Austin & Larson Tax Resolution
Tax Lawyer In Dixboro, MI
A tax problem in Dixboro is almost always one of two different things, and they are not fixed in the same place.
IRS and Michigan Treasury debt
We take over contact with the IRS and the Michigan Treasury, stop active collection, and work the case to a resolution you can carry. The first step is Form 2848, the Power of Attorney that routes every call and letter to our office instead of yours.
The IRS charges 7 percent interest on unpaid tax for the quarter that starts July 1, 2026, up from 6 percent in the spring, and it compounds daily on top of a failure to pay penalty. Waiting adds to the balance every month, which is the whole reason to move on a notice instead of filing it in a drawer.
What we file on the federal side
- Offer in Compromise. Form 656 with Form 433-A, to settle a qualifying balance for less than the full amount.
- Installment Agreement. Form 9465, set up as a partial pay or full pay agreement the IRS will actually approve.
- Currently Not Collectible status. The Form 433-A financials that pause collection when you cannot pay right now.
- Penalty abatement. First time and reasonable cause arguments, Form 843, to remove failure to file and failure to pay penalties.
- Innocent Spouse Relief. Form 8857, when a spouse or former spouse caused the problem and you qualify.
- Unfiled returns, audits, Appeals, and Tax Court. Back returns prepared, audit representation, Form 12203 for Appeals, and a Tax Court petition on a 90 day Statutory Notice of Deficiency.
The Michigan Treasury side
When it comes to state tax issues, our team manages all Michigan Department of Treasury matters, from income and sales tax to withholding disputes involving Forms 5080 and 5081. We also handle state Power of Attorney filings on Form 151 and aggressive state collection actions. As any experienced Tax Lawyer in Dixboro, MI will tell you, Michigan’s Treasury Department tends to move considerably faster than the IRS when pursuing outstanding balances, which means a demand letter from the state is something you need to act on immediately rather than set aside.
Old debt and the collection clock
Every case starts with your IRS account transcripts. They tell us what the IRS thinks you owe, which years are open, which are closed, and where the 10 year collection statute stands. Some balances are closer to expiring than people expect, which can change the whole strategy. For more on the collection side, see our IRS collection defense and Offer in Compromise work.
Tax Debt is Often
Intimidating
Frustrating
Confusing
Embarrassing
Stressful
… But it Doesn’t Have to Be
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.
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.
When You Need a Tax Lawyer, Not Just an Accountant
A return preparer handles your filing and an examination level audit. A tax lawyer in Dixboro, MI steps in when the case carries legal exposure, when collection has started, or when liberty is on the line.
If any of these fits, the case has moved past what a preparer can do:
- A Letter 1058, the Final Notice of Intent to Levy with your right to a hearing.
- A wage garnishment or bank levy notice, such as a CP90 or CP297, or a CP504.
- Payroll trust fund tax on Form 941, which the IRS chases ahead of almost everything else.
- Three or more years of unfiled personal or business returns.
- A Statutory Notice of Deficiency with a 90 day window to petition Tax Court.
- Any contact from a Special Agent with IRS Criminal Investigation.
- A balance over 50,000 dollars with a Revenue Officer assigned to the case.
- A Michigan Treasury demand letter, garnishment, or levy.
Bridgette Austin holds a JD and an Enrolled Agent license. Dustin Larson holds an EA and a CPA. Most firms have one side of that. We run both on the same case, which is why a notice does not get handed off between offices.
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.
How We Work Your Case
Five steps, and you stop talking to the IRS after step two.
- Consultation. We read your notices, your filing history, and your basic finances, then tell you which track you are on and what the realistic path looks like.
- Power of Attorney. Form 2848 goes to the IRS, and Form 151 to the Michigan Treasury if the state is involved. Every collector call and letter now comes to us.
- Transcripts and analysis. We pull your full IRS account, wage, and income transcripts and any state records, then map open years, closed years, and your collection statute dates.
- Strategy and filing. Based on the transcripts we file the right resolution, whether that is an Offer in Compromise, an Installment Agreement, Currently Not Collectible status, penalty abatement, or innocent spouse relief, and we deal with Revenue Officers, Appeals, and Treasury directly.
- Follow through. After resolution we watch the account for 12 months to confirm payments apply correctly and, on an accepted Offer, that the five year compliance term stays clean.
When We Are Not the Right Call
We are not the right firm for everyone, and saying so early saves you a meeting.
- If you just need this year’s return prepared, with no balance and no notice, that is a job for a preparer, not a tax lawyer.
- If you owe a small balance you can clear in a few months, the IRS online payment agreement may be all you need, with no representation at all.
- If your only issue is an assessment you can document yourself, the Tribunal’s Small Claims track is built for self representation, and many owners file it on their own.
Where the case has real legal exposure, a started collection action, or a deadline you cannot afford to miss, that is where we earn our place.
Who Handles Your Case
Your case is run by credentialed people, not a call center.
Bridgette M. Austin, JD, EA, Vice President. A law degree and an Enrolled Agent license, which together cover legal strategy and direct representation before the IRS, the State of Michigan, and US Tax Court.
Dustin Larson, EA, CPA. An Enrolled Agent and a Certified Public Accountant, covering the accounting and IRS procedural side of the file.
The firm serves Dixboro and Superior Township from its Ann Arbor office at 527 East Liberty Street, Suite 212, a short drive northwest of the village.
The Clock Is Ticking on Your Best Tax Relief Options
With every passing month, the IRS is stacking more penalties and interest onto your balance. The relief programs available to you right now aren’t guaranteed to last, a single policy shift or one missed deadline can take them off the table entirely. As an experienced Tax Lawyer in Dixboro, MI, our Plymouth tax resolution team has guided hundreds of clients through the entire process, from that nerve-wracking first conversation all the way to a signed agreement they could actually breathe with. Give us a call, walk us through your situation, and we’ll give you a clear picture of where things stand and the real steps forward.
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!
Tax Debt is Often
Intimidating
Frustrating
Confusing
Embarrassing
Stressful
… But it Doesn’t Have to Be
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Tax Lawyer in Dixboro
Do you have an office near Dixboro?
Yes. Our Ann Arbor office is at 527 East Liberty Street, Suite 212, a short drive from Dixboro. We serve Dixboro, Superior Township, and the rest of Washtenaw County, and we meet by phone or in person.
Is my problem an IRS issue or a Washtenaw County property tax issue?
Look at who sent the notice. If it came from the IRS or the Michigan Department of Treasury, it is a Track 1 collection or audit matter. If it came from your local assessor or the Washtenaw County Treasurer, it is a Track 2 property tax matter, which runs on the local assessment calendar instead of the IRS clock.
Can you stop an IRS levy or wage garnishment?
Yes. We file Form 2848, which routes all IRS contact to our office, and we respond to the levy notice to stop wage garnishment, bank levies, and asset seizure. Active collection usually goes on hold within days of that filing while we set up the resolution.
I think my Dixboro property assessment is too high. What is the deadline?
Your Assessment Change Notice arrives in mid February. You protest at the March Board of Review first, which in 2026 meets the week of March 9. If that does not fix it, you appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal by July 31, 2026 for a home or farm. Commercial and industrial property can go straight to the Tribunal by May 29, 2026, because the May 31 deadline falls on a Sunday.
Does the IRS ever forgive old tax debt?
The IRS has a 10 year collection statute that starts on the date the tax is assessed, not the year it was earned. Once it passes, the balance is legally uncollectible. Some actions pause that clock, including bankruptcy, a pending Offer in Compromise, and Collection Due Process appeals. We pull your transcripts and calculate the exact dates as part of every case.
Do I need a lawyer, or will an accountant do?
An accountant handles return preparation and examination level audits. You want a tax lawyer in Dixboro when the case has legal exposure: a Letter 1058, payroll trust fund tax on Form 941, three or more unfiled years, a 90 day Tax Court deadline, or any contact from IRS Criminal Investigation. Our firm carries both a JD with an EA and a separate EA with a CPA, so one file covers both sides.
Will I have to go to court?
Most cases resolve through administrative channels, the IRS collection division, the audit examination division, and the Office of Appeals. Tax Court only enters the picture on a 90 day Statutory Notice of Deficiency or if Appeals does not resolve the matter. On the property tax side, the Tribunal’s Small Claims hearings are informal and run about 30 minutes, often by phone.
Learn From The Experts
IRS LT11 Notice (Or Letter 1058): How To Stop An IRS Levy
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 9, 2026 An IRS LT11 notice, also sent as Letter 1058, is the last warning the IRS gives before it can legally take your wages, bank accounts, or other...
How To Respond To An IRS Notice Of Deficiency
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 7, 2026 An IRS notice of deficiency starts a 90-day clock, and that clock is the first thing to deal with. You have 90 days from the date printed on the...
CP504 Notice: What The IRS Can Actually Take And What To Do First
Written By: Michael Vale Reviewed By: Bridgette Austin, Esq., EA, Co-Founder and Tax Attorney Last Reviewed: August 5, 2026 If a CP504 notice just landed in your mailbox, here's the short version. The IRS wants a past-due balance, and it's warning you that it will...