Ralph Ourlian, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and seasoned state and local tax professional based in Livonia, Michigan. He brings deep expertise across all areas of state and local taxation, with a primary focus on income and franchise taxes, as well as sales and use taxes.
Ralph’s career includes extensive client service at Big Four accounting firms, where he advised on complex, multistate tax issues. Most recently, he served as a Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service in the Large Business and International division, further strengthening his background in tax compliance, controversy, and enforcement.
Experience
Ralph has led projects involving a broad range of income and franchise tax matters, including costs of performance, unitary determinations, state treatment of cancellation of debt income, restructuring, apportionment, and return reviews. In the sales and use tax arena, he has advised on nexus evaluations and the taxability of specialized and high-value transactions.
He also has significant experience managing voluntary disclosure agreements, conducting ASC 740/FIN 48 reviews, and overseeing outsourced compliance engagements.
Industry Background
His work spans multiple industries—manufacturing, retail, technology, and professional services—providing him with a broad perspective on sector-specific tax challenges and opportunities.
Professional Affiliations
Ralph is a licensed CPA and a member of both the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He actively contributes to the MICPA State and Local Tax Task Force.
Education
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Wayne State University.