Reducing Your Property Taxes—Property Tax Appeals

Even though there has been a recent slight increase, real estate values remain near all-time lows while property taxes continue to increase. In a very short time, business owners and individuals will be receiving real and personal property tax assessment notices which, in many cases, will be greater than 50% of the true cash value of their industrial and commercial property.

As a service to our clients who own or lease industrial or commercial real property and industrial personal property, we offer the service of appealing property tax assessments without charging on an hourly basis. We undertake property tax assessment appeal cases on a contingent fee arrangement based on the net tax savings for the tax years under appeal, with a three-year minimum. “Net tax savings” is defined as the sum of the tax reduction or refunds realized plus interest and penalties accrued thereon or attributable thereto, less any expenses incurred in connection with the appeal. The only items that will be billed during the pendency of the case are out-of-pocket expenses for such items as filing fees, copying charges and mileage, the amount of which is subtracted to determine the net tax savings.

By providing our legal services on a contingent fee basis, we can help reduce our client’s overhead without affecting their cash flow. If our efforts do not result in a reduction or a refund of taxes, we do not receive a fee.

Prior to accepting a case we will review the matter at no charge to our client. If we believe the case is meritorious for an appeal under our criteria, we will send a retainer letter outlining the terms of our engagement under a contingency basis.

In order to get started, we will need the following information to conduct our review: a brief description of the property in question (including the square footage), its present use, copies of the 2013 tax assessment notice, 2013 personal property statements (for personal property appeals), 2011 and 2012 tax bills, and any appraisal reports or insurance policies that indicate the value of the property.

We have a very successful track record in obtaining tax refunds/reductions for our clients. To get started, or to learn more about our property tax assessment appeal service, please contact Dykema’s Property Tax Appeals practice group leader, Carl Rashid, Jr. at 313-568-5422, any of the Taxation & Estates attorneys listed to the left, or your Dykema relationship lawyer.

For more information on Dykema's Taxation & Estates practice, please visit http://www.dykema.com/services-practices-taxation.html.

For more information on Dykema's Real Estate practice, please visit http://www.dykema.com/services-practices-real-estate.html. 

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