Real Property Tax Assessment Litigation

Research has shown that most people receive their Property Tax Bill and assume it is accurate. Even if they believe the tax is too high, they think nothing can be done about it. This could not be further from the truth.State Statutes and Regulations provide guidelines by which all property owners, whether residential or commercial, can appeal or dispute the tax assessment levied on their property. Since the appeal process can be complex, it is recommended that you retain an experienced attorney to represent you.

A successful real estate tax appeal is based upon first establishing the market value of your property. In order obtain a property tax reduction, the property owner must prove that the value of the property is less than the valuation assigned by the Assessor. The property owner has the burden of disproving the Assessor’s valuation of the property.

The best evidence of market value is usually proof of a recent arms length sale of the subject property. If the property was not recently purchased or the purchase was not at arms length (meaning, for example, it was purchased by a family member or sold through foreclosure), an appraisal by a state certified appraiser would be the next best evidence of valuation. The sale price of comparable properties in the area or other unique details about the property may also be submitted for consideration.

At Maya Murphy, P.C., our attorneys have successfully helped numerous individuals and businesses reduce their property tax bills. We will guide you through the complex tax appeal process from start to finish and ensure that your property is not being unreasonably overvalued and that you are not being burdened with excessive property taxes.