Property tax lawyers specialize in appealing and settling property tax issues. When the IRS or another taxing authority begins contacting you, it’s time to start reaching out to a property tax lawyer. Whether you need a property tax appeal or you need legal aid to prevent a foreclosure, a property tax attorney will be on your side.
General lawyers won’t know the complexities of tax laws. You’ll need to work with a specialist in order to confidently face any property tax issue you’re having. Property tax lawyers can help you navigate the law and calculate exactly how much you owe to the IRS. You’ll never pay any more than what you really need to when you work with a qualified tax lawyer.
This article will answer frequently asked questions property tax lawyers often receive.
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How To Find A Good Property Tax Lawyer
In most states, failing to pay your property taxes means your home can be foreclosed. Homeowners must pay tax on their properties on time and in full. If a portion of your taxes isn’t paid right away, it’s considered delinquent and will include a 10% extra penalty charge. Property tax collection can go on for up to 20 years after taxes are owed and take priority over your mortgage lender’s lien. This means if your home has delinquent taxes, you can’t sell your home until they’re paid.
Delinquent property taxes can be a lot for a homeowner to handle. This is especially true if you have years of owed taxes on your home. A qualified property tax lawyer should easily be able to:
- Assess and evaluate your property’s complex tax issues.
- Consider all financial variables and hardships.
- Negotiate and make settlements with local, state, and federal governments.
- Know the laws of your county and state.
- Keep all financial and tax records confidential.
You and your lawyer will have client-attorney privileges. Your lawyer will not reveal your financial situation to anyone, including the authorities. However, your lawyer will have to report any unethical and illegal behavior you’re purposely seeking to commit.
A great tax lawyer will be able to negotiate a manageable solution to your debt and deal with the authorities. It can be difficult to find a property tax lawyer who’s both legally and financially literate. You can always use a site like MyCaseHelper.com to call a property tax lawyer near you at any time.
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When To Hire A Property Tax Lawyer
If you’ve received a notice from the IRS, you should get in touch with a property tax lawyer immediately. Your lawyer can communicate with the IRS on your behalf, help with audits, negotiate settlements, and ensure you don’t pay more than you need to. Call a property tax lawyer if you’re:
- Filing a tax appeal to the court.
- Disputing or negotiating a tax settlement.
- Disputing or negotiating a payment solution.
- Wanting to take advantage of tax credits.
- Needing to contact an unresponsive IRS representative.
If you’re dealing with an unresponsive representative, your lawyer will draft letters that’ll guarantee their attention. From there, your lawyer will be able to gather specific information directly from the IRS.
How to Appeal Property Taxes
If the market value of your home is more than its true value, then there may be grounds to assess the property. In this section, you’ll learn how to appeal your property taxes with your property tax lawyer.
Reassessing your home can be complicated because it involves both accounting and legal knowledge. Your property tax lawyer will ensure everything is filed correctly and you never have to pay more than you should.
Step One: Research Your Area’s Property Taxes
Your municipality will assess the estimated value of your home. However, your municipality won’t always have a correct estimate. This can also be extremely taxing on homeowners who live in a municipality with high property taxes. Your home may be overvalued for several reasons, so it’s important to first find out why. Find out what your municipality’s property taxes are and what might impact your property taxes. More importantly, find out what deadlines you need to meet to appeal.
Generally, the deadline to file an appeal is April 1 in most municipalities. Be sure that your appeal is received before this date, not mailed. This deadline also applies if you want to appeal with your county tax board or with a tax court. Your property tax attorney should be able to answer all these questions upon consultation.
Step Two: Re-Assess Your Property
Once you receive your tax bill, you’ll only have a limited amount of time to appeal. This changes depending on where you live and can be anywhere between 30 to 90 days. Otherwise, you will have to wait until the next year to file your appeal.
Your taxes are determined by multiplying your home’s assessed value by your local tax rate. Your area’s tax rate cannot change, but you can have your home’s value reassessed. Once you have your tax bill, you can start the appeal process with your lawyer. Most cities, townships, and counties will have electronic forms you’ll need to fill out on their website.
In your appeal, you’ll include supporting evidence to your claims, such as homes comparable to yours and their value.
Step Three: Attend Your Property Tax Hearing
In some areas, you’ll have to attend a hearing to get your appeal approved. You’ll present all your evidence to a judge after being assigned a court date. Your property tax attorney may speak on your behalf during this time if you choose to hire one.
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Property Tax Lawyers Near You
My Case Helper is a free resource for homeowners to learn more about legal rights and get connected with lawyers in their area. If you want to find the best property tax lawyer in your area, call My Case Helper today.
We can help you find a qualified property tax attorney to help you make a property tax appeal, negotiate a payment plan, and stop your home’s foreclosure.
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