Overview

Property taxes are a significant business operating expense. The highly experienced tax professionals in Honigman’s Tax Appeals practice have achieved substantial tax savings for thousands of our corporate and business clients throughout the country. We represent taxpayers in real estate transaction planning, property tax appeals, and other property valuation matters.

Our National Property Tax Appeals Record

Local assessors sometimes make subjective decisions about market value, cost, depreciation, capitalization rates, and a host of other matters. Misjudgments by assessors with respect to such issues can result in excessive and unlawful taxes. Issues of constitutional law and statutory construction can arise as well.

To decide whether to challenge an assessment, many factors should be considered, including current market value of the property, valuation methods used, and practices used by local assessing authorities. Furthermore, once the decision has been made to appeal, the procedures involved are often technical and complex. The legal requirements for filing an appeal are usually strictly enforced against the taxpayer. Experienced legal counsel in each locality is invaluable in protecting the client’s rights.

We are a founding member of the prestigious American Property Tax Counsel (APTC), an affiliation of independent law firms focusing on property tax matters in the U.S. and Canada. Each APTC member firm focuses its work on a particular state or jurisdiction. As a result, each member firm has the advantage of being well versed in the often unique and arcane rules and processes of that particular state or locality. Working with the independent law firms affiliated with the APTC, we provide nationwide property tax representation for our clients that allows a one-stop shopping experience by offering them a single contact for all their property tax issues.

Property Tax Services

Drawing on our vast experience, we offer each client who owns, manages, or pays real or personal property taxes on leased commercial or industrial property a complimentary review of each assessment and a recommendation about whether an appeal is justified. In most cases, contingent fee arrangements are available. In addition to property tax appeals, we also litigate valuation issues for other purposes, such as condemnation actions and bankruptcy proceedings. We also assist our clients in appropriately structuring real estate transactions to achieve tax objectives.

As attorneys, we take seriously our professional responsibility to aggressively advocate our client's position. We have not only the skills to argue legal issues but also factual matters. Most property tax reductions are obtained through the negotiation process. On occasion, however, formal hearings or court action are necessary to achieve the desired result for a client. Our team has achieved several landmark decisions favorably affirming taxpayer rights, including property tax valuation and exemption cases. Our reputation as effective litigators greatly increases our leverage in the negotiation process.

We have successfully represented the owners of some of the largest properties in the nation, including the following types of properties:

  • Auto and other vehicle production plants
  • Steel production facilities
  • Pharmaceutical production plants
  • Agricultural production facilities
  • Distribution and warehouse centers
  • Office properties, including complexes over two million square feet
  • Hotels and resorts
  • Malls and shopping centers
  • Big-box retail stores
  • Apartments
  • Manufactured housing communities
  • Research and development facilities
  • Recreational properties
  • Medical office buildings
  • Health industry properties
  • Utility properties and other energy production facilities
  • Truck terminals
  • Mines
  • Casinos
  • Bridges and tunnels

We represent the owners of small businesses with the same degree of enthusiasm, skill, and professionalism that we bring to bear for our well-known, large-business clients.

Our Attorneys and Other Professionals

The professionals in our Tax Appeals group have more than 200 years of combined experience in state and local tax matters. Our practice group consists of nine attorneys and three valuation specialists, one of whom was previously responsible for assessments in major taxing jurisdictions and one of whom is the former chairperson of the Michigan State Tax Commission. Our professionals also include a former Tax Tribunal Judge, a certified appraiser, two CPAs, and attorneys included in The Best Lawyers in America.

Connect with a Professional

Representative Matters

We have obtained individual judgments saving more than $1,000,000 in property taxes for clients, including:

  • Ada Cogeneration LP
  • Amway Hotel
  • ANR Pipeline Company
  • AT&T Mobility, LLC
  • Cingular Wireless
  • Consumers Energy
  • The Detroit Edison Company
  • Detroit Thermal, LLC
  • The Dow Chemical Company
  • Flagstar Bank
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Ford - UAW
  • General Motors Corporation
  • Gordon Food Service, Inc.
  • Greektown Casino, LLC
  • Hitachi Magnetics Corporation
  • Inland Steel Company
  • Kellogg Company
  • Level 3 Communications
  • Meijer, Inc.
  • Michigan Bell Telephone Co. (AT&T)
  • Michigan Power LP
  • Midland Cogeneration Venture LP
  • National Steel Corporation
  • Palace Sports and Entertainment
  • Pharmacia-Upjohn Company
  • Steelcase, Inc.
  • Target Corporation
  • Taubman Auburn Hills Associates
  • Transwestern Fountainwalk LLC

News & Insights

Events

  • Open Audit Periods Under the MBT
    Event |
  • Mock Trial and Legislative Advocacy
    Event |
  • Limited Market Properties Should Not Limit Your Valuations
    Event | Traverse City, MI, June 12-15, 2016
  • Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio Property Tax Update
    Event | Traverse City, MI, June 12-15, 2016
  • Event | Novi, MI,
  • Property Tax Update on Key States
    Event | New Orleans, LA, March 3-4, 2016
  • Preparing for Audit Challenge & Controversy
    Event | Grapevine, TX,

Publications

  • Market-Value Tax Assessments Under Attack
    Publication | Heartland Real Estate Business,
  • Invalid "Dark Box" Property Tax Claims Misinform Indiana and Michigan Legislatures
    Publication | Institute for Professionals in Taxation: IPT Insider Newsletter,

The real property tax assessments have been properly adjusted and your noble efforts are greatly appreciated. Honigman corrected a grave injustice and resolved a complex case.

Michael Niemiec
Heather Highlands Golf Course
Holly, Michigan

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$150 M

Our attorneys have successfully represented the owners of some of the largest properties in the U.S., and in the past decade alone, savings achieved have exceeded $150 million. 

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