PROPERTY TAX MANAGERS AND CONSULTANTS
COMMERCIAL TAX NETWORK
Your Property Tax Reduction Specialists!
Commercial Tax Network (CTN) is a Houston-based consulting firm that represents corporate clients in property tax matters across the nation. As a property owner, a high percentage of your company's gross revenue goes to pay ad valorem taxes, and a significant amount of your company's time is spent examining these costs. Our goal is to manage and reduce your company's property tax expenditures so that you save money and valuable time. Working independently or as an extension of your tax department, we combine the advantages of extensive market databases with our tax consultants and appraisers who are experienced in minimizing property tax liabilities.
In this highly specialized ad valorem tax field, there is no substitute for experienced and qualified consultants who meet face to face with representatives of the taxing authorities. Our staff possesses over 100 years of combined experience in property tax consulting and is skilled in representing various types of properties that include industrial facilities, apartment complexes, hotels, motels, office buildings, shopping centers and raw land. Also, our consultants are experts in both industrial and commercial business personal property. The combined value of properties presented by CTN exceeds three billion dollars.
We employ professional integrity in decision-making and design individual solutions to meet your specific needs. Property taxes are governed by the respective state's Property tax code (a very complex document which defines how the respective appraisal districts arrive at their values). The tax code is always undergoing changes and modifications that need to be continually monitored. Our staff is on the cutting edge of these changes and we utilize them to achieve the best results possible.
Purpose
The purpose of Commercial Tax Network is to design and implement a superior ad valorem tax program for your company, granting savings in the taxes you pay on real estate and/or personal property. To accomplish this purpose, CTN takes action in the following ways:
We provide well trained, qualified tax specialists to work directly on your behalf and with your personnel.
We prepare a complete analysis of your tax requirements, evaluate it for legitimate assessments and curtail excessive obligations imposed by taxing authorities.
We provide personal negotiation of your property tax value assessments with local authorities.
We assist in the continuing administration of your ad valorem tax program.
Benefits
The benefits sought by Commercial Tax Network in preparing your
tax program may be summarized as follows:
• CTN helps your company maintain good community relations while defending your rights as a taxpayer.
• By choosing CTN to work on reducing your tax obligations, it frees your staff to concentrate on important internal business matters.
• CTN determines the lowest appropriate evaluation for your taxable property, insuring you pay only your fair share of taxes.
• In minimizing your ad valorem tax liability, your company can experience significant and expanded profitability.
• With CTN directing your property tax program, your company will notice increased productivity, more focus on your business and a greater profit margin.
Methodology/ Business Process
To create a responsive, accountable, and economical tax program for your company, Commercial Tax Network has a solid business practice that ensures quality control throughout the entire process.
STEP (1) On Site Inspection:
Commercial Tax Network (CTN) conducts personal, on site inspection of physical facilities. This includes taking pictures of the property and addressing all of the client’s issues. CTN will document all deferred maintenance and collect measurements to assist in the cost evaluation and appraisal process of the property. CTN will inspect the property for economic and physical obsolescence, examine inventory values for maximum allowable credits, inspect other properties to be included as comparables and request all evidence used by the appraisal district to arrive at their assessed value. All of the information is captured into our comprehensive database program (See item 28.0, page 11). CTN believes that specific, quantitative, on site inspections are the best way to meet the greatest results from appraisal districts, using first hand knowledge of the subject property to our advantage.
STEP (2) Data Analysis and Collection:
CTN will request, analyze and enter relevant data into our comprehensive database program, i.e., rent rolls, profit and loss statements, maintenance records, personal property asset lists, personal property rendition information and appraisal records. This information is analyzed to determine possible problems with assessments and to attain optimum strategies which address the relevant issues and will assure reduction options. All of the information collected from CTN’s clients is treated in a confidential manner.
STEP (3) Create Consultant Report/Appeal Summary:
CTN’s Consultants employ all four approaches to lowering property value to determine the optimum appeal strategy. CTN determines assessment values by using 1) the income and expense approach; 2) the tax comparable approach; 3) the sales comparable approach; and 4) the cost approach. Each CTN Consultant will generate an Appeal Summary Report and an Income and Expense Analysis Report to be used in the appeal negotiations with assessment authorities.
STEP (4) Senior Consultant Evaluation of Appeal Strategy:
CTN’s Senior Consultants will evaluate all of the data collected, to determine a primary and secondary strategy to establish CTN’s recommended value. CTN will prepare and file real estate and/or personal property tax protests/renditions on the property owner’s behalf in the event the preliminary assessed values are higher than CTN’s recommended value.
STEP (5) Informal Hearing Process:
CTN’s Consultants will conduct an aggressive, informal negotiation of value with local tax assessing authorities, using the primary and secondary strategies as well as the recommended value approved by a Senior Consultant. If the consultant is unable to lower the informal value to our recommended target value then the Consultant will request a formal hearing to be scheduled.
STEP (6) Formal Hearing Process:
CTN’s Senior Consultants will reassess any new relevant data used by the local tax assessing authorities. If the Senior Consultant determines that an adjustment to CTN’s original recommendation is warranted, he will then collaborate with CTN’s Account Manager for final approval of the new recommended value. After approval from the Account Manager, the Senior Consultant will appeal final valuations and conduct an aggressive in person negotiation with the Appraisal Review Board. In the event that negotiations with the Appraisal Review Board do not come to an agreeable assessed value, the Senior Consultant will confer with the Account Manager to determine if legal action should be pursued to appeal the final valuation. The Account Manager will contact the property owner to discuss possible filing of litigation against the Appraisal District.
STEP (7) Litigation Process:
If necessary, CTN will assist in the Litigation process.
STEP (8) Lessons Learned/Information Capture:
CTN will incorporate any new techniques employed by the appraisal district, as well as new sales and tax comparables. We will include all sales transactions related to the client’s property into our database programs. In doing so, the most up-to-date information is available to be used in our property evaluation process to yield the maximum tax reduction for our clients.
STEP (9) Generation of Tax Savings Reports/Invoices:
CTN will generate the necessary invoices based on the value reduction issued by the Appraisal District and forward to the client for payment. In addition, the client’s property tax savings reports will be generated when necessary.
Why Commercial Tax Network
‣ Structured property tax review process
‣ Experience across multiple property types
‣ Focus on clarity and informed decision-making
‣ Support throughout the review process
Start with a Property Assessment Review
Use our estimator to evaluate potential property tax savings and determine whether a detailed review may be beneficial.
Office: 3303 Cypress Creek Pkwy,
Suite 100, Houston, TX 77069
Call: 281-897-1119
Fax: 281-897-0004
Email: [email protected]
