Austin & Larson Tax Resolution
Tax Lawyer In Cohoctah Township, MI
IRS and Michigan Tax Debt Help
Tax Debt is Often
Intimidating
Frustrating
Confusing
Embarrassing
Stressful
… But it Doesn’t Have to Be
Austin & Larson Tax Resolution helps Cohoctah Township residents and businesses settle IRS and State of Michigan tax debt from its Brighton office, about 25 miles south in Livingston County. Most cases fall into four paths: an Offer in Compromise, an installment agreement, currently-not-collectible status, or penalty abatement. A straightforward installment agreement can be in place within a few weeks; an Offer in Compromise usually runs 6 to 12 months from filing to IRS decision.
What a tax lawyer in Cohoctah Township can do for you
If you owe the IRS or the State of Michigan, the job is to stop enforced collection first, then negotiate the smallest legal outcome. These are the cases we take on for Cohoctah Township clients:
- Back taxes and unfiled returns. We file the missing years first, because the IRS will not negotiate while returns are open. Then we settle the balance.
- Offer in Compromise. A formal request to settle for less than the full amount when you qualify. We run the financials before we file so we know your real odds.
- Installment agreements. A monthly payment plan with the IRS or Michigan Treasury that stops enforced collection.
- Currently-not-collectible status. If paying anything would leave you unable to cover rent and groceries, we can ask the IRS to pause collection.
- Liens and levies. We work to release bank levies and wage garnishments and to deal with federal and Michigan tax liens.
- Payroll and business tax debt. 941 payroll problems and the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty for business owners.
- Audit and Revenue Officer representation. We become your point of contact so the IRS talks to us, not to you.
One line matters here: we handle income, business, and payroll tax debt with the IRS and the State of Michigan. We do not file property-assessment appeals with the township Board of Review. If your problem is your Cohoctah property tax bill, skip to the local property tax section below, where we lay out how that process works and where to go.
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 2026 Michigan tax situation Cohoctah taxpayers are living through
Something changed this year, and it affects how you should handle a state tax problem right now.
In late 2025 the Michigan Department of Treasury moved to a new tax system called GenTax. The rollout jammed. By mid-2026, state officials and Michigan news outlets reported that more than 100,000 filers were still waiting on refunds and adjustment notices months after the deadline, and Treasury only rolled out an upgraded call-center system at the end of July 2026. For a Cohoctah taxpayer, that means state notices have been slow and sometimes wrong, refunds have been held, and getting a live person at Treasury has been hard.
For a debt case, that backlog has a direct effect. When the state’s own records are behind, a bill you receive may not reflect a payment you already made, and a deadline on a notice may land before Treasury has processed your response. We pull your state account, match it against what you actually paid, and push back on assessments that the GenTax backlog produced in error. A firm that knows the current Michigan system, not just the federal one, is worth more in 2026 than it was two years ago.
The federal side has its own 2026 reality: the IRS is still working through staffing changes, and automated collection notices have resumed at full volume. If you have an old balance you have been ignoring, the letters are coming.
Why work with a Livingston County firm
The ads you hear on the radio come from call centers in other states. They take your case, assign it to whoever is free, and you may never speak to the same person twice.
Austin & Larson works out of Michigan offices in Brighton, Saginaw, Lansing, and Ann Arbor. You can drive to Brighton and sit across a desk from the person handling your file. Our team includes IRS Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys, which means we hold the credentials that let us represent you before the IRS and the Michigan Department of Treasury.
That accountability matters more than it sounds. Federal courts have shut down Michigan tax preparers for filing false returns, and the people they burned were often the ones who picked the cheapest, least accountable option. Licensed representation is a different thing from a storefront preparer or an out-of-state marketing shop. Ask whoever you hire for their credentials and their Michigan presence in writing.
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.
Who this is, and isn’t, for
We would rather tell you the truth than sign every case.
You probably don’t need us if you owe a small balance you can pay in full, or if you can set up a short-term IRS payment plan yourself online in twenty minutes. You also don’t need us for a property-assessment dispute; that’s a Board of Review matter, and the section above tells you where to go.
You do need representation if any of this is true: you owe more than you can pay, you have unfiled returns, the IRS has filed a lien or started a levy or wage garnishment, a Revenue Officer has contacted you, you run payroll and have fallen behind on 941 deposits, or a Michigan Treasury notice does not match what you actually paid. Those are the cases where having a licensed representative in your corner changes the outcome.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a tax lawyer near Cohoctah Township?
Yes. Austin & Larson Tax Resolution serves Cohoctah Township from its Brighton office, about a 30-minute drive south in Livingston County. We also have offices in Saginaw, Lansing, and Ann Arbor.
What does it cost to resolve tax debt?
We charge a flat fee quoted after a free consultation, so you know the number before you commit. Fees track the complexity of the case. As a market benchmark, a full Offer in Compromise usually runs in the low thousands and a simple payment plan costs much less.
How long does an Offer in Compromise take?
Usually 6 to 12 months from filing to an IRS decision. An installment agreement is faster, often a few weeks. We tell you which one your numbers actually support before we file anything.
My Michigan refund or notice is stuck in 2026. What do I do?
You are not alone; the state’s GenTax system delayed a lot of accounts this year. We pull your Treasury account, compare it against what you paid, and challenge any assessment the backlog produced in error. Do not ignore a state notice even if you think it’s wrong.
How do I appeal my Cohoctah property assessment?
Through the Cohoctah Township Board of Review, which meets each March at the township hall. Residential owners start there before appealing to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. We do not handle assessment appeals, but the local property tax section above walks you through the process and dates.
Do farm parcels in Cohoctah get special treatment?
Qualifying agricultural land can claim the Qualified Agricultural Property Exemption under MCL 211.7ee, which removes the 18-mill school operating tax. Eligibility is parcel-specific, so confirm it with the township assessor.
Will you deal with the IRS so I don’t have to?
Yes. Once you sign a power of attorney, we become the point of contact. The IRS and Michigan Treasury talk to us, and the calls to you stop.
Stop carrying the tax debt alone
A free consultation costs you nothing and tells you exactly where you stand. Call Austin & Larson Tax Resolution at (866) 668-2953, or fill out the form and we’ll reach out. We serve Cohoctah Township and all of Livingston County from our Brighton office.
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!
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