Tax representation grounded in more than 50 years of work on behalf of clients in Troy.

If you are facing a tax dispute or have received a notice from the IRS or the Michigan Department of Treasury, the matter deserves prompt attention. Tax problems are stressful, and they rarely fix themselves. Our Troy, MI tax lawyer helps individuals and business owners answer audits, back taxes, and collection notices with a plan that fits the situation. Gudeman & Associates, P.C. has worked on tax matters since our founder began practicing in 1973. Contact our office to review your circumstances and the options that apply.

Tax Lawyer Troy, MI

A tax lawyer is an attorney who concentrates on what you owe, how it gets collected, and how disputes are resolved. That work touches federal income tax, Michigan tax, payroll and business tax, and the penalties that show up when a filing is late or wrong. Most people never deal with these rules until a notice arrives, and by then the clock is usually running.

Our Troy tax attorney handles both sides of the problem. We help clients plan so their returns hold up, and we step in when a return is questioned or a balance has gone unpaid. Some matters end with the right paperwork and a single letter. Others run through an audit, an appeal, or a negotiation with a revenue agency. Sometimes the IRS and the state are both involved at once, which adds another layer to manage. In each case, you have someone reading the notices and responding for you, instead of guessing at what the government wants.

Types of Tax Cases We Handle in Troy

Tax trouble takes many shapes, from one late return to a dispute that spans several years. We work with people and businesses across Troy on each of them. These are the matters that come through our door most often.

• Tax planning. We look at transactions, business structure, and asset transfers before they happen, so the tax result is something you chose rather than something you discover later. Good planning often prevents the problems below. It also tends to cost far less than fixing a mistake after the fact.
• IRS and state tax audits. An audit notice does not have to mean trouble, but it does call for a careful response. We help you gather records, answer information requests, and deal with the examiner directly. The goal is to close the review with as little disruption as possible.
• Tax disputes and appeals. When you disagree with a proposed adjustment, you have the right to push back. We review each point the agency raises and pursue the appeal channels that apply to your matter. A strong written response early on can resolve many disputes before they escalate.
• Back taxes and collection. Liens, levies, and wage garnishment are real consequences of unpaid tax. We work to pause that pressure and find a resolution you can actually afford, whether that means a payment plan or a settlement. The sooner we get involved, the more room there usually is to maneuver.
• Delinquent and unfiled returns. Falling behind on returns is more common than people admit. We help you get current and limit the penalties that build while returns sit unfiled. Getting back into compliance is also the first step toward most forms of relief.
• Business and payroll tax. Payroll, sales, and business income tax each carry their own deadlines and traps. For Troy companies of every size, we handle business tax matters that range from routine filings to audits and agency notices.
• Estate, trust, and gift tax. Transfers of wealth come with their own filing rules. We prepare and review returns for estates and trusts and advise on the gift and inheritance questions that come with them.
• Tax issues in bankruptcy. Some tax debt can be addressed through bankruptcy, and some cannot. We look closely at how the two areas interact before you commit to either path.

Why Choose Gudeman & Associates, P.C. as my Tax Lawyer in Troy, MI?

Local Tax Knowledge and a Long Track Record

Edward J. Gudeman built his career around tax work. He started in the tax department of Arthur Andersen in Detroit, earned his law degree from the University of Michigan, and was admitted to the United States Tax Court in 1975. He has practiced law since 1973, and he opened our firm to bring that background to individuals and businesses across Southeast Michigan.

When you hire our tax lawyer in Troy, you get a firm that has handled tax filings, disputes, and resolutions for decades, for clients ranging from individuals and investors to business owners, estates, and trusts. His admission to the United States Tax Court means we can represent clients in that forum when a matter cannot be settled with the IRS directly. Our tax attorney has seen how revenue agencies operate, and we put that to work for you. We aim for steady, accurate effort that moves your matter toward a result you can live with.

Understanding Tax Cases

Key Tax Problems and How They Get Resolved

Most tax matters fall into a handful of categories. Knowing the basic terms makes the whole process less intimidating.

• Audits. A review of your return and supporting records. We manage tax audits from the first notice through the examiner’s findings.
• Liens and levies. A lien is a claim against your property; a levy is an actual seizure. Our work on liens and levies focuses on stopping collection before it reaches your wages or bank account.
• Offers in compromise. In some cases the IRS will accept less than the full balance. The federal offer in compromise program has strict eligibility rules, and we help you decide whether it is realistic for you.
• Installment agreements. When paying in full is not possible, installment agreements spread the balance over time. We negotiate terms that fit your budget.
• Penalty relief. Penalties sometimes get reduced when there is reasonable cause. We make that case when the facts support it.

What Are Important Aspects of a Tax Case?

Tax matters reward attention to detail and early action. A aspects of a case are especially important.

• Deadlines drive everything. A missed response window can cost you valuable appeal rights.
• Documentation wins arguments. Clean records support every position you take, and knowing the common audit triggers helps you keep them tidy.
• Communication should run through your lawyer. Anything you say to an agency can be used in its review.
• Some debts cross into other areas, such as bankruptcy and tax, where the rules interact in ways that are easy to misjudge.

What Is the Tax Case Timeline?

No two tax matters move at exactly the same pace, but most follow a similar timeframe.

• A notice or letter arrives from the IRS or Michigan Treasury.
• You gather records and respond, often with your lawyer drafting the reply.
• An examination or IRS audit process may follow, with requests for more information.
• The agency proposes an adjustment, a balance, or a penalty.
• You resolve the matter, appeal it, or set up a payment path.

Some issues close in a matter of weeks. Others, especially unfiled tax returns spanning several years, take longer to untangle and call for patience.

What Should You Bring to Your Tax Consultation?

Coming prepared lets us give you real answers in the first meeting. If you can, bring the following.

• Copies of your most recent tax returns.
• Any notices or letters from the IRS or the Michigan Department of Treasury.
• Records of income, expenses, and assets.
• Business and payroll records, if a company is involved.

We will review what you bring, explain where you stand, and outline your options. We will also be straight with you about what is realistic, even when the answer is not the one you hoped for. If a settlement looks possible, we can talk through how people negotiate back taxes and whether that route fits your numbers. Planning ahead matters too, especially for families with trusts or property, where tax and estate planning overlap.

What Are Important Michigan Legal Resources for Tax Cases?

Several public agencies publish plain-language guidance that can help you understand your situation before and during a case. None of it replaces advice about your own facts, but it is a useful place to start. We share these as starting points for your own reading. We do not control or endorse outside websites.

• The Michigan Department of Treasury explains the state collections process, including payment and installment options.
• Treasury also covers individual income tax filing steps and how to respond to notices.
• The United States Tax Court offers guidance for taxpayers who want to contest an IRS determination.

Reach Out to Gudeman & Associates, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If a tax issue is weighing on you, the next step is a conversation. Contact us to schedule a no-obligation consultation with our Troy tax attorney. We will review your notices, explain where you stand, and lay out the paths available to you. You will leave with a clearer sense of what comes next. We help clients in Troy and across Michigan, in person and by video.

Tax Lawyer Statistics in Troy, MI

Most tax returns are accepted as filed, yet examinations still reach taxpayers at every income level. According to IRS examination data, the exam coverage rate for tax year 2021 reached 6.6% for individuals who reported total positive income of $10 million or more, compared with 3.9% for the $5 million to $10 million group and 0.9% for the $1 million to $5 million group. The same source shows how enforcement staffing has shifted. The agency took in about 230.4 million returns with 13,879 revenue agents in fiscal year 2010, and about 253.0 million returns with 8,526 revenue agents by fiscal year 2019. For people in Troy, that pattern matters. Audits happen less often than they once did, while the notices and letters that lead to them keep arriving throughout the year.

Factors That Affect the Outcome of Your Tax Case

No two tax matters resolve the same way. Some close with a single letter. Others stretch across years of back and forth with a revenue agency. A handful of factors tend to decide where a case lands, and most of them are visible early if you know where to look.

• The type of tax and how it was assessed. Income tax, sales tax, and payroll tax each carry their own deadlines and penalties. A balance the IRS built from a substitute return is a different problem than one you reported and could not pay. Payroll and trust fund questions draw closer scrutiny than a single late personal return, and our Troy business lawyer sees them often.
• Whether your filings are current. Most relief programs stay closed until every required return is filed. Getting back into compliance is usually the first move, not the last. It also stops fresh penalties from stacking on top of the old ones while you work toward a resolution.
• Your ability to pay, on paper. Revenue agencies decide what to accept based on income, allowable expenses, and equity in assets. When a settlement is possible, the numbers you document, not the story you tell, control the result. Careful preparation is the difference between an approval and a denial.
• How your business is organized. The structure of a company changes who owes what when tax trouble arrives. Owners who chose the wrong entity, or who blended personal and business funds, can end up personally exposed. Sound LLC formation decisions made early prevent several of these problems.
• Whether other debts are in the mix. Tax rarely arrives alone. When credit cards, a mortgage, or business loans are also unpaid, the order you address them in matters, and some tax obligations interact with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in ways that are easy to misjudge.
• Where the debt sits in the collection window. The government has a limited period to collect, and that clock shapes strategy. A debt near the end of its life calls for a different plan than one just assessed.
• Whether a plan was in place beforehand. Choices made before a sale, a transfer, or a change in ownership decide the tax result rather than leave it to chance. Owners thinking about the next chapter often fold tax into their business succession planning so the bill does not surprise them later.
• Whether you have representation. Handling contact through a lawyer keeps you from volunteering information that weakens your position. It also means deadlines get met and appeal rights stay open, which is often what separates a manageable outcome from an expensive one.

Troy Tax Attorney FAQs

How much does a tax lawyer in Troy cost?

Cost depends on the kind of matter and how far it has already gone. A single notice answered early takes far less work than an audit that runs through appeals. We charge for consultations, and we use that first meeting to review your notices, explain the likely scope of the work, and go over how we bill before you commit to anything.

Do I need a tax attorney, or is a CPA enough?

A CPA prepares returns and handles accounting. Our tax attorney steps in when there is a dispute, a collection action, or a legal question about what you owe and how it can be resolved. The roles often work side by side. When a matter could reach a lien, an appeal, or Tax Court, having a lawyer respond for you protects your position.

Should I hire a lawyer for an IRS audit?

Not every audit needs one, though many benefit from it. An examiner’s request can look routine and still carry real risk if you answer it the wrong way. A Troy tax attorney can gather the right records, keep the review focused, and deal with the examiner directly, with the aim of closing the audit with as little added tax as the facts allow.

How long can the IRS collect on a tax debt?

As a general rule, the IRS has ten years from the date a tax is assessed to collect it, a period called the collection statute expiration date. Certain events, such as a bankruptcy filing or a pending offer, can pause or extend that window. Knowing your collection statute date before you act can protect rights you would otherwise lose.

Can I settle my tax debt for less than I owe?

Sometimes. The IRS accepts a reduced amount through an offer in compromise when it decides that figure is the most it can reasonably collect. The bar is high and the financial forms are unforgiving. Many people apply alone and get turned down over avoidable errors, so it helps to review the eligibility rules before filing.

What if my business owes payroll taxes?

Unpaid payroll tax is treated more seriously than most balances, because part of it was withheld from employees. The people responsible can be held personally liable. If the company is also carrying other debt, the way payroll tax follows an owner into a personal bankruptcy can catch people off guard, so it is worth understanding early.

Is Michigan tax handled differently than IRS tax?

Yes. The IRS enforces federal tax, while the Michigan Department of Treasury handles state income, sales, and business tax, each with its own notices and appeal routes. Sometimes both are pursuing you at once. We respond to the federal and state sides together so nothing slips while you focus on one and forget the other.

Can bankruptcy clear my tax debt?

Some older income tax debt can be discharged in bankruptcy when specific timing rules are met. A great deal of tax debt cannot. Payroll tax and recent balances usually survive. Because the two areas interact in ways that are easy to misread, it is worth looking closely at both before you commit to either path.

Do you handle estate and trust tax matters?

Yes. Transfers of wealth carry their own filing rules, and a final income tax return, estate return, or trust return may be due. Our probate practice steps in when a loved one’s estate owes tax, and clients setting up a revocable trust often ask how the arrangement affects what they will owe.

What happens if I ignore a tax notice?

Notices do not go away, and each one you skip moves the agency closer to a lien or a levy. Interest and penalties keep building the whole time. Responding early, even to ask for more time, usually preserves options that disappear once collection starts. The sooner someone reads the notice with you, the more room there tends to be.

Local Information for Troy Tax Cases

Where Troy Tax Matters Are Handled

Federal tax runs through the IRS, and disputes that cannot be settled with the agency directly can be petitioned to the United States Tax Court. State income, sales, and business tax go through the Michigan Department of Treasury, with appeals heard by the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Property tax in Troy starts with the city and, once delinquent, transfers to Oakland County. When a valuation or property question sits underneath a tax problem, our Troy real estate lawyer and real estate litigation attorneys work alongside our tax practice. Knowing which body holds your matter is the first step toward the right response.

What Are Important Local Resources for Troy Tax Cases?

Several public offices handle the day-to-day of tax in and around Troy. Their staff cannot give you legal advice about your own situation, but they can point you to forms, payment options, and account information. We share these as starting points, and we do not control or endorse outside websites.

• Internal Revenue Service (Michigan offices): 844-545-5640. Handles federal returns, audits, and collection, with Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the state by appointment.
• Michigan Department of Treasury: 517-636-4486. Manages state individual income tax, business tax, and collection matters.
• Troy Treasurer’s Office: 248-524-3333, 500 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084. Bills and collects city property taxes.
• Oakland County Treasurer: 248-858-0611. Collects delinquent property taxes after they transfer from the city.

About Gudeman & Associates, P.C.

Gudeman & Associates, P.C. is led by founder and managing attorney Edward J. Gudeman, who has represented individuals and businesses for over 45 years. Beyond the courts where our founder already appears, he is admitted before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court, and he has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan since 1973. That range lets our firm carry a tax matter from the first notice through an appeal when one is warranted.

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“I highly recommend the Gudeman & Associates firm! I was in need of a law firm that would be fair and honest and I definitely picked a winner. They were patient with me and took the time to explain all documentation and every upcoming step in the process. I felt comfortable and prepared when going to court. The staff was very knowledgeable & always friendly, and they didn’t hesitate to go the extra mile for me when I wasn’t able to make it into the office. I was given total support and they exceeded all expectations.”  — Brandy Bounds

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Contact Gudeman & Associates, P.C.

If a tax notice, an audit, or a growing balance is weighing on you, the next step is a conversation with a Troy tax lawyer who can look at the whole picture. Contact us to schedule a consultation, and we will review your notices, explain where you stand, and lay out the options that fit your facts. You will leave with a clearer sense of what comes next. We work with clients in Troy and across Michigan, in person and by video, and we return messages promptly so your matter keeps moving.