Joanne B. Faycurry

Partner

Joanne focuses her practice on a wide range of state and local taxation matters.

Joanne Faycurry Portrait

Recognizing that every business faces state tax considerations and challenges, Joanne concentrates her state practice on tax controversy and litigation work, as well as on state tax planning. She is dedicated to helping her clients obtain considerable tax refunds and savings with respect to nearly every state and local tax levied in Michigan.

Clients ranging from small-business owners to Fortune 500 companies benefit from her in-depth knowledge of all state-levied taxes, including Michigan’s corporate income tax; sales, use and withholding taxes; and individual income taxes. She represents clients in state and local tax matters throughout the United States.

In her local property tax practice, Joanne is focused on resolving real and personal property tax valuation/assessment disputes, exemption claims and special assessment disputes.

Joanne’s thorough understanding of valuation principles and the underlying legal issues of her clients’ valuation cases allows her to successfully represent them in real and personal property tax appeals.

Client Work

  • Joanne was successful in reversing decision of the Michigan Tax Tribunal denying property tax exemption for a health and wellness non-profit organization’s wellness center. Chelsea Health & Wellness Foundation v Scio Township, City of Dexter and Dep’t of Treasury, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, issued October 12, 2017 (Dkt No. 332483).
  • Joanne twice convinced the Michigan Tax Tribunal and Washtenaw Circuit Court to reject the City of Dexter’s attempt to assess a lessee-user tax against a for-profit management company that managed a wellness center owned by a non-profit charitable institution, and convinced the Court of Appeals to uphold the Tax Tribunal’s decision. City of Dexter v Chelsea Health & Wellness Foundation and Power Wellness Management LLC, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, issued December 29, 2018 (Dkt No. 342364); Power Wellness Management LLC and Chelsea Health & Wellness Foundation v City of Dexter, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, issued March 4, 2021 (Dkt No. 352226); and City of Dexter v Power Wellness Management LLC and Chelsea Health & Wellness Foundation v City of Dexter, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, issued March 4, 2021 (Dkt Nos. 349793, 351074).
  • Joanne succeeded in obtaining significant use tax refund on returned replacement tires. Discount Tire Co. v. Michigan Department of Treasury, 298 Mich. App. 367; 826 N.W. 2d 769 (2012). Vacated by, in part, lv. den. by, in part, 494 Mich. 875 (2013).
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Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

  • Sales and Use Tax Handbook, Michigan Chapter, American Bar Association (2002-present)
  • “Michigan Property Tax Developments,” Michigan Municipal Finance

Presentations

  • “Overcoming workplace challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” State Bar of Michigan – Young Tax Lawyers Committee. (Jan. 26, 2021)
  • In the Courts: Legal Decisions Affecting Our Work,” Moderator, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 9, 2019)
  • “Fireside Chat – Views from the C-Suit,” POWER 2019–15th Anniversary, Detroit, Mich. (Oct. 24, 2019)
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Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2014-2024)
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2010-2021)
  • Michigan Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin’s Leading Lawyers Network (2015-2021)
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Boards, Memberships & Certifications

  • American Bar Association, Taxation Section, State and Local Taxes Committee
  • American Bar Association, Business Activity Tax (BAT) Task Force Special Committee
  • American College of Tax Counsel, Fellow
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Professional Activities

  • Adjunct Professor, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Property Tax and Valuation

Prior Work

  • Research Attorney for Michigan Court of Appeals (1987-1989)