Hey friend, if you live in Michigan and you’re worried about staying warm this winter, I’ve got some good news. The state offers a Home Heating Credit that can help eligible low income renters and homeowners cover part of their heating costs. But here’s the catch: you have to file for it, and the clock is ticking. Let’s walk through exactly what this is, whether you may qualify, and how to get your claim in before time runs out.
What Is the Home Heating Credit?
The Home Heating Credit is a tax credit from the state of Michigan designed to help eligible low income households pay some of their home heating costs. You don’t have to owe Michigan income tax to claim it, and if you’re not otherwise required to file a Michigan Individual Income Tax Return, you can file the Home Heating Credit Claim on its own.
How you receive the credit depends on your situation. The credit may be issued directly to your heat provider or directly to you as an energy draft or check. If you receive Family Independence Program (FIP) assistance, State Disability Assistance (SDA), or you’re enrolled with MDHHS for direct payment, Treasury must send the credit directly to your heat provider. If your heat is provided by DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, or SEMCO Energy Gas, your Home Heating Credit may also be sent directly to your heat provider.
The Deadline Is Sept. 30, 2026, and There’s No Extension
This is the part I really want you to hear: the deadline to file your 2025 Home Heating Credit claim is Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Michigan Treasury says claims filed after September 30 are denied, and there is no extension available. If you’re mailing your claim, it must be postmarked by September 30, 2026, so don’t wait until the last possible day if you can help it.
Who Qualifies
You may be able to claim the Home Heating Credit if you meet the program’s requirements:
- You owned or were contracted to pay rent and occupied a Michigan homestead;
- You were not a full-time student who was claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return;
- You did not live in college- or university-operated housing for the entire year;
- You did not live in a licensed care facility for the entire year; and
- Your total household resources are within the applicable limits for the standard or alternate credit method.
You can only have one homestead at a time, and you must occupy it as the owner or renter. A vacation home or income property isn’t considered your homestead.
There are also special rules for certain situations. If you owned or rented your Michigan homestead for only part of the year, you may still qualify for the standard method, but your standard allowance must be prorated. If you lived in a licensed care facility for only part of the year, special rules may also apply.
Every situation is a little different, so it’s worth reading through the full Michigan Treasury instructions if you’re unsure whether you qualify.
What Counts as “Household Resources”
Michigan doesn’t just look at your taxable income. Your “total household resources” can include both taxable and nontaxable income.
That means income that isn’t subject to income tax can still affect your Home Heating Credit. For example, Social Security and SSI benefits are among the types of income that may need to be included. Certain gifts and expenses paid on your behalf by someone else may also need to be reported.
There are specific rules about what should and shouldn’t be included, so use the official instructions when calculating your total household resources rather than assuming that only taxable income counts.
This is especially important because Michigan Treasury lists failing to report total household resources from all sources as one of the common mistakes that can delay a credit.
How Much Will You Get?
I wish I could give you an exact number, but there isn’t one amount that everyone receives. Your credit depends on factors including your exemptions, total household resources, heating costs, and which calculation method you’re eligible to use.
According to the State of Michigan, the average qualifying household received $171 in assistance last year, most often applied directly to utility bills. But please don’t treat that as a promise. Your actual credit could be higher or lower depending on your circumstances.
Michigan has two ways of calculating the Home Heating Credit: the standard method and the alternate method.
The standard method uses a standard allowance based on the number of exemptions you claim and your total household resources.
The alternate method uses qualifying heating costs billed from November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2025, along with your total household resources.
If you’re eligible to use both methods, calculate your credit using both and use the method that gives you the larger credit.
For the 2025 Home Heating Credit, the calculated credit is multiplied by 60%, which Michigan says represents the percentage of federal home heating funds available for the year.
If your heat is included in your rent at the time you file, special rules apply. You can’t use the alternate method, and your standard credit computation must be reduced by 50%. Your credit will be issued as a check rather than an energy draft.
How to Apply
Ready to file? Here’s what to do:
- Get Michigan Form MI-1040CR-7, the 2025 Home Heating Credit Claim. If you can’t print the form, Michigan says it’s also available at local libraries, MDHHS offices, community agencies, or the Michigan Department of Treasury.
- Fill it out using the 2025 instruction booklet, paying close attention to the household resources section and the standard and alternate credit calculations.
- If you’re required to file a Michigan Individual Income Tax Return (MI-1040), submit a completed MI-1040CR-7 with your return. If you’re not required to file an MI-1040, you can submit the Home Heating Credit Claim on its own.
- You can file electronically or mail your completed claim to:Michigan Department of Treasury
Lansing, MI 48956If you’re mailing an MI-1040 at the same time, don’t staple the Home Heating Credit Claim to it. Treasury instructs you to fold the claim and leave it loose in the envelope. - Need help filling it out? Free tax preparation assistance is available. Call 211, text 898211, or visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org to connect with free tax preparation help.
Common Mistakes That Slow Things Down
Michigan Treasury warns that mistakes on a Home Heating Credit Claim can delay processing. These can include failing to report all required household resources, reporting monthly income instead of annual income, providing incorrect or missing Social Security numbers, entering incorrect heating costs, failing to indicate that heat is included in rent, leaving required information incomplete, and making calculation errors.
And remember, filing on time is especially important because the September 30 deadline can’t be extended.
Take your time, double check your numbers against the instruction booklet, and ask for free tax help if anything is confusing. It’s much easier to catch an error before you submit the claim.
Relief Recap
Michigan’s Home Heating Credit can provide real help with heating costs, but you have to file for it on time. The 2025 Home Heating Credit claim must be filed by September 30, 2026, and Michigan doesn’t allow an extension. Claims filed after the deadline are denied.
While you’re looking for ways to lower your utility costs, take a look at our guide on how to get help paying your electric bill for more programs, charities, and utility assistance options that may be available.
