REAL PROPERTY TAX APPEAL AGREEMENT
This Real Property Tax Appeal Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between Campbell & Brannon Property Tax Services, LLC (“CBPTS”) and undersigned Client as of the date hereinafter signed by both parties.
SECTION 1: DUTIES OF CAMPBELL & BRANNON PROPERTY TAX SERVICES
- Upon execution of the attached Autorization of Appeal (“Authorization”) and payment of fees hereinafter defined, CBPTS shall timely open a client file.
- Upon opening client file, CBPTS shall perform an independent analysis of the property tax valuation for the subject property.
- Upon analysis of the property tax valuation for the subject property, CBPTS shall advise the client as to
- the likelihood of success of an appeal
- the suggested value for the appeal and
- the procedural method for pursuing the appeal (either arbitration or Board of Equalization).
CBPTS shall not be obligated to file an appeal if in its sole discretion it determines the likelihood of success for an appeal is not great.
- Upon conferring and agreeing with the client regarding suggested value for the appeal CBPTS will prepare and file the official property tax appeal.
- Upon receiving the assessor’s response to the appeal, CBPTS shall confer with the client and either
- accept the response or
- determine if pursing the appeal to arbitatraion or the Board of Equalization is advisable.
CBPTS shall not be obligated to pursue the appeal to either body if the likelihood of success in continuing the appeal is not great.
- Upon consultation and mutual agreement regarding continuation of the appeal, CBPTS shall appeal the proposed value to arbitation or the Board of Equalization. CBPTS shall prepare and present the appeal before the body selected.
- Upon receipt of the decision of the arbitrator or Board of Equalization, the client may either accept the value or continue the appeal process to the Superior Court. If the client wishes to pursue the appeal to the Superior Court an additional agreement shall be executed defining CBPTS’s duties and compensation accordingly.
SECTION 2: DUTIES OF CLIENT
- Client shall timely pay CBPTS an administrative fee of $500 for services rendered in representation of the appeal. If in the sole discretion of CBPTS, CBPTS reviews the property tax valuation and determines there is a low likelihood of success of appeal CBPTS shall notify the client of findings and not be obligated to continue the appeal. If CBPTS does not continue the appeal at this point CBPTS shall refund to the client $250.
- Client shall timely execute and return this Agreement and the Authorization to CBPTS. CBPTS will not take any action until receipt of payment of the administrative fee and return of this signed Agreement and the Authorization.
- Client shall execute a separate Agreement for appeal of each property tax valuation and shall pay a separate fee for each appeal.
- Client shall timely forward all correspondence from the Tax Assessor and Tax Commissioner relating to the appeal to CBPTS for review. This includes: Notices of Assessment, appeal acknowledgement and response letters, tax bills, and hearing It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to make sure that the tax authorities have current mailing information to ensure all correspondence is received properly.
- Upon successful completion of the appeal, Client shall pay CBPTS a contingency of 25% of the first year’s tax savings. Client shall not be obligated to pay contingency fee unless the property tax valuation is lowered resulting in a tax savings. For example, Campbell & Brannon lowers the tax valuation of a property resulting in the client’s yearly savings of $3,500.00, ($10,500 savings over three years) CBPTS’s contingency fee will be $875.00. The contingency fee will only be charged for the first year while savings acrue for three years. Contingency fee calculation will be based upon known Fair Market Value and millage rates at inception of appeal and new Fair Market Value and current millage rates at completion of appeal.Upon final decision of the appeal, the tax value is frozen and will be unfrozen only upon the occurrence of a few limited actions such as a change of ownership, County-wide reassessment of a market area, permitted renovations or if the property value is re-appealed in the following tax cycle.
SECTION 3: LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
- It is agreed that CBPTS has given no assurances as to the final outcome of client’s property tax valuation.
- CBPTS makes no representations as to the length of time it will take to pursue the appeal.
- CBPTS may choose to decline representation of any party and terminate representation at any time without liability.
- CBPTS’s sole liability for failure to provide any services herein defined or any claims asserted which relate to the valuation of the property or any property tax bill, penalties or interest shall be limited to the administrative fee herein defined.
- CBPTS shall not have a fiduciary duty to the client and shall only serve the client in the role of contractor as defined in this Agreement.
- This agreement consititutes the entire agreement between the paries.
- In executing this agreement neither party has relied on any representation or promise not specifically defined in this Agreement.
- This Agreement may be amended only by the express written consent of both parties.
- If the Client executing this agreement is an Entity said individual signing representes he or she is authorized to enter this agreement on behalf of the entity.
- This Agreement shall supersede any prior agreement between the parties.