E-filing

• 1). Purchase tax preparation software that completes your tax return information. Online tax preparation services such as TaxACTOnline, FreeTaxUSA, eFile Express, H&R Block At Home, Easy-efile.com and others offer low prices -- as of 2010 prices range from $7 to $29.95 -- and the convenience of step-by-step instructions. Tax preparation software may also be purchased at retail outlets such as Best Buy, Target, Borders, Barnes & Noble or anywhere that sells computer software.
  
  
• 2). Using your home computer, complete all information as prompted by the tax preparation software to prepare your Federal Tax Return. The Federal Income Tax return must be completed first, in order to calculate the amount of Michigan Income Taxes owed. The information requested includes name, address, Social Security number, occupation, annual income, names and Social Security numbers for each dependent, amount of charitable contributions or donations made, amount of mortgage loan interest paid, amount of student loan interest paid and any other tax deduction information that applies in your situation.
  
  
• 3). Choose to prepare your Michigan Income Tax return when prompted, after the Federal Income Tax return is complete.
  
  
• 4). Answer all questions when prompted as the software completes your Michigan Income Tax return. The additional information needed to prepare your state tax return includes any city taxes paid, the school district your home is located in and information to determine if you qualify for additional credits such as the Michigan Home Heating Credit.
  
  
• 5). Select the option to e-file both your federal and state income tax returns. Most tax preparation software provide a confirmation page showing both tax returns have been filed. Print this page for your information and records.
  
  

Filing by Mail

• 1). Complete all necessary tax forms such as the MI-1040, MI-1040 EZ or other forms required by your tax circumstances.
  
  
• 2). Mail returns that receive a refund, a credit or are a zero-balance -- meaning nothing is owed to you and you do not owe the State of Michigan -- to the Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing, MI 48956.
  
  
• 3). Mail Michigan tax returns that require payment to the State of Michigan to Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing, MI 48929. Make the payment check payable to "State of Michigan" and write your Social Security number and the year on the memo line of the check.
  
  Making a tax payment on behalf of another person is allowed; simply include the individual's name and Social Security Number on the memo line of the check.