Saving for your child’s college education can be overwhelming and stressful, but there is help from the State of Michigan.

Sophia Quill, 63, of Westland, pleaded no contest to one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and eight counts of false pretenses for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Michigan Department of Treasury out of nearly half a million dollars.

You could have unclaimed cash sitting in the hands of the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Cities, townships and counties across Michigan are sharing $59.5 million in adult-use marijuana tax distributions from the 2022 fiscal year, the state treasury department announced Monday.

A Southfield woman is facing 43 felony charges after she filed tax returns with false statements and claims for at least 15 people, according to authorities.

The Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid Team wants families to be alert and informed when considering taking out student loans.

You could have unclaimed cash sitting in the hands of the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Michigan Department of Treasury wants to alert those with past-due tax debt to beware of letter scams.

You could have unclaimed cash sitting in the hands of the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Here are tonight's top stories.

Michigan families and students looking to save up for school can invest in a tax-free 529 savings plan through the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP).

Two women are accused of creating aliases for themselves and becoming fake heirs to people who died so they could steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from Veterans Affairs and Michigan Treasury, officials said.

Business men work with calculator and laptop on the white table at officeThe state of Michigan will process individual income tax returns beginning Friday, Feb. 12, officials announced Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Treasury says it will begin processing state income tax returns at the same time the IRS does -- on Feb. 12. “We coordinate with the IRS to process tax returns and issue refunds,” said State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. Michigan income tax returns and payments of taxes owed must be received by the state by April 15, 2021. You can learn more about individual income tax in Michigan at the treasury’s website here.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is giving certain businesses, including restaurants, that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic extra time to make tax payments. Restaurants that depend on indoor dining and most entertainment and recreational venues are included in this extension, according to state officials. “Businesses impacted by COVID-19 have made incredible sacrifices to protect their communities, their employees and their customers,” Michigan Gov. On Wednesday, Michigan Whitmer said the state hopes to resume indoor dining at restaurants by Feb. 1, as long as COVID-19 metrics meet state standards. Gordon said indoor dining is inherently risky in terms of spreading COVID-19 because it requires people from different households to remove their masks while indoors.

The state Treasury Department will waive all penalties and interest for 31 days. “Allowing small businesses affected by COVID mitigation protocols more time to pay their taxes will provide some crucial support to business owners that are struggling right now,” said Michigan Gov. “Changing some tax deadlines will provide some help to businesses as they navigate their way through the COVID-19 pandemic.”The waiver is not available for accelerated sales, use or withholding tax filers. Businesses with questions should call the Treasury Business Tax Call Center at 517-636-6925 or through Michigan Treasury Online. To learn more about Michigan’s taxes, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.

DETROIT – For the last 11 years the Detroit Public Schools Community District has been under the auspices of some type of state supervision -- but in five days that will change. For the first time since 2009, the Detroit public schools system is poised to be released from state supervision. READ: Detroit public schools, teachers union agree to 1-year contractRobert Bob was brought in as an emergency financial manager of the school system when it was facing debt and mismanagement. READ: Volunteers go door-to-door to find lost Detroit studentsIn 2020, with a painful mix of cuts, controversy and work -- the district now has 110 schools, 49,000 students and a $0 deficit. Detroit schools will have full independent command and autonomy over its finances and structure.

All Michigan retailers that accept bottle and can returns must immediately resume their collection services, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Michigan retailers initially paused empty bottle and can collection amid health and safety concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. By June 15, retailers were required to resume certain bottle and can collecting operations following a “phased reestablishment” outlined by the state Treasury. In June, Michigan businesses offering collection services were only allowed to resume operations if they had “minimal or no person-to-person contact.” Now, as of Thursday, all Michigan retailers must resume bottle and can collection operations, regardless of the process in which they are collected. Michigan residents can again redeem their 10-cent deposit for empty bottles and cans at any retailer that accepts returns.

Michigan currently imposes a 0.06% sales tax on most goods, including menstrual products. In administering and enforcing the (tampon tax), the (state Treasury) maintains a tax on women.The lawsuit comes as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to negatively financially impact Americans -- particularly, and disproportionately, Michigan women, the plaintiffs argue. According to the complaint, Michigan women comprised 49 percent of the U.S. workforce but accounted for 55 percent of job losses in April amid the pandemic. A bill was introduced to the Michigan Legislature in 2016 regarding ending the tampon tax, but no real change came of it. Some states, including Montana, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania no longer tax menstrual products.

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. A Macomb County couple has been charged with filing false tax returns and possession of an automated sales suppression device after it was determined the couple allegedly failed to report more than $165,000 in sales tax since 2013, the Michigan Attorney Generals office announced Thursday. According to a news release, 73-year-old Ki Yon Ahn and 62-year-old Seo Jong Yoo, along with their business Ki Wa Jip Inc. d/b/a Chung Ki Wa in Sterling Heights, was charged with six counts of filing a false sales tax return. which is a five-year felony, as well as one count of possession of an automated sales suppression device, also a five-year felony. The suppression device, or a zapper, is software which retailers can use to alter the point of sale (POS) database. According to the Michigan AGs office, the Michigan Department of Treasury inspected the business sales after receiving information that the couple likely used a zapper.

Individual income tax returns were supposed to be filed by July 15 in Michigan -- an-already extended deadline amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. State income tax returns can be claimed within four years. For Michigan tax filers who missed the July 15 deadline, the state treasury listed the following actions to consider:Filing a return to claim an outstanding refund. Taxpayers risk losing their state income tax refund if they dont file a return within four years from the due date of the original return. For more information or an application, visit www.michigan.gov/oicOfficials say the last three options listed above should be filed separately from the state income tax return.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Treasury issued a warning Tuesday that Michigan residents are receiving text messages regarding unclaimed property that is likely a scam. The department says multiple individuals have reported receiving text messages from an unknown source that offer to reunite the individual with their “unclaimed property.” These messages typically come with a link that the recipient is asked to click to claim their property. Michigan residents are urged not to interact with or respond to the text messages, as they are not affiliated with the state treasury. Unclaimed property such as assets in dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, valuables left in safe deposit boxes and certificates are turned over to the state treasury by law once they are considered abandoned and unclaimed, officials said. Anyone concerned that they have unclaimed property can visit the state’s website here or call 517-636-5320 between 9 a.m.-noon on Monday and Friday or 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

LANSING, Mich. The deadline to submit individual income tax returns for Michigan residents is approaching. State income tax returns are due on July 15. MORE: Coronavirus in Michigan: Heres what to know July 1, 2020Michigan taxpayers can submit their returns online or by mail before midnight on July 15. Officials are encouraging individuals to file their tax returns online. Residents who file online typically receive their refund about two weeks after the state accepts the tax return.

Two people have been arraigned on charges in connection with the defrauding of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Michigan Department of Treasury out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are accused of submitting fraudulent documents in support of claims for VA survivor benefits and Michigan Unclaimed Property. A third person has been charged, but has not been arraigned yet. Committing fraud against our state or federal agencies that directly give back to their communities will not be tolerated, Nessel said. The third person has been charged with conducting a criminal enterprise and multiple counts of false pretenses.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Treasury announced Tuesday a new payment plan for business taxpayers deferring their sales, use and withholding (SUW) taxes amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Taxpayers that have deferred payments from February, March, April and May are eligible to participate in the installment plan. Providing an installment payment option enables businesses to spread out their obligations over the next six months without incurring additional cost. Businesses are not required to submit any documents to or contact the state treasury to participate in the plan. Read the full announcement from the state treasury on their website here.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Treasury announced Saturday that business taxpayers have additional time to pay their Sales, Use and Withholding (SUW) taxes amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. MORE: Coronavirus in Michigan: Heres where we stand as of Saturday morningMichigan businesses can postpone SUW tax payments through June 20 without penalties or interest. Moving the sales, use and withholding tax deadline until June and providing other repayment options will help taxpayers navigate their way through this crisis.Officials say the deferment option is not available for accelerated SUW tax filers. The state Treasury will announce additional payment options available to business taxpayers in the future, officials said. Businesses with questions can learn more or contact the state Treasury at their website here.

Gretchen Whitmer has signed bills to legalize sports betting and internet gambling in the state of Michigan, she announced. Money raised through online gaming and sports betting will support the school aid fund and First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund, Whitmer said. The bill package allows tribal casinos to participate in online gaming and sports betting at an equal level to the Detroit casinos. House bill 4916 creates the Lawful Sports Betting Act, which legalizes sports betting in casinos, online and mobile. This bill specifies that an internet sports betting wager received by a sports betting operator or its internet sports betting platform provider would be considered gambling or gaming that was conducted in the sports betting operator’s casino located in Michigan.