Find Property Tax Records in Clare County

Clare County property tax records are maintained by the Equalization Department in Harrison, Michigan. Property owners, buyers, and researchers can use the county's online portal to search parcel assessments, taxable values, and tax history for any parcel in Clare County. This page explains how to find Clare County property tax records, which county offices handle them, and what steps to take if you want to appeal your assessment or apply for an exemption.

How to Search Clare County Property Tax Records

The primary way to access Clare County property tax records online is through the BS&A Online portal. This system covers all townships and municipalities in the county and gives you free access to parcel data. You can search by owner name, property address, or parcel number. Results include assessed value, taxable value, property class, school district, and recent tax history.

The Equalization Department uses the Clare County BS&A Online portal to give the public access to assessment records. Once you find a parcel, you can view current and prior year values, check for active exemptions, and see which taxing units apply to that parcel. The data comes from local assessing offices in each township and is updated throughout the year.

The screenshot below shows what the BS&A portal looks like for Clare County property tax records. It is the fastest way to find parcel data without visiting the courthouse. Use the Clare County property tax search portal to look up a specific parcel.

Clare County has a mix of residential, agricultural, and recreational parcels. Many properties are used as vacation homes or hunting camps, which means they may not have a Principal Residence Exemption on file. The BS&A portal will show you whether any exemption is active on a given parcel, which affects the millage rate used to calculate the tax bill. If you do not find a parcel online or the data looks wrong, contact the Equalization Department for help.

Note: The BS&A portal is the most current source for Clare County property tax records, but it may lag by a few weeks after recent changes.

Clare County Equalization Department

The Clare County Equalization Department is responsible for making sure all local assessments in the county are at the correct ratio under MCL 211.1 et seq. Joan M. Blythe serves as Equalization Director. Her office reviews the work of local assessors in each township and city and applies county equalization factors when any unit falls above or below the 50% standard. This process happens every year before the state equalizes county assessments.

The Equalization Department maintains the master parcel database and works to keep the county's online data current. If you have questions about your parcel's class, which local unit it falls in, or how your assessed value was determined, the Equalization Department is a good place to start. The office is in Harrison at the county government building.

Clare County Register of Deeds

The Clare County Register of Deeds records all documents that affect real property in the county. Laura E. McLain serves as Register of Deeds. Her office is located at 225 W. Main St. in Harrison and can be reached at 989-539-7831. The Register records deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments that affect title to property in Clare County.

When a property sells in Clare County, the buyer must file a Property Transfer Affidavit (Form L-4025) with the local township assessor within 45 days of the closing. This step is required by state law and notifies the assessor that a transfer occurred. The assessor uses this information to uncap the taxable value for the next assessment year. Standard recording fees in Michigan are $30 per document. Copies are $1 per page, and certified copies are $5 each.

Clare County has many parcels that have changed hands multiple times over the decades, particularly vacation and hunting properties. If you need to trace the ownership history of a parcel, the Register of Deeds keeps grantor and grantee indexes that cover many years of transactions. Staff can help you find older records and make copies of documents for your use.

Property Tax Assessment in Clare County

All property in Clare County is assessed each year as of December 31, the statewide Tax Day set by MCL 211.30. Local assessors in each township set the assessed value at 50% of true cash value. The Clare County Equalization Department then reviews and equalizes these assessments to make sure all local units are at the correct standard before state taxes are levied.

Michigan's taxable value cap applies throughout Clare County. Your taxable value can only increase by the lesser of 5% or the inflation rate in any given year, no matter how much your assessed value goes up. This protection for long-term property owners can be significant in areas where market values are rising. The cap resets when the property sells, causing the new taxable value to jump up to match the assessed value. Buyers of any property in Clare County should account for this reset when estimating their first-year tax bill.

Assessment notices are mailed in February. They list the prior and current assessed and taxable values and the Board of Review appeal deadline. If you disagree with your value, you must act before the March Board of Review closes. The Michigan Department of Treasury sets the statewide rules for assessments. The Michigan Property Tax Estimator can help you estimate your bill based on different taxable values.

Property Tax Exemptions in Clare County

Several exemptions can reduce property taxes for qualifying owners in Clare County. The most common is the Principal Residence Exemption. Under MCL 211.7u, if you own and live in your home as your main residence, you qualify for an 18-mill reduction in the school operating levy. File Form 2368 with your local township assessor by June 1. In Clare County, where many properties are camps or vacation homes that are not primary residences, this exemption is not automatic. Confirm with the assessor that a PRE is on file for any home you use as your primary address.

Farm and agricultural land in Clare County may qualify for the Agricultural Exemption under MCL 211.7v. Enrolled land is assessed at its agricultural use value rather than its market or development value. This can make a big difference in taxable value for working farms and some forested parcels. Ask the local assessor or the Equalization Department whether your land qualifies and what the enrollment steps are.

Low-income property owners can apply for a poverty exemption by filing Form 5737 and Form 4988 with the local assessor before the March Board of Review. Disabled veterans and their surviving spouses may qualify for a full property tax exemption. Contact the Clare County Equalization Department at 989-539-7991 to ask about exemption options. The Treasurer, Jenny L. Beemer-Faulkner, handles billing and collections at 989-539-3089.

Note: All exemption forms must be filed with the local township or city assessor, not with the county Equalization Department.

Appealing Your Clare County Assessment

If you believe your Clare County property is assessed too high, you can appeal. The first step is the March Board of Review in your local township. This board meets each March and hears protests from property owners. You can appear in person or file a written protest. Bring evidence to support a lower value, such as a recent appraisal, comparable sales data from similar properties in the area, or documentation of any condition that affects what the property is worth.

If the Board of Review does not correct your assessment, you can appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. The MTT deadline for residential property is July 31. For commercial and industrial parcels, the deadline is May 31. Reach the MTT at 517-335-9760. The Michigan Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, MCL 205.735, gives you the right to a fair and transparent process at every stage of your appeal.

Jenny L. Beemer-Faulkner serves as Clare County Treasurer. Her office at 225 W. Main St. in Harrison handles all property tax collections and delinquency matters. Call 989-539-3089 to reach the Treasurer's office. If you are behind on your taxes, contact the Treasurer as early as possible to discuss payment options before your account reaches a forfeiture or forfeiture sale stage.

Cities in Clare County

Clare County includes the city of Harrison as its county seat along with several townships in central Michigan. No cities in Clare County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Communities in the county include Harrison, Clare, Farwell, and Lake. All Clare County property tax records are searchable through the Clare County BS&A portal.

Nearby Counties

Clare County sits in central Michigan and borders several other counties. Each has its own assessing offices and property tax records.