Why Local Expertise Matters in the Great Lakes Region

Why does it matter that you understand the Great Lakes business environment?

National tax resolution firms often treat every case the same way, regardless of location. But the Great Lakes region has unique economic characteristics that affect tax situations.

Our manufacturing heritage means many taxpayers here have worked for companies that went through bankruptcies, restructuring, or closures. Detroit’s automotive history, Cleveland’s steel industry, Chicago’s diverse manufacturing sector—all have created specific tax situations that require understanding the regional economy.

I’ve worked with auto suppliers navigating supplier relief programs, construction companies dealing with prevailing wage requirements, and hospitality businesses in tourist areas like Michigan’s lakeshore that have dramatic seasonal revenue swings.

Understanding the local economy means I can:

• Structure payment plans around seasonal cash flow
• Recognize legitimate business expenses specific to regional industries
• Connect clients with local resources and assistance programs
• Represent clients at IRS offices in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and other Great Lakes locations

When a Chicago restaurant owner came to me with employment tax problems, I understood that Chicago’s higher minimum wage and mandatory sick leave laws had squeezed his margins. When a Detroit contractor faced an audit, I understood the prevailing wage requirements on city contracts. This local knowledge makes a real difference in outcomes.

Can you help me with both federal and state tax problems?

Yes, and this is particularly important in the Great Lakes region where state tax agencies are also aggressive collectors.

If you owe the IRS, there’s a good chance you also owe your state—Michigan Department of Treasury, Illinois Department of Revenue, Ohio Department of Taxation, or Indiana Department of Revenue. These state agencies have collection powers similar to the IRS.

I coordinate resolution of both federal and state tax problems simultaneously. Often, resolving one helps resolve the other. If we get you into Currently Not Collectible status with the IRS, we can usually achieve the same with your state. If we negotiate an Offer in Compromise with the IRS, states often follow suit.

I worked with a Chicago business owner who owed $140,000 to the IRS and $65,000 to Illinois Department of Revenue. Both agencies had filed liens and were pursuing aggressive collection. We negotiated a coordinated resolution: an installment agreement with the IRS for $2,800 monthly and an installment agreement with Illinois for $1,200 monthly. Without coordinating these resolutions, he might have had unmanageable payment demands from both agencies.