Facilitating Accurate Property Tax Assessments For Nearly 40 Years

Every businessperson and property owner knows that property tax valuations can have a huge impact on a company’s bottom line. Property taxes are one of the primary funding mechanisms for local governments, which is why officials have an incentive to inflate property market values.

That is when you need to reach out to U.S. Property Tax Association, Inc. for experienced and focused legal help with commercial property tax appeals. Attorney Robert Hill has 37 years of experience leveling the playing field between companies and government entities. Every taxpayer deserves equal justice under the law, and he is ready to fight for your property tax appeal. He works on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless he wins.

Minnesota’s Property Tax Assessment Procedures

Under Minnesota law, tax assessors must assess real property – which includes the real estate itself and certain fixtures and improvements – at market value for tax purposes. They look at characteristics such as condition, size, special features, age and comparables. The assessor must consider all relevant factors, including market sales and rents.

Minnesota courts have approved three main approaches for determining a property’s market value:

1. Market comparison: This property valuation approach bases a property’s value on comparable sales of similar properties.
2. Cost: The cost approach to property assessments estimates what a new version of the same building would cost, minus depreciation.
3. Income: The income-based approach considers the income that a property is expected to generate to determine the property value of income-producing properties.

Our lawyer can provide an unbiased, rational and realistic view of the trends and market value to assist in accurate valuation.

Always Pursuing Fair Tax Assessments

Equal justice under the law means fair tax assessments free from political agendas or flaws. Many clients call us asking what they can do about the tax assessments that they think are clearly wrong. Our attorney recommends several steps to see if they should pursue an appeal. They include:

• Appraisal: Sometimes hiring a private appraiser brings clarity to the actual value of the property. You want to hire an appraiser who has experience with your type of property and property tax appeals. Our lawyer can put you in touch with the right professionals.
• Misclassification: Only certain property can be classified as “real property” and taxed as such. Sometimes, assessors incorrectly classify certain tools and equipment as real property. Removing these could reduce your property tax.
• Finding legal help: Not all attorneys or law firms are the same. You need to find a law firm with experience in commercial property tax appeals.

Commercial property tax appeals can be complex and frustrating. Attorney Hill is determined to help you achieve a property tax outcome that is appropriate and fair. He also works with fellow lawyers throughout the U.S. to advise them of their rights and on how best to assist clients.

Using ADR To Prevent Litigation Before It Begins

Litigation is a sometimes inevitable process in property tax disputes. Mr. Hill is nationally renowned as a property tax litigator, having litigated hundreds of such cases. However, resolving disputes out of the courtroom can save you thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Some courtrooms also contain political motivations that impede fair judgments. Mr. Hill regularly saves his clients millions of dollars in legal fees by skillfully and strategically using methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation and arbitration. He is earning his certification as a mediator from the International Mediation Institute. He can both represent you in mediation sessions or serve as a neutral mediator for your client’s mediation sessions.

Find Out How Our Lawyer Can Help

Whether you are a commercial property owner looking for assistance or an attorney seeking co-counsel on a complex case, our lawyer can help. Call our Wayzata office at 612-355-8180 or send us a message.