Real Estate Consulting Services
Real Property Consulting
Property Taxes have become the single largest revenue source in the state of Florida surpassing sales tax. PTAG’s real property review and appeal services are performed by seasoned experts who on behalf of the client perform annual assessment reviews, file and present tax appeal cases to Florida's county appraisers and the value adjustment boards. We complement clients' staff from an À la carte approach to making available a full suite of property tax management outsourcing services.
Informal Negotiation
PTAG initiates discussions on behalf of our clients with local tax authorities months before they are officially approved for the county's tax roll. It is our goal to resolve values as early as possible in advance of TRIM notification in September. Like the best way to win a fight, It is our goal to avoid the VAB altogether while also assuring our clients' property is fairly assessed. Our relationships with government promote the dialogue necessary for early decisions and the financial/time savings for all involved are substantial. This is the advantage of employing a true property tax advocate.
Appeal Services
Our consultants assure your appeals are filed on time and with the appropriate jurisdictional boards. If our informal approach does not yield a fair assessment, PTAG will notify clients prior to taking any action at the VAB. Petitions are required to be filed no later than 25 days after the annual notice mailing each August. Our clients usually know our recommended course of action by the beginning of summer. PTAG often settles cases out of court up until the day of hearings further complementing our informal repertoire.
Pre-Construction / Pre-Acquisition
Sometimes our clients build or purchase property. When they do, PTAG will estimate the most probable tax liability. Our field experience along with our robust database facilitates extremely accurate assumptions. For new construction, extra steps to separate soft costs from the real estate portion allow for a more precise tax estimate. These measures give our clients the foresight to budget an appropriate tax allocation far in advance which also assists with financing preparation.
Base Enrollment
After expansion is completed or an acquisition closes, it is critical to enroll accurate base values and avoid the need to appeal the initial assessment. Without any early intervention, owners can expect a minimum assessment equal to 85% - 95% of the purchase price. Immediately initiating dialog with the county will increase the chances for setting the lowest possible base value. Its subsequent (non school board) assessments will not increase more than 10% per year thanks to Florida's Non-Homestead Cap. It definitely pays to let us know your plans in advance as we can significantly impact the initial enrollment.
Tax Forecasting / Accruals
Next to payroll and insurance, property tax is most often owners' next largest expense. The processes assuring tax payments by their due date are vital. PTAG will implement cash and/or accrual budgets for every one of your parcels. This functions as a complement to our informal approach since the gap between knowing values and when taxes are due is much wider than the industry norm. Knowing your tax liability sooner along with accurate budgeting methods will significantly affect your company's financial options.