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Property Tax Disputes and Litigation
We represent clients who own commercial tracts of land, including land used for agricultural, industrial, manufacturing, and other business purposes. Given the recent spikes in commercial property appraisal values, some of our clients are facing appreciably increased property taxes than they have in previous years. We have significant experience in property tax litigation, particularly arising after an unsuccessful hearing with the administrative review board or after the local appraisal district decides to litigate the review board’s decision. Although our attorneys have substantial experience once these cases reach litigation, we are also equipped to handle the administrative process as well.
We have litigated property tax disputes across Texas since the early nineties and can successfully handle complex and high dollar property tax litigation. For example, we represented Whirlpool Corporation in a property tax protest and subsequent appeal to the Tarrant County District Court. The Tarrant Appraisal District appraised their Distribution Center in 2001 at $31.8 million. We obtained a judgment whereby the 2001 appraisal roll was modified and corrected to show a value of $16,166,659.00. That decision resulted in a tax savings for the year 2001 alone of $506,733.08. In addition, the land value for the 2002 tax year was maintained at the 2000 level. For more of our representative experience, see below.
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REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Whirlpool Corporation v. Tarrant County Appraisal District, Cause No.153-189590-01, 153rd District Court, Tarrant County (reducing value of property by 49%, resulting in over one-half million dollars in savings in the first year).
- Deer Park I.S.D. v. Harris County Appraisal District, 132 F.3d 1095 (5th Cir. 1998) (federal statute exempting property in Foreign Trade Zones from local property tax is found constitutional).
- H.E. Butt Grocery Co. v. Jefferson County Appraisal Dist., 922 S.W. 2d 941 (Tex. 1996) (September 1 alternative valuation date for inventory for property tax purposes is constitutional and appropriate under factual circumstances of case).
- Barton Creek Club, Inc. v. Travis Central Appraisal Dist., 147th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas, Cause No. 471,398 (jury verdict reducing appraised value of country club by more than $31 million over three-year period)(January 1993).
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