Google appealing $3.1M tax lien filed by Michigan

Google Inc. is appealing a $3.1 million tax lien filed against the Internet search company by the Michigan Treasury Department.

The Lansing State Journal and the Detroit Free Press report Google says the lien stems from an issue related to the Mountain View, Calif.-based company's 2008 and 2009 corporate tax returns.

Google has an advertising sales office in Ann Arbor and an auto ad sales team in Birmingham. The lien includes business tax assessments for $1.7 million and $1.4 million.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. says the lien has nothing to do with the $38 million tax break package awarded to Google in 2006.