An attorney in the firm’s Troy office, Joanne Faycurry, advises clients on a wide range of state and local tax matters, with a focus on tax controversy, litigation, and planning. She represents businesses of all sizes—from closely held companies to Fortune 500 corporations—in disputes involving Michigan’s corporate income tax, sales and use tax, withholding, and individual income tax. Her work often results in significant tax refunds and long-term savings for her clients.
Joanne’s practice includes handling multistate tax issues helping clients understand and respond to audits, assessments, and refund claims across jurisdictions. She appears before Michigan’s Tax Tribunal, Court of Claims, and Court of Appeals, as well as administrative agencies and local governments.
She also represents taxpayers in real and personal property tax appeals, exemption claims, and special assessment disputes. Her knowledge of valuation principles and legal precedent allows her to build strong cases in property tax matters.
In addition to her legal practice, Joanne taught Property Tax and Valuation as an Adjunct Professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She regularly presents on state and local tax developments for professional and industry groups.
Education & Credentials
Education
Michigan State University College of Law
J.D.- cum laude
Wayne State University
B.A., EconomicsBar Admission
Spoken Languages
- Arabic
Acknowledgements
- The Best Lawyers in America®
- Best Lawyers, 2014–2024
- Michigan Super Lawyers
- Thomson Reuters, 2010–2021
- Michigan Women’s Edition Super Lawyers
- Thomson Reuters, 2017–2020
- Michigan Leading Lawyer
- Law Bulletin’s Leading Lawyers Network, 2015–2021
- Top 25: Women Business Michigan Super Lawyers
- Thomson Reuters, 2017
Prominent Assignments
- Successfully reversed a decision by the Michigan Tax Tribunal denying a property tax exemption for a wellness center operated by a health-focused nonprofit organization.
- Twice prevailed before the Michigan Tax Tribunal and Washtenaw Circuit Court in blocking a municipality’s attempt to impose a lessee-user tax on a for-profit entity managing a nonprofit-owned wellness center, and successfully defended those outcomes on appeal.
- Secured a significant use tax refund related to returned replacement tires in a published Michigan Court of Appeals decision.
- Obtained a favorable ruling from the Court of Claims confirming that vehicles used in testing and research—including those of competitors—are exempt from Michigan use tax.
- Persuaded the Court of Claims to reverse its prior denial of a use tax refund on vehicles leased by a taxpayer to its employees and retirees.
- Successfully overturned a Court of Claims decision that had disallowed deductions for contributions to a Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust, establishing that such contributions did not qualify as “compensation” under Michigan’s Single Business Tax.
- Convinced the Court of Claims and Court of Appeals that an LLC electing corporate treatment under federal tax law could be included in a consolidated return under Michigan’s Single Business Tax regime.
- Played a key role, including filing amicus briefs, in reversing a significant use tax assessment related to parts provided as part of a vehicle manufacturer’s goodwill program.
- Achieved reversal at the Court of Appeals of a trial court decision regarding the inclusion of deemed dividends in gross receipts, resulting in a substantial reduction to a taxpayer’s Single Business Tax liability.
- Successfully defended a manufacturing company’s right to participate in Michigan’s voluntary disclosure program, eliminating millions of dollars in assessed tax, penalties, and interest.
- Prevented a township from increasing the property tax assessment on a large-scale energy generation facility.
Professional Involvement
- · 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
- · Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- · Federal Bar Association
- · International Women’s Forum, Michigan Chapter
- · Litigation Counsel of America, Charter Fellow and Chair of Michigan Chapter
- · State Bar of Michigan, Taxation Section, State and Local Tax Committee, Chairperson (1998–2000)
- · State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section, State and Local Tax Committee, Chairperson (1995–2000)
- · State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Tax Conference Planning Task Force (2007–present)
- · Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Community Involvement
- · Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Board of Trustees (2004–2011)
- · Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, Advisory Board Council Member (2012–present)
- · Seeds of Peace, Michigan Chapter, Co-president (2001–2003)
- · Women of Tomorrow, Michigan Chapter Advisory Board, Chairperson (2012–present)
Publications/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-Suite, POWER 2019 – 15th Anniversary, Detroit, MI (Oct. 24, 2019)
- The Many Offshoots of Sales and Use Tax, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 7, 2018)
- A View from the Top: How to Build a Successful Career that Includes Pro Bono and Community Service Work, Puerto Rico Day, University at Buffalo School of Law (Apr. 16, 2018)
- Real Property Tax Developments: Valuation of Big Box Retailers and “Dark Store” Assessments, Institute for Professionals in Taxation – Michigan One-Day Tax Seminar (Apr. 29, 2016)
- State and Local Tax Developments in Michigan, Tax Executives Institute (Mar. 30, 2016)
- Sales & Use Tax Litigation, MICPA, Michigan Department of Treasury, State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, and Michigan Women’s Tax Association (Nov. 4, 2015)
- The Multistate Tax Compact Election: An Update on the Current Litigation, NYU Summer Institute in Taxation, New York, NY (Jul. 15, 2015)
- Vanishing Ambiguities – Sales and Use Tax Issues and Audits, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 5, 2014)
- Introduction to State and Local Taxation: Other Constitutional Issues, NYU Summer Institute in Taxation, New York, NY (Jul. 22, 2014)
- Recent Michigan Tax Cases: Examples to Put into Practice, State Tax Forum and Webinar, Michigan Association of CPAs (Jun. 10, 2014)
- Hot Topics in State Taxation, Co-presenter, Annual State Tax Meeting, Tax Executives Institute (Nov. 21, 2013)
- Mock Trial & Appellate Argument – This Could Apply to You!, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 6, 2013)
- Sales and Use Tax Super-Session – Everything You Need to Know, Moderator, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 5, 2013)
- Other Constitutional Issues, NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, New York, NY (Jul. 23, 2013)
- Introduction to State and Local Taxation: Other Constitutional Issues, Co-presenter, NYU Summer Institute in Taxation (Jul. 23, 2013)
- The Latest Developments in Michigan State and Local Taxation, 26th Annual Tax Conference, State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section (May 23, 2013)
- Mock Trial & Appellate Argument – Corporate Officer Liability, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 7, 2012)
- Recent Case Law Updates, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 6, 2012)
- Other Constitutional Issues, NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies (Jul. 16, 2012)
- Sales and Use Tax Updates – Stories from the Field, MACPA Management Information and Business Show, Novi, MI (Jun. 27, 2012)
- Michigan Sales and Use Tax Exemptions, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 10, 2011)
- Sales and Use Taxes, Primer on State Taxation Workshop, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 8, 2011)
- Sales and Use Tax Updates after the Streamlined Sales Tax Legislation, Institute for Professionals in Taxation – Michigan One-Day Tax Seminar (Sep. 9, 2011)
- Why is Everyone Talking About Unclaimed Property?, Moderator, IPT Michigan One-Day Tax Seminar (Sep. 9, 2011)
- Property Tax – Did You Miss the Boat?, MACPA Management Information & Business Show (Jun. 29, 2011)
- Roundup of Michigan Tax Cases, Michigan Tax Conference (Nov. 9–10, 2010)
- Developing a State Tax Case for Litigation, Institute for Professionals in Taxation – Income Tax Symposium, Miami, FL (Nov. 10, 2010)
- Sales and Use Tax Handbook – Michigan Chapter, American Bar Association (2002–present)