fiscal year, Michigan is aiming to return $175 million—and we’re calling on you to help us reach that goal, defend our title as reigning champs, and once again beat our neighbors to the south. Search for your forgotten funds today at michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty.

RESOURCES

• MI Unclaimed Property
• Missing Money (all 50 states & some Canadian provinces)
• Questions? Call Michigan's Unclaimed Property at 517-636-5320 (M-F, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM)

Join State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Anne Cram, director of Treasury’s City Income Tax Bureau, for a conversation about how city income taxes work in Michigan.

In this episode, you'll get to know Anne and her path in public service, learn how city income taxes are managed, who they impact, and how they benefit Michigan residents. You'll also learn about Treasury’s role in administering these taxes, common questions from taxpayers, and how this work supports local communities across the state.

RESOURCES

Michigan City Income Tax Webpage

Join State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Ryan Laruwe, executive director of Treasury’s Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC) as they discuss MIC's new 'Dig Once' Portal, the Asset Management Champions training program, and the importance of infrastructure work to all Michiganders. 

RESOURCES

• Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC) website
• MIC’s 30-Year Integrated Infrastructure Strategy
• MIC’s Asset Management Champions Program

Register for the latest AM Champions cohort by August 8, 2025!

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Outreach Manager Sarah Rusnell discuss the many free resources and educational benefits that MI Treasury offers to both taxpayers and tax professionals. 

RESOURCES

Outreach webpage:

• Treasury-hosted and Invitation/Partnership events are listed on our Events Calendar. We have scheduled education events this summer, check them out and register!
• Sign up for Treasury-Outreach email communications through our webpage. We promise not to spam you. We send periodic communications about education event opportunities as well as Treasury tax and process changes that impact the tax community. 
• Connect with us: [email protected]. It is important to note that the Outreach team cannot serve as a substitute or work around for any established Treasury communication pathway. We are happy to guide, clarify, and support you as well as receive your feedback, education topic suggestions or questions. 

>>Tax Professionals Help Line: 517-636-0616 (via the Taxpayer Advocate’s Office)

>>How to accurately and properly complete a Treasury power of attorney form.  

 New/Refreshed taxes web content: 

• Disaster-Related State Tax Relief
• Michigan Earned Income Tax for Working Families Tax Credit
• Homestead Property Tax Credit 
• Retirement and Pension Benefits Subtraction
• Payroll Service Providers
• Taxability Change: Delivery and Installation Charges
• Business Taxes Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Payments 
• MTO Payment Tutorials
• MiTRACE: Tobacco Stamping
• Collections eService Help Center
• Individual Income Tax eService Help Center
• Offer in Compromise 

Join MI State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guests, Ashley Kuykendoll and State Senator Sarah Anthony, for a special edition of the podcast to acknowledge the second anniversary of the “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” (CROWN) Act legislation. The CROWN Act expanded the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and banned race-based hair discrimination in the state of Michigan. 

Sharing her own insight on the CROWN Act is Ashley Kuykendoll, People & Culture Division director for Treasury’s Operational Excellence Bureau. 

AND at MINUTE 13:49, Senator Anthony gives listeners the backstory on what it took to get the bill she sponsored signed into legislation, and why she didn't give up on the CROWN Act.

Senator Anthony has made history multiple times throughout her 20-year career in public service. She served as mid-Michigan’s first African American woman to be elected to the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, and is the first Black woman to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. 

 RESOURCES

Governor Whitmer Signs Bipartisan CROWN Act to End Hair Discrimination

The CROWN Act: A jewel for combating racial discrimination in the workplace and classroom

Sen. Anthony Recognized for Championing CROWN Act by Michigan Civil Rights Commission

The Person Beneath the Hair: Hair Discrimination, Health, and Well-Being

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

Crown 2023 Workplace Research Study (Dove & LinkedIn) 

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Delsa Chapman discuss a groundbreaking financial education program for Michigan's teens. Delsa is the deputy superintendent for the Division of Assessment, School Improvement, and Systems Support at the Michigan Department of Education. 

Michigan is the 14th state in the U.S. to guarantee that its students have access to a personal finance education course before high school graduation. A bipartisan bill, passed by the state Legislature in 2022 and approved by Gov. Whitmer, mandates that personal finance classes be offered to all Michigan students starting with ninth graders in the fall 2025 academic year. 

RESOURCES

•  MI Money Matters
•  Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE) 

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Flora Boles discuss Treasury’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund and how the scholarship helps Michigan's foster youth succeed in college. Flora is a departmental specialist with the Michigan Education Trust (or MET), and facilitates programs that support first generation college students. 

"The numbers are sobering. Nationally, seventy percent of teens who emancipate from foster care report that they want to attend college, but fewer than ten percent who graduate from high school enroll in college, and of those three to 11 percent graduate from college. In Michigan, there are approximately 9,500 children are in the foster care system at any given time. As they reach adult age, having adequate resources to attain their dream of a college education is critical to having a successful future." -- Fostering Futures

RESOURCES

• Fostering Futures Scholarship (how to apply)
• Support the Fostering Futures Scholarship (event tickets/donations)
• Fostering Futures Scholarship Facebook
• Michigan Education Trust (MET) 

Old apartment security deposits, forgotten paychecks, insurance refunds sent to a previous address or inheritances from a distant relative -- you could have cash waiting for you!

State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her guest, Terry Stanton discuss how to find your missing money, checks and valuables and the easy online process to claim your property. 

Former TV anchorman, groundbreaking communications pro, and lifetime baseball aficionado, Terry Stanton is also the state administrative manager for Michigan’s Unclaimed Property program. 

RESOURCES

• MI Unclaimed Property
• Missing Money (all 50 states & some Canadian provinces)
• Questions? Call Michigan's Unclaimed Property at 517-636-5320 (M-F, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM)

Deputy Public Information Officer Ron Leix and Communications Outreach Manager Sarah Rusnell discuss what Individual Income Tax AND Business Tax filers need to know for the upcoming 2025 tax season.

Their conversation encompasses expanded tax credits, the retirement tax rollback, a Sales, Use & Withholding (SUW) filing reminder, electronic filing options, and why choosing a qualified tax preparer is so important!

RESOURCES
Tax Season 2025: JANUARY 27 - APRIL 15

• Michigan Department of Treasury 
• Contact MI Treasury
• Michigan Treasury TAXES - up-to-date Michigan tax information

 For individual taxpayers:

• Individual Income Tax (and eService payment) - individual income taxpayers may submit account questions, pay taxes, and view refund status
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) - in-person tax prep help for eligible individuals from IRS.gov
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide - provides tax prep assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 with low to moderate income  

For business taxpayers:

• Michigan Treasury Online (MTO) 
• Business Tax eService - for business taxpayers to submit account questions and/or respond to Treasury notices
• Business Taxpayer Reminder about state filing of W-2s and 1099s
• Treasury Outreach - view the Outreach schedule and sign up for notifications when future Treasury tax education events are scheduled 

 For tax professionals: 

•  Tax professional info
• Tax Professionals eService – for questions from tax professionals