taxes

I need some help!!! My township raised my property taxes $14,000
this year. My assesment went from 200k to 800k and it certainly isn't
because I am currently making any money.

So to fight this I have to do the usual stuff like lawyer, and an
appraisal on the place.
I also wanted to have some statistics showing how off the industry
is as a whole. Does anyone know where I can find industry statistics
that would prove my point that I am just not making anywhere close to
what I once was?

Thanks for the help

We have successfully argued our tax increases and have had some reduced by 33%. Meet with the tax assessor, and find out why they increased your taxes by so much? See how others are taxed. How other car washes are taxed. How other businesses are taxed. Seems like your appraisal is low, would you sell for $200,000? In Jacksonville they have to be 85% of value!

The question "would you sell for ______ " is not relevent for property tax's IMOP......When I fought and won my case last year I was asked that question and I simply told the Judge " Judge, are you offering to write a check NOW or later " he laughed aggreed that we are not discussing the sale of property but what the property is worth NOW not tomorrow, not last week but NOW and in this economy and lack of commercial financing, lets get real. Our properties are crashing before our eyes today. Sure they will rebound but the tax's are based on TODAY. Our laws are clear, the value of ones property is what a willing seller and a willing buyer will aggree to in a resonable amount of time. FIND ME A RESONABLE BUYER WITH MONEY :)
Another good source is to get the stats on all the other car wash tax's on the rolls in your area, usually on the internet. I found some real good reasons to declare the county assesor negligent in his duties. Like assessing my car wash the same value as one that was over a Million more in construction cost than mine. He was close to getting the judge mad when he said he wasnt an expert on Car Wash's :) WELL WHO THE HELL IS said the Judge and I said well Judge looks like I am among those present :)
I won a 50 % reduction. I will not sign my name to this as I know for a fact that the Assessssor watch's this site because he mentioned it in my case. Sneaky little ______ they are.

Thanks for the info guys I got some real value out of it.