Every community has a different way in which they assess the commercial property tax. The first thing you need to do is to understand how the community in which you own commercial property assesses taxes against that property. Next, find out where it is you go to appeal that assessment. The Assessor’s Office generally does not handle appeals. In some areas you will need to appeal to the County Commission. If you have trouble determining who will hear your appeal, contact the Assessor’s Office and ask. They should be able to provide you with that information.

Appeals usually attach a time limit; so make certain you prepare your appeal in a timely fashion. In these tough economic times, you might find yourself waiting in line for a hearing to appeal commercial property taxes.

The typical appeal is a document asking you to quantify and qualify why you feel that your commercial property taxes are too high. You will probably be granted an opportunity for a hearing, at which time you must be prepared to back up your claims with solid documentation. Local governments are not likely to reduce property taxes unless you can make a very persuasive argument for them doing so.

There are a growing number of tax experts specializing in commercial property taxes. You might want to consider hiring such an expert to represent your appeal. They have experience in dealing with your local tax authority and should know exactly who to contact and how to proceed. When you consider hiring such an expert, ask for references so you can speak with other commercial property owners and find out how successful the expert was in helping them.

Be sure to talk to more than just one tax consultant before you decide whom to hire. Consider your judgment based upon cost, experience, and results. As with anything in life, cheapest is not always best. Try to find someone from your local community or, at the very least, someone whose office is within the county where your commercial property is located. Such an individual should have a good working knowledge of that local government and be able to use their contacts and experience to best represent your interests in the jurisdiction.

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