If you own commercial real estate or pay real estate taxes as a tenant, learn how to lift the veil of appraisal district guesstimates that allow latitude for negotiating commercial property taxes. Unlike income taxes, commercial property taxes are subject to intense negotiation at several levels of appeal, if you know what to do.
This book, Mass Appraisal for Commercial, provides insight into the valuation process used by appraisal districts. The imprecision of the commercial property valuation process is shocking to many. Once you understand, you will be empowered to reduce your commercial property taxes. Appraisal districts use the least reliable of valuation for most properties; the cost approach. Licensed commercial appraisers use the cost approach sparingly since the quantity and quality of data available does not provide reliable valuation. Appraisal districts generally do not have accurate 1) building data, 2) cost data, 3) depreciation tables. The inherent errors in the commercial property valuation process provides property owners latitude to negotiate lower property taxes, but only if they appeal.