Real Estate Tax Appeals

We represent residential and commercial property owners to achieve fair taxation of their real estate. We regularly file appeals on behalf of clients and appear before the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review, and if necessary, the Board of Viewers. We also assist owners in defending their assessment should a tax authority file an appeal seeking to increase the assessment.   

 Real estate tax is the tax on the value of land and building.  In most counties, you can find your current property assessment online. If you have property located in Allegheny County, you can find out your assessed value on the Allegheny County Real Estate Portal.  

Generally, the the taxing authorities consist of the county, municipality, and school district. In Allegheny County the only authority to assess homes is vested in the Allegheny County Board of  Property Assessments. The Board of Property Assessments can only reassess properties in two circumstances: (1) a county-wide reassessment of all properties or (2) a change in the property (ie. issuance of a building permit). The last county-wide reassessment in Allegheny County was in 2012.  

The Board of Property Assessment can not reassess based on a recent sale of a property.  While the Board of Property Assessment (ie. county) has no right to re-assess properties based on recent sales, the owner and taxing authorities each have the right to appeal the assessed value on any property in any tax year. Most appeals seeking an increase in the assessed value are filed by the School District.  Tax appeals are heard by the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review (BPAAR).

Hearings at BPAAR are evidentiary hearings.  Owners and other parties are sworn in and required to testify under oath.  Owners are subject to cross-examination.  The hearings are heard by Hearing Officers, who are appointed by the Board of Property Assessment to hear tax appeals.  The Hearing Officers are typically real estate agents or appraisers. The Owner may submit comparable sales, and any unknown issues with the property at the time of the sale to reduce the assessment.  The Hearing Officer will submit a report, which will either be adopted or modified by the Board, which will issue the final assessed value.  

If the Owner (or school district) doesn’t like the result, the Owner or school district has the right to appeal to the Board of Viewers of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. The Board of Viewers will schedule a mediation with all the taxing authorities and the Owner to mediate a resolution to the assessed value of the Property.  This is a mediation, and the Owner is not required to agree to any stipulated value.If the Owner agrees to the assessment, the parties will sign a stipulation, which will then be signed by a Judge. The appeal process is now complete, and the stipulated value will be the new assessed value of the property until there is a county-wide reassessment or a change in the Property.  

 Our tax assessment client base extends to country clubs and golf courses, investment properties, self-storage facilities, gas stations, retail complexes and shopping centers, office buildings, apartment complexes, duplexes and homes.    

Harvey E. Robins has earned an excellent reputation in the area of real estate tax assessment appeals, representing local, national and international commercial concerns and chains. Robins has been actively practicing in real estate tax assessments for over forty (40) years and has earned a national reputation for his assessment work. Greg Gerlach also represents many property owners in assessment cases, and is frequently successful in getting reductions in assessed values for our clients.  

If you want to appeal your current assessment, please contact us. While it is not necessary to hire an attorney to represent you in an assessment hearing, we have been representing property owners in assessment hearings for over fifteen (15) years, and have the ability to navigate the system on your behalf.  

We typically represent property owners on a contingent fee basis, meaning we only are paid when we successfully reduce your taxes.  If you prefer, we will alternatively handle your appeal on a flat fee basis.