Joanne B. Faycurry

Experience

In more than two decades of practicing law, Joanne has represented a wide array of clients, from “Ma and Pa” local business owners to Fortune 500 companies and just about everything in between. She has assisted her clients in obtaining considerable tax refunds and/or tax savings over the years with respect to nearly every state and local tax levied in Michigan, including real and/or personal property taxes, sales, use and withholding taxes, individual income taxes, the single business tax, the corporate income tax, and so forth.

“Even when the odds were against them, my clients have succeeded in obtaining significant and unprecedented state tax relief.”

Reported + Published Decisions

Masco Corporation v Michigan Department of Treasury (Mich. Cl. Ct. No. 07-64-MT-C30)

Oakhill LP v Charter Township of Shelby and Oakhill II v Charter Township of Shelby, Supreme Court Nos. 141660 and 141661

Tyson Foods, Inc. v Dep't. of Treasury, No. 272929, Court of Appeals of Michigan, 2007 Mich. App. LEXIS 2230, September 20, 2007, Decided

Ford Credit International v Dep't. of Treasury, No. 258389, Court of Appeals of Michigan, 270 Mich. App. 530; 716 N.W.2d 593; 2006 Mich. App. LEXIS 925, March 8, 2006, Submitted April 4, 2006, Decided

General Motors v Dep’t. of Treasury, 466 Mich 31; 644 NW2d 734 (2002) (Filed amicus briefs on behalf of Ford Motor Co. and was instrumental in having use tax assessment for parts provided as part of General Motors’ goodwill program cancelled.)

Bolt v Lansing, 464 Mich 854; 632 NW2d 494 (2001) (Persuading the Supreme Court to determine that it had improvidently granted leave to appeal.)

Wisne v Dep’t. of Treasury, 244 Mich App 341 (2001) (Regarding the taxability of the distributive share of income from an S Corporation and the interpretation of changes in the tax law.)

Waupaca Foundry, Inc. v Dep’t. of Treasury, (ThyssenKrupp), MTT Docket No. 266585 (July, 2001) (Successful defense of Waupaca Foundry’s right to participate in Michigan’s voluntary disclosure program, saving Waupaca multi-millions of dollars in past-due tax liabilities, penalties and interest.)

Hamtramck v American Axle, 461 Mich 362; 604 NW2d 330 (2000) (Convinced Michigan Supreme Court to uphold a City’s judgment tax levy.)

Little Caesar Enterprises v Dep’t. of Treasury, 226 Mich App 624 (1997) (Successful in canceling Single Business Tax assessments. The issue in this case was whether specific types of royalty payments should be included in the taxpayer’s single business tax base.)

Comerica Bank v Dep’t of Treasury, 194 Mich App 77; 486 NW2d 338 (1992) (Corporate Income Tax--Consolidation and statute of limitations issues)

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, State and Local Tax Committee of the Taxation Section; Business Activity Tax ("BAT") Task Force Special Committee
• State Bar of Michigan, State and Local Tax Committee of the Taxation Section, 1998-2000; Chairperson of the State and Local Tax Committee of the Real Property Law Section, 1995-2000; Michigan Tax Conference Planning Task Force Member, 2007-present
• Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Women Lawyers' Association of Michigan
• Arab-American Bar Association
• International Women's Forum-Michigan Chapter
• Litigation Counsel of America, Charter Fellow

Honors + Awards

• Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., cum laude
• Recipient, Outstanding Task Force Award, Michigan Tax Conference Planning Tax Force, 2008
• Michigan Super Lawyers, Tax Section 2010-present; Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers 2011

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

• Women of Tomorrow, Board Member
• Children's Hospital of Michigan, Board of Trustees, January 2004-2011
• Michigan Chapter of Seeds of Peace, Co-President, 2001-2003

Publications

J. B. Faycurry, American Bar Association, Sales and Use Tax Handbook, Michigan Chapter, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011

S.J. McKim II and J.B. Faycurry, "A Malpractice Trap for Unwary Taxpayer Advisors "Settling" State Tax Disputes with the Michigan Department of Treasury," Spring, 2008, Issue 2 of the Michigan Tax Lawyer

S. J. McKim III, J. B. Faycurry and R. F. Rhoades, 2002-03 Guidebook to Michigan Taxes, CCH

S. J. McKim III, J. B. Faycurry and R. F. Rhoades, 2001-2002 Guidebook to Michigan Taxes, CCH

J. B. Faycurry, CCH E-Commerce Tax Alert and Practitioner’s Briefing Table, Correspondent for Michigan, 2000-present

J. B. Faycurry, Michigan Municipal Finance Officers Association, "Michigan Property Tax Developments," November 9, 1999

S. J. McKim III and J. B. Faycurry, "Michigan Enacts Voluntary Disclosure Amnesty Provisions," September 1998; published in Research Institute of America (RIA) and CCH

J. Faycurry and J. Ammon, The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, "Homeward Bound," Continuing Legal Education Programs, "Property Taxes, Transfer Taxes and Abatements under Proposal A," January 16, 1997

J. Faycurry and J. Ammon, The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, "After Hours Tax Series," Continuing Legal Education Programs, "Property Taxes, Transfer Taxes and Abatements under Proposal A," January 14, 1997

J. Faycurry and R. Rhoades, Lorman Education Services, "Michigan Sales and Use Tax," November 7, 1996

J. Faycurry and S. McKim, "'Supercap' is Unconstitutional says Attorney General Kelley," Michigan Real Property Review, Fall, 1996

J. Faycurry, J. Hand and R. Whately, National Business Institute, Inc., "Property Tax Law in Michigan," October 8, 1996

J. Faycurry, S. McKim and R. Rhoades, National Business Institute, Inc., "Michigan Sales and Use Tax Update," May 16, 1996

J. Faycurry, The West Michigan Tax Symposium, "Contaminated Property and Its Effect On Property Tax Assessments," November 9, 1995

J. Faycurry and S. McKim, The Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, "Homeward Bound" Continuing Legal Education Programs, "New Michigan Property Tax Law," October 19, 1995

J. Faycurry and S. McKim, "Michigan’s Property Tax 'Cap'--Not As Simple As It Sounds," Michigan Real Property Review, Summer. 1995

Michigan Tax Lawyer, 1992 Quarterly Publication, "Procedural Requirements for Property Tax Appeals"

Joint program of the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, "Tax Assessments and Appeals," October 18, 1992

Panel Discussion before The Downtown C.P.As, Michigan’s New Tax Legislation and Ballot Proposal on School Tax Reform Package, February 15, 1994

Speeches

“Property Tax – Did You Miss The Boat?,”  MACPA Management Information & Business Show, June 29, 2011, Novi, Michigan

“Round-Up of Michigan Tax Cases,”  Michigan Tax Conference, November 9-10, 2010 

“Michigan Property Tax Case Law and Tax Tribunal Developments,” (Moderator) Michigan Tax Conference, November 3-4, 2009

“Procedural Tips and Advice for Handling Property Tax Appeals,” (Co-presenter with Michigan Tax Tribunal Judge Kimball Smith, III), After Hours Tax Law Series for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 17, 2009

“From Audit to Final Assessment,” Michigan Tax Conference, November 3, 2009

“Developing a State Tax Case for Litigation,” Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Income Tax Symposium, November 10, 2010, Miami, Florida

“Managing State Income Tax Audits, Settlements and Litigation,” Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Income Tax Symposium, November 10, 2009, Indian Wells, California

"Real vs. Personal Property," presented at Michigan Tax Conference held by MACPA in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, November 5-6, 2008

"Cost of Doing Business Across State Lines," moderated at Michigan Tax Conference held by MACPA in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, November 5-6, 2008

"Discussion of Latest & Greatest State Tax Litigation," presented at Council on State Taxation's Mid-West Regional State Tax Seminar held jointly with the Multistate Executives Tax Roundtable, October, 2008

"Lowering Commercial Real & Personal Property Taxes," presented at MACPA Summer Management Information Show, June, 2008

"Residential Property Tax:  Are Your Clients Paying Too Much?" presented at MACPA Spring Management Information Show, June, 2008

"A Malpractice Trap for Unwary Taxpayer Advisors," presented at 2008 State Tax Forum, June, 2008

"Nonresidential Property Tax Appeals:  It's Not Too Late," presented at MACPA CPE Mega Conference, May, 2008

"Evaluating Property Taxes in a Downturn Economy," presented at 26th Annual Summer Management Information Show, June, 2007

Joint program of the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, "Tax Assessments and Appeals," 1992

Panel Discussion before The Downtown C.P.As, Michigan’s New Tax Legislation and Ballot Proposal on School Tax Reform Package, 1994

Seminars + Events

• Michigan Tax Conference (November 8 - 10, 2011)
• Michigan Tax Seminar
• Michigan: The New Corporate Income Tax
• Michigan Tax Conference (November 9 - 11, 2010)
• Roundup of Michigan Tax Cases
• Spring 2010 Update on Michigan Taxes

News

• Miller Canfield Sponsors Michigan Tax Conference
• Miller Canfield Top Women Lawyers and Thomas W. Cranmer Top Point Getter in 2011 "Super Lawyers"
• Miller Canfield Attorney Joanne Faycurry Appointed Vice Chair of Children's Hospital of Michigan Board of Trustees