By Nancy Kaffer

An increased push to collect city taxes could impact Detroit-based businesses and businesses in the suburbs that employ city residents.

The city isn't collecting all the taxes it is owed from working residents or from Detroit-based businesses, Detroit Finance Director Tom Lijana told the Detroit City Council today during a discussion of Mayor Dave Bing's deficit elimination plan.

The city collected just 36 percent of the taxes it is owed by corporations in 2009, Lijana told the council, about $12 million of a potential $33 million.

Detroit residents who work in the suburbs may not be paying the correct amount of tax, either, Lijana said, adding that the administration will ask Lansing to pass legislation requiring suburban business to withhold city taxes along with other payroll taxes from the checks of workers who are city residents.

In contrast, about 92 percent of non-Detroiters who work in the city pay city income taxes.

More than 50 percent of Detroit workers are "reverse commuters" who work outside the city, he said.

The city thinks as much as $142 million went unpaid in 2009.

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