Across the America, escalating property taxes have become an ever-increasing burden to property owners.
Our Company was formed specifically to manage and minimize the annual property tax liability of Commercial Property Owners, Real Estate Investors, Property Managers, Homeowners, and anyone subject to unfair property taxation. Our first office, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has been continuously owned and operated for the past 30+ years by David Humphreys, the founder, President and CEO of EQUITAX. We have been engaged as an Independent Contractor by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and by the Resolution Trust Corporation (“RTC”) to negotiate and minimize property taxes and to abate penalty and interest charges on thousands of properties throughout the United States. Our EQUITAX name is Federally Trademarked and is a name that closely identifies the services that we perform – Specifically, ensuring Fair and Equitable Property Taxes for our Taxpayer Clients. Our Appraisers/Tax Advisors are highly trained and experienced, and are local to the service area they represent.
We have built relationships and reputations with the Taxing Authorities that ensure our Clients of the very best outcome. In short, we know the property tax system and the appeal process, and can prepare and present the value appeal case that wins! That’s why EQUITAX has an unmatched success story having been involved in more than 50,000 successful Assessment Appeal negotiations and having saved our Taxpayer Clients Tens of Millions of dollars in Property Taxes. Property taxation and assessments are among the least understood areas of taxation. Most property owners are simply unsure if they are being treated fairly. Property owners who represent themselves are usually unprepared for the complexities associated with property tax appeal presentations, discussions and/or final negotiations. Most appellants fail in their endeavor but not for lack of effort or knowledge, but because they lack critical information and are deficient in the critical relationships required to achieve maximum results. Most property owners simply do not have the time, training, or experience to deal with the dynamic issues of property tax management. A thorough and detailed analysis by experienced property tax specialists, accompanied by a strategic appeal presentation, is the best way, perhaps the only way, to ensure property owners pay a fair, minimal, and equalized amount of annual property taxes.
PROPERTY TAX MANAGEMENT
Successful property tax management involves a professional knowledge of both assessment practices and valuation techniques. In truth, a tax appraisal is a subjective valuation. The tax appraisal function is not an exact science and involves a valuation judgment. There is often a wide divergence of opinion, not only in the value of a certain property, but also in the methods used in estimating its value. Methods of taxation valuation vary considerably from state to state and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Mass appraisal techniques employed by taxing jurisdictions often do not consider the specific and particular value dynamics of individual properties.Taxes have always been a part of society, serving as a necessary means of concentrating resources for the accomplishment of things that would be impossible for most individuals. Our democratic government decrees that “Taxation without Representation is Tyranny”. As a result, the determination of our taxes is an open process subject to interpretation. Because of this, our legal Courts have consistently ruled that there is nothing sinister in arranging one’s affairs to keep taxes as low as possible.
AS ONE JUDGE NOTED:
“Nobody owes any public duty to pay more property taxes than the law demands”
Fair and minimal taxes
EQUITAX believes that taking measures to ensure that taxes are fair and minimal is a good business practice and a smart financial view. An effective property tax program must have specific goals.
WE ENDORSE THE FOLLOWING:
COMPLY
With all local property tax legal requirements
ELIMINATE
Excessive ad valorem tax expense
ESTABLISH
Procedures that allow cost estimates and planned payment schedules
MAINTAIN
A high level of respect for and from persons within the Tax Assessor’s office and persons involved in the tax appeal process.
A FEW OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE PROPERTY TAX MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ARE TO:
PLAN AHEAD
Know local timetables, deadlines and appeal requirements
ACTIVELY RESIST
Valuations when facts indicate an over assessment; meet personally with the Tax Assessor to discuss the differences and pursue negotiations and/or appeals in a professional manner
ANALYZE
Each property yearly, gathering the new data necessary to formulate an opinion of market value to compare to the Assessor’s proposed value (not tax) for the current year
INVESTIGATE
The Tax Assessor’s valuation methods and property changes (both physical and economic) within the context of the local marketplace
A systematic tax program is the approach taken by EQUITAX. Each step within the systematic property tax program must be planned yearly to work within the subject property’s local appraisal authority tax cycle.
THE ASSESSMENT APPEAL
A reduction in a parcel’s property tax assessment directly correlates to a lower property tax bill for the parcel. Unlike the local tax rate (or “millage rate”), which is typically non-negotiable, the assessment of a parcel is a negotiable factor.
The tax rate is typically set by community officials, state and local politicians, and local school boards. The assessment is, however, a negotiable factor. The key in petitioning for a lower assessment lies in understanding the assessment process, recognizing the appraisal methods utilized, and identifying the reasons why a property might be entitled to an assessment reduction. Of course, presenting accurate and persuasive evidence in a succinct, knowledgeable, effective, and professional manner is critical to winning an assessment appeal. That’s where EQUITAX can help you!
Through a thorough value investigation, aggressive representation, and a well planned and highly skilled appeal presentation, we’ll fight for fair assessments and property taxes for each of our Clients. We have saved literally tens of millions of dollars for our Clients in property taxes, and we would welcome the opportunity to serve you. Our scope of expertise encompasses all varieties of developed and un-developed properties including shopping centers, retail centers, office buildings, industrial facilities, apartments, single tenant properties, residential single-family properties, duplexes and triplexes, and other specialty real estate like boat marinas, golf courses and country clubs, health clubs, fast food restaurants, and auto dealerships. There is no property too large or too small for our highly trained and experienced tax professionals.
Our EQUITAX property tax professionals are local to your area. They have cultivated strong relationships with the Tax Assessor, the City/County Appraisers, and the Assessment Review Boards who ultimately determine your property’s Assessed Value and thus your Property Tax liability. Many of our professionals have been hired directly from the Tax Assessor’s office. This gives us a deep knowledge of the systems and mass appraisal techniques employed by the County. From start to finish, we’ll handle your appeal and fight to ensure your taxes are fair and equitable, and that your yearly property tax liability is minimized.
OUR REPUTATION
EQUITAX has an outstanding reputation. Our reputation has been built on comprehensive research, attention to detail, customer service, and respectful relationships with Tax Assessors, and appeal presentations that win. EQUITAX has a network of offices throughout the United States, each with specialized and exclusive territories and geographic areas, and each with property specific expertise. We have been involved as the lead appellant in tens of thousands of successful assessment appeals and have reduced our Client’s property tax debt by tens of millions of dollars.
At EQUITAX, we strive to save property tax dollars for our Clients. To reach our goal, our professionally trained and seasoned Property Tax Advisors evaluate our Client’s property value, the property tax assessment, and the amount of taxes paid to City and County governments. Our Client’s assessments and taxes may be excessive even though they never thought so before. We believe that each of us, as property owners, have a responsibility and obligation to pay our fair share of property taxes. However, our fiscal responsibility also includes ensuring that we pay only our fair share of taxes based upon the specifics surrounding the property and the laws governing property taxes in that area and jurisdiction.
That’s all we do at EQUITAX – We save Property Tax Dollars for our Clients! Over many years, we’ve built our business reputation around superior tax savings, and impeccable client relations and communication. We’re proud of our accomplishments and of the reputation for quality and service that has become synonymous with the EQUITAX.