Updated October 2026. 2026 inflation multiplier, PRE deadlines and appeal dates checked with Michigan Treasury.
To look up a Michigan parcel number, search your address on your city or township’s page in BS&A Online, or read it off your summer or winter tax bill. In Michigan, the township or city assessor, not the county, issues the number. Your 2026 taxable value rose by at most 2.7% (the state’s 1.027 multiplier) unless the home changed hands in 2025.
Jump to: 📍 Find your parcel ID · 🏢 County portals · 💲 SEV vs taxable value · 🏠 PRE exemption · ⏱️ Appeal dates · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Most Michigan townships and cities post parcel records on BS&A Online. Search by address, owner name or parcel number.
- Your state equalized value (SEV) must approximate 50% of market value. Your tax is figured on taxable value, which is capped.
- For 2026, the cap is 1.027 times last year’s taxable value. A sale in 2025 resets taxable value to the 2026 SEV.
- The Principal Residence Exemption removes up to 18 mills of school operating tax. File Form 2368 by June 1 or November 1.
How do I find my parcel number in Michigan?
You have four easy places to look. Start with the one you can reach fastest.
- Your tax bill. Both the summer and winter bills print the parcel number near the top.
- BS&A Online. Go to bsaonline.com, pick your municipality and search by address. You’ll see the parcel number, SEV, taxable value, PRE status and tax history.
- Your county or city GIS map. Click your lot to see its parcel ID and lines.
- Your deed or closing papers. The deed, title commitment and settlement statement all list it.
Can’t find your town on BS&A? Check the bsaonline.com/MunicipalDirectory list. If your town isn’t there, call the local assessor’s office. They can read the number to you over the phone.
What does a Michigan parcel number look like?
It depends on the county and the local unit. Many use a dashed string of digit groups that point to the township, section and parcel. Some older records call it a “Sidwell number.” Others use a lot-and-block format in platted subdivisions. Copy it exactly as your local portal shows it, dashes included, when you search.
Same idea, different names: parcel ID, property number, tax ID and property ID all mean the same thing on a Michigan record. If you see a “PIN” in a title report, it’s the same number too.
Where do I search in the biggest Michigan counties?
These links open each county’s entry point. Search inside it for your city or township, since that’s where the assessment lives.
| County | Main city | Where to search |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | Detroit | Wayne County on BS&A Online |
| Oakland | Pontiac, Troy | Oakland County on BS&A Online |
| Macomb | Sterling Heights | Macomb County on BS&A Online |
| Kent | Grand Rapids | Kent County on BS&A Online |
| Washtenaw | Ann Arbor | Washtenaw County on BS&A Online |
| Ingham | Lansing | Ingham County on BS&A Online |
| Genesee | Flint | geneseecounty.prosgar.com |
| Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo County on BS&A Online |
| Ottawa | Holland | Ottawa County on BS&A Online |
| Livingston | Howell, Brighton | Livingston County on BS&A Online |
All links checked on October 21, 2026. Genesee County uses its own portal instead of BS&A.
What’s the difference between SEV and taxable value?
This is where most new owners get surprised. Michigan puts two values on every parcel.
- State equalized value (SEV). It’s the assessed value times any county equalization factor. By law it must approximate 50% of market value.
- Taxable value. This is the number your millage is applied to. It can’t rise faster than the inflation cap, and it can’t be higher than the SEV.
For 2026, the State Tax Commission set the inflation rate multiplier at 1.027. So if your home didn’t change hands in 2025, your 2026 taxable value is your 2025 taxable value times 1.027, plus or minus any physical changes. That’s straight from the state’s assessment notice (Form 1019).
Why do taxes jump after you buy?
Because a transfer “uncaps” the taxable value. If there was a transfer of ownership in 2025, the 2026 taxable value equals the 2026 SEV. A long-time owner may have a taxable value far below the SEV. The buyer won’t.
Here’s a simple example. A home worth $300,000 has an SEV near $150,000. Say the seller’s taxable value is $95,000 after years of caps. Taxes are billed in mills, or dollars per $1,000 of taxable value. At an example rate of 40 mills, the seller pays about $3,800 a year. The buyer, once the value uncaps to $150,000, pays about $6,000. Your local rate will differ, so check your own bill.
Selling? Tell buyers about this early. They’ll find it anyway, and it can change how much they can afford. When you’re ready to list, our flat fee MLS listing for Michigan homes starts at $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing.
How does the Principal Residence Exemption work?
The Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) exempts your home from the local school operating tax, up to 18 mills. On a $150,000 taxable value, 18 mills is $2,700 a year. Only your true, permanent home qualifies. Vacation homes and rentals don’t.
- File Form 2368 with your city or township assessor, not with the state.
- File by June 1 to cover that year’s summer levy, or by November 1 to cover the winter levy.
- Missed it? The assessor can grant it for the current year and the three years before, if you qualified by each year’s deadline.
- Moving out? File a Request to Rescind (Form 2602) within 90 days. Skipping it can cost $5 a day, up to $200, plus back taxes.
Check your PRE status on BS&A after you buy. It should show 100% if you live there. A new parcel number, from a split or combination, needs a new Form 2368.
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Buy a home →When can you appeal your Michigan assessment?
The window is short, and it’s in early spring. Here are the 2026 dates from the State Tax Commission’s calendar.
| Step | When | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment notice | Before the March Board of Review | Shows your SEV, taxable value and PRE percentage. |
| March Board of Review | Week of the second Monday in March | You must protest here first for most residential appeals. |
| Michigan Tax Tribunal (residential) | By July 31 of the tax year | Next step if the board doesn’t fix it. |
| July or December Board of Review | July and December | Only for limited fixes, like clerical errors. |
Bring proof: recent sales of similar homes, photos of problems and any appraisal. Our guide on what to do when your assessment is too high walks through the evidence that works.
What else should Michigan sellers check?
Your parcel number shows up again when you sell. You’ll need it for the listing, the purchase agreement and the deed. Pull your record from BS&A before you list, and fix any wrong square footage or PRE status early.
For the rest of the sale, see our guide to selling a Michigan home without a realtor and our comparison of flat fee MLS companies in Michigan. On the tax side, read how capital gains tax works on a home sale and our paperwork checklist for selling without an agent.
Closing in Michigan? Starting November 1, 2026, Beycome Title handles title and closing in Michigan, with Prepaid Pricing of $199 at checkout (instead of $245).
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a parcel number in Michigan?
Search your address on your city or township’s BS&A Online page, or read it from your summer or winter tax bill. Your deed and closing papers list it too.
Who assigns parcel numbers in Michigan?
The local assessing unit, which is your city or township. The county equalization office keeps the county-wide records.
Is a parcel number the same as a property tax ID?
Yes. Parcel ID, parcel number, property ID and tax ID all point to the same parcel on a Michigan record.
How much can my taxable value go up in 2026?
If there was no transfer in 2025, by the 1.027 inflation multiplier, plus any physical changes. It can never go above your SEV.
What is the Principal Residence Exemption deadline?
June 1 for the summer levy or November 1 for the winter levy. File Form 2368 with your local assessor.
Why did my taxes go up after I bought my house?
A transfer uncaps taxable value. The year after you buy, it resets to the SEV, which can be much higher than the seller’s capped value.
Can I find a parcel number by address?
Yes. BS&A Online and most county GIS maps let you search by street address.
Reviewed by Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage. Licenses are listed at beycome.com/faq/how-to/are-you-a-licensed-broker/.
Tax rules and dates are from Michigan Treasury and State Tax Commission documents read on October 21, 2026. The millage example uses a made-up rate to show the math; your rate depends on your city, township and school district.
Beycome prices are as of October 2026. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing. Other closing costs, taxes, title fees and any buyer’s agent pay you agree to still apply.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check details with your local assessor.
Sources
- State Tax Commission, Bulletin 14 of 2025, inflation rate multiplier for 2026.
- Michigan Treasury, Form 1019, notice of assessment.
- Michigan Treasury, PRE claim requirements.
- State Tax Commission, property tax calendar for 2026.
- BS&A Online, municipal directory.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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