MiUI Is Here: What Michigan Employers Need to Know and What APS Is Doing to Help

If you are a Michigan employer, you have probably heard the name MiUI by now. Maybe you received one of our emails. Maybe you got something from the state. Maybe you are still not entirely sure what it means for your business or what you are supposed to do about it.

This article is here to clear all of that up.

We are going to walk you through what MiUI is, why it matters, what has made this transition more complicated than expected, and exactly what you need to do. We will also tell you where Accurate Pay Systems fits in and how we can help.

What Is MiUI?

MiUI stands for Michigan Unemployment Insurance. It is the State of Michigan's brand-new unemployment tax and benefits system, and it replaces the platform Michigan employers have used for years: MiWAM (Michigan Web Account Manager).

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) launched MiUI in two phases:

• Phase 1 (Tax functions): Went live on February 23, 2026. This is the side that most directly affects you as an employer right now. Tax functions include filing quarterly wage reports, making payments, uploading wage files, and managing your unemployment tax account.

• Phase 2 (Benefits functions): Coming later in 2026. This phase will handle unemployment claims, appeals, and benefit charge management.

The short version: MiUI is now the system Michigan uses for unemployment. MiWAM is being phased out. If you have not yet made the switch, now is the time.

Why This Transition Has Been More Complicated Than Expected

We want to be straightforward with you about something: this rollout has not gone as smoothly as the UIA planned, and that is not just our observation. It is something smaller payroll services and CPAs throughout Michigan have all been navigating together.

A number of employer accounts did not automatically transfer over to the new system. The platform itself has proven less intuitive than anticipated. And because MiUI is what the UIA calls an "employer-driven system," there are steps that only you, the business owner, can take, which means we cannot simply handle everything behind the scenes the way we might have been able to before.

We are not sharing this to alarm you. We are sharing it because we think you deserve to know the full picture, and because understanding the why makes it easier to prioritize the what.

What You Need to Do: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Here is exactly what needs to happen to get your account set up and keep your payroll compliance on track.

Step 1: Create or Access Your MiLogin for Business Account

MiUI does not have its own separate login. Instead, it uses Michigan's single sign-on system called MiLogin for Business. You may already have one of these if you have ever accessed MTO (Michigan Treasury Online) or LARA (the state system for annual business report filings and license renewals).

Important: your old MiWAM username and password cannot be used to log into MiLogin for Business. These are separate systems.

If you do not yet have a MiLogin for Business account, you will need to create one. You can do so through the UIA's website, and MiUI will automatically be added as a service when you log in that way.

Step 2: Retrieve Your MiUI Activation Code from MiWAM

This is the step that has caught a lot of employers off guard, so pay close attention.

Even though MiWAM is being replaced, you still need to log into your MiWAM account one more time to retrieve your 8-digit MiUI Activation Code. This code is what you will use to initiate your MiUI account.

To find it: log into MiWAM and look for the "MiUI Activation Code" tab on the landing page. This tab is only visible to users with a MiWAM Master role.

If you do not see the tab, you may not have the right access level. In that case, email MiWAMSupport@Michigan.gov with your employer account number, username, and title to request access.

One more important note: if the person who originally set up your MiLogin account is no longer with your company, there is a separate form that must be completed to update the account owner before you can proceed. Contact the Office of Employer Ombudsman (OEO) for help at 1-855-484-2636, Option 4.

Step 3: Initiate Your MiUI Account

Once you have your activation code, you can use it to initiate your MiUI account. This step must be completed by you as the business owner. Even if we have already taken steps on your behalf and even if some permissions appeared to carry over from MiWAM, the UIA requires all employers to initiate their own accounts directly.

For step-by-step guidance, visit MiUI University: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/uia/miui-university

Step 4: Grant Accurate Pay Systems TPA Access

Once your MiUI account is active, you need to designate Accurate Pay Systems as your Third-Party Administrator (TPA). This is what gives us the legal authorization to file and pay your quarterly wage reports on your behalf.

When adding us as your TPA, you will need our TPA ID number. Contact our office and we will provide it along with step-by-step guidance to make sure everything is set up correctly.

When adding us, please make sure to grant both of the following permissions:

• Submit employment and wage detail

• Edit tax payments, update and submit

Both permissions are required. Without them, we are unable to act on your account, which means your filings cannot be processed.

Why You Should Not Wait: The Benefits Launch Is Coming

Here is something that goes beyond just the quarterly filing deadline.

The UIA is currently preparing to launch MiUI for Benefits later this year. This phase of the system will cover unemployment claims, appeals, and benefit charge management. It is the part of the system that allows you (or us, as your TPA) to protest or appeal unemployment benefit charges filed against your account.

If your MiUI account is not active by the time benefits functions launch, you could miss the window to contest those charges entirely. That means you could end up paying unemployment benefits that you may have had every right to appeal.

This is not a hypothetical risk. The UIA has specifically flagged it as a consequence of delayed activation. Getting your account set up now protects you not just for quarterly filings today, but for your ability to manage benefit charges when that phase goes live.

What's New: Important Updates from the UIA (July 2026)

The UIA's July 2026 Employer Advisor newsletter included several updates worth knowing about.

Quarterly wage reports are due July 27, 2026. Reports and payments must be filed in MiUI by that date. Late or incomplete filings can result in penalty and interest charges. A quarterly report must be filed every quarter, even if you had no payroll or are unable to make a payment.

The UIA has launched a new Tax Issue Tracker. This replaces the old UIA-MiUIEmployerSupport@Michigan.gov email inbox. If you need technical help with MiUI, MiLogin, MiWAM, or other tax-related issues, you can now submit a request through the Issue Tracker and receive a tracking number to monitor its status. The tracker is available through the Office of Employer Ombudsman. Reach OEO by phone at 1-855-484-2636, Option 4.

New Michigan unemployment laws took effect in July 2026. A few changes worth noting for employers:

• The Work Share Program is expanding, giving employers more flexibility to reduce employee hours during economic downturns without resorting to layoffs.

• Employers involved in unemployment cases before an administrative law judge with multiple related hearings can now have those consolidated into a single proceeding, streamlining the appeals process.

• Employers will not be charged for unemployment benefits paid to workers who leave their jobs due to domestic violence or abuse. Those benefits will instead be charged to a nonchargeable benefits account.

These changes are effective now. If any of them affect your business, we are happy to walk you through what they mean for your account.

Where Things Stand and How We Can Help

We have been working through this transition alongside every one of our clients. Here is how we can assist you:

Option 1: Share Your MiLogin for Business Credentials with Us If you share your MiLogin for Business username and password with our office, we can help complete your MiUI registration and assign ourselves as your TPA. This option is offered at no additional cost and is the fastest path forward.

Option 2: We Handle the Full Setup for You If you would prefer a more hands-off approach, we can create your MiLogin for Business account from scratch and complete the full setup on your behalf for a one-time fee of $50. The only thing we will need from you during the process is a verification code that will be sent to your email, so please be available to respond promptly.

In either case, we are here. Call our office, reply to any of our emails, or reach out through the contact information below. This is not something you have to figure out on your own.

Quick Reference: Key Links and Contact Information

MiUI University (setup guides and resources): https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/uia/miui-university

MiUI for Employers (account initiation): https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/uia/miui-university/miui-resources-for-employers-and-tpas

MiUI FAQs (including reactivation help): https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/uia/miui-university/miui-faq/miui-for-employers/account-maintenance

MiWAM Support (activation code access issues): MiWAMSupport@Michigan.gov

UIA Tax Issue Tracker: Office of Employer Ombudsman: 1-855-484-2636, Option 4

Need our TPA ID to add us in MiUI? Give us a call or send us an email and we will walk you through the full setup.

Already an APS Client?

Everything in this article applies directly to you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office so we can get your MiUI setup completed and make sure we have the access we need to keep filing on your behalf without interruption.

office@accupayinc.com | (844) 9-APSINC (844-927-7462) | www.accupayinc.com

Not Yet an APS Client?

If you found this article and are not currently working with us, we are glad you are here.

Navigating payroll compliance, unemployment filings, and system transitions like MiUI is exactly what we do every day. We take the guesswork out of it so you can focus on running your business.

If you have been thinking about outsourcing your payroll or switching providers, we would love to connect. Getting started is simple and we will handle the heavy lifting from day one, including getting your MiUI access set up the right way.

Reach out to us to learn more about becoming a client:

info@accupayinc.com | (844) 9-APSINC (844-927-7462) | www.accupayinc.com

We would love to help!

Accurate Pay Systems is a Michigan-based payroll and HR services company dedicated to helping businesses stay compliant and stay confident. This article was written for our current clients navigating the MiUI transition. For general questions or to inquire about our services, please contact us anytime.