Property Tax Consulting Services

If you suspect your assessment is erroneous, it’s important to hire a qualified property tax advocate to file your appeal during the protest window and begin the process as soon as possible. Missing the deadline could result in overpaying your property taxes for one or two more years, as property taxes are typically invoiced in arrears.

Often, local assessors have an “open book” period between the first and second quarters of each year. If your case is well-organized, you can often speak with the assessor informally and sometimes resolve the issue without initiating a formal protest that triggers the county board or state property assessment appeals process.

That’s why it’s critical to get your documentation in order during the first quarter of the calendar year—so you can build a strong case and, ideally, avoid a lengthy appeal process.

1. Review and evaluate property data – by first quarter.
2. Evaluate initial assessment data and engage the assessor via the open book process – Depends on government filing windows.
3. If needed, file local appeals – Depends on government filing windows.
4. If needed, file state appeals – Depends on government filing windows.
   
   

If applicable, evaluate and complete environmental exemption applications – Depends on government filing windows.

As you can see, there are several deadlines and filings to consider in a property tax evaluation plan. This becomes even more complex at the state level, where rules of discovery typically apply. For these reasons, we recommend bringing in experienced professionals to assist with the process.

With inflation at its highest level in half a century—combined with elevated gasoline prices, rising interest rates, and significant labor shortages—it’s becoming increasingly expensive to build factories, warehouses, and other commercial properties. These macroeconomic headwinds are driving up the cost of steel, concrete, freight, mechanical systems, and other building components, adding to the final construction bill.
When you report your development costs to assessing agencies—through return filings, permitting, or other public disclosures—you’re likely to see significant increases in future tax assessments. These may differ substantially from your property’s actual market value, and may not reflect a fair, accurate, or equitable assessment. This disconnect can profoundly affect how much property tax you pay—both this year and in the years ahead.

Absolutely. A reduction in a property’s tax liability can result from several factors unrelated to the property’s assessed value, including reassessments, legislative changes, abatements, and annexations. We recommend closely monitoring assessment changes relative to ongoing market indicators to identify potential savings opportunities.

When businesses are expanding, downsizing, consolidating, or involved in mergers or acquisitions, significant planning opportunities often arise. Larger discrepancies between assessed values and market values can also appear during periods of rising or declining commercial and industrial markets. As a result, substantial opportunities may exist for virtually any capital-intensive business with U.S. holdings.

Any capital-intensive business that pays a significant property tax burden can benefit. Our team has secured substantial property tax reductions for a broad range of clients, including those in manufacturing, distribution, utilities, hospitality, retail, office, financial services, for-profit healthcare, investment holdings/REITs, and agriculture, among others.