Austin & Larson Tax Resolution
Tax Lawyer In Hamburg Township, MI
IRS and Michigan tax debt, handled by a licensed tax attorney and enrolled agents from our Brighton office, about 15 minutes from home.
Tax Debt is Often
Intimidating
Frustrating
Confusing
Embarrassing
Stressful
… But it Doesn’t Have to Be
Is this an assessment problem or a debt problem?
Two different tax problems send people searching for a Hamburg Township tax lawyer, and they have two different fixes. Sort yours before you hire anyone.
Path A · Property assessment
Your assessment or tax bill jumped
If you opened a Notice of Assessment and your taxable value climbed, that is an assessment dispute, not a tax-debt case, and you usually do not need to hire anyone to start.
In Michigan, the March Board of Review is the only time of year you can appeal your property’s value. In Hamburg Township it meets at Township Hall, 10405 Merrill Road. Call the Assessor’s Office at (810) 222-1163 to talk through your number informally first. If the Board denies you, the next step is the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which has a Small Claims division (informal, often handled without a lawyer) and the Entire Tribunal (formal, for larger disputes).
For the 2026 cycle the state inflation rate multiplier was 2.7 percent, and your taxable value is the lower of your assessed value and capped value. Current dates and forms are on hamburg.mi.us.
We do not file property assessment appeals. If this is your situation, the township process above is your starting point.
Path B · Tax debt
You owe back taxes to the IRS or Michigan
If you have unfiled returns, a balance you cannot pay, an IRS notice (a CP14, CP504, or LT11), a wage garnishment, a bank levy, or a tax lien, that is a tax-debt case. That is what our team does every day, on both the federal and state side.
Tax debt does not get cheaper while you wait. Penalties and interest keep stacking, and the IRS and Michigan Treasury both have the power to garnish wages and seize bank funds without going to court first.
The rest of this page is about how we resolve a Path B case. If that is you, keep reading, or skip to a free consultation.
Not sure which one you have? Bring the notice to the free consultation and we will tell you in the first few minutes, even if the answer is that you do not need us.
Looking For A Fresh Start in Michigan?
We Are Here To Help!
Should the weight of tax debt be pressing down on you, we urge you to connect with us to avail of a no-cost
consultation. Our objective revolves around untangling tax debt complexities for clients entangled in an array of
tax-related dilemmas. It would bring us immense satisfaction to furnish you with solutions to your inquiries and aid
you in swiftly settling your tax debt matters.
The 4-Path Resolution Check
Most IRS and Michigan tax debt resolves down one of four paths. We run every new case through the same four questions at the free consultation, before anyone pays us a cent, to find which one fits.
Pay it off short-term
If you can clear the balance within about six months, you skip the formal programs and their setup fees entirely. Sometimes the right advice is simply how to do this without overpaying penalties.
Fits when: the balance is small relative to your income.
Installment agreement
Pay over time in monthly amounts. Balances under $50,000 often qualify for a streamlined plan, and we negotiate a payment you can actually live with rather than one the IRS computer suggests.
Fits when: you can pay, just not all at once.
Currently non-collectible
If your income barely covers necessary living expenses, the IRS and Michigan can pause collection and stop levies. Interest still accrues, but the pressure stops while your situation recovers.
Fits when: paying anything would create real hardship.
Offer in compromise
Settle for less than the full balance, but only when what the IRS can reasonably collect from you is genuinely lower than what you owe. We pre-screen so we file offers with a real chance, not hope letters.
Fits when: your assets and income cannot cover the debt.
A fifth lever, on top of any path: penalty abatement. If this is your first balance in years, or you had a real reason you fell behind (illness, a death in the family, a disaster), we can ask the IRS to remove failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties through first-time abatement or reasonable cause.
Why a good offer beats a hopeful one
- 21% of offers the IRS accepted in fiscal year 2024 (7,199 of 33,591 received).
- 42% → 21% the acceptance rate fell by half in a single year, from FY2023 to FY2024.
- $205 application fee per offer (waived under the low-income certification), plus a 20% down payment on lump-sum offers.
An offer that gets returned or rejected still costs you the fee, the down payment, and months of waiting while penalties grow. Before we file, we confirm you qualify, that every required return is filed, and that the offer amount lines up with what the IRS calls your reasonable collection potential. If an offer is not your best path, we will tell you, and point you to one of the other three.
A Michigan tax debt is not like an IRS debt
Michigan tax debt does not expire
The IRS generally has 10 years to collect a tax once it is assessed, after which the balance, penalties, and interest are wiped out. Michigan has no equivalent deadline. The six-year limit people cite only restricts when the state can sue you in court. It does not stop the Department of Treasury from collecting administratively through wage levies, bank levies, and liens for as long as it takes.
If you owe both the IRS and the State of Michigan, ignoring the state half is the more dangerous mistake. A federal debt may run out the clock. A Michigan debt generally will not.
Settling federal can settle state
Under Michigan law (MCL 205.23a), if the IRS accepts your offer in compromise, the state can compromise your Michigan balance for the same percentage of relief. Resolve the federal debt the right way, and the state piece can follow it down. Michigan’s own offer requires the greater of $100 or 20 percent of the offer up front.
Handling both together, in the right order, is often the difference between clearing a debt and leaving half of it on the books. It is also the reason a Michigan-based team has an edge over a national one here.
What We Do | Tax Resolution
Offer In Compromise
Installment Agreements
Non-Collectable Status
Compliance
Revenue Officer Representation
Levies & Wage Garnishments
Bankruptcy
Audit Representation
Tax Return Preparation
Handling tax resolution may feel daunting, but with our expert guidance, you'll experience relief knowing seasoned professionals are by your side. At Austin & Larson Tax Resolution, our experienced Michigan tax lawyers are dedicated to delivering the reassurance and help you deserve. Well-regarded for their expertise and in-depth understanding of Michigan State tax regulations, our proficient tax relief lawyers provide a full spectrum of services, from thorough consultations to exceptional legal advocacy, all focused on securing the most favorable resolution to your tax matters.
Our Process | Simple, Fast & Stress Free
Step 1: Initial Contact
During your first call to our office, we will ask you a brief
background of your current tax situation and determine the
most convenient office location for your free initial
consultation.
Step 2: Free Consultation
We will meet with you to review and discuss your individual
facts and circumstances to create a customized tax relief plan
for your situation and the next steps to take to resolve your tax
situation.
Step 3: Begin Resolving Debt
Once we have decided to move forward, we will immediately begin working with the IRS on your behalf to resolve your
case as quickly as possible. We will also provide advice and the steps you need to take to ensure you do not acquire
any additional debt while we work to settle your case. From the moment you retain our firm, we will be your voice with
the IRS and the point of contact for all taxing entities.
Step 4: Monitor Case Status
Some tax debt cases can be resolved quickly, while others may
have quite a bit of back and forth contact with the IRS to reach
full resolution. We will regularly monitor your case and keep
you in the loop along the way so you are never left in the dark.
Step 5: Tax Freedom!
It is our goal not only to resolve your current tax debt but also
to make sure that you don't have any further tax problems.
After we have reached resolution with your case, you will be
fully equipped with best practices to avoid future tax issues of
any kind.
When you probably don’t need to hire us
A firm that says yes to everyone is not looking out for you. Here is when to keep your money.
- Your property assessment is too high. Start with the Hamburg Township Board of Review (Path A above). It is built for homeowners to use directly, and it is free.
- You owe a small balance you can clear in a few months. You can set up a short-term plan yourself at IRS.gov without paying anyone.
- You have one missing return and the records to file it. File it. A single straightforward year rarely needs representation.
- A firm promised to settle your debt for pennies on the dollar before reviewing your finances. Walk away. No one can promise an offer in compromise will be accepted, and the IRS rejected nearly four of five offers in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questoions
Do I need a tax lawyer to fight a Hamburg Township property assessment?
Usually not, at least to start. The March Board of Review is the only time of year you can appeal your property’s value. It meets at Township Hall, 10405 Merrill Road, and you can call the Assessor’s Office at (810) 222-1163 to discuss your number informally first. We do not file assessment appeals; that process is designed for homeowners to use directly.
How far is your office from Hamburg Township?
Our closest office is in downtown Brighton at 812 W. Grand River Ave., the next community over in Livingston County, roughly a 15-minute drive from most of the township. You can meet us in person without driving to Detroit, Ann Arbor, or Lansing.
Does Michigan tax debt expire after 10 years like IRS debt?
No. The IRS generally has 10 years to collect after a tax is assessed. Michigan has no equivalent deadline. The six-year limit people cite only restricts lawsuits; it does not stop the Department of Treasury from collecting through levies and liens for as long as it takes. That is why the state side should not be ignored.
What is the IRS offer in compromise acceptance rate?
In fiscal year 2024 the IRS accepted 7,199 of 33,591 offers, about 21 percent, down from roughly 42 percent the year before. A weak offer wastes the fee and months of waiting, which is why we pre-screen every case before filing.
Can you stop a wage garnishment or bank levy?
In many cases, yes. Once you authorize us to represent you, we contact the IRS or Michigan Treasury directly and work to stop or release the garnishment or levy while we put a resolution in place. The sooner you call after a notice, the more options you have.
What if I have unfiled tax returns?
Unfiled returns come first. Neither the IRS nor Michigan will approve a payment plan or an offer in compromise until you are caught up. We prepare and file the missing years, then build the resolution around the corrected balance.
Do you handle both the IRS and the State of Michigan?
Yes, and the two are connected. Under MCL 205.23a, if the IRS accepts your offer in compromise, Michigan can compromise your state balance for the same percentage. Handling both together, in the right order, is often the difference between clearing a debt and leaving half behind.
What does it cost to work with you?
The first consultation is free. Fees depend on the type of case and the work involved, and we tell you the cost before you decide to move forward. Be cautious of any firm that quotes a settlement before reviewing your finances.
Bring the notice. We’ll tell you where you stand.
One call, no obligation. We will tell you which of the four paths fits, what it is likely to take, and whether you even need us, before you decide anything.
Weekdays 8am-6pm
Brighton, Saginaw, Lansing, and Jackson, MI
Free Phone or In-Person Consultation
Fill out the form below or give us a call today to speak with one of our tax experts!
Learn From The Experts
How To File Back Taxes Without Records
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 21, 2026 Yes, you can file back taxes even if you have no W-2s, no 1099s, and no shoebox of receipts. The IRS already holds most of the income data...
Selling Or Refinancing A Home With An IRS Tax Lien
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 19, 2026 Yes, you can sell or refinance a home that has an IRS tax lien on it. People do it every month. The lien makes the deal harder, not impossible,...
Can The IRS Garnish 1099 Wages? What Gets Taken
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 17, 2026 Yes, the IRS can garnish 1099 wages, though not the way it docks an employee's paycheck. There's no employer to withhold a slice each pay...