FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our property tax defense services
EPTA reviews the property's assessment and basic details and reports:
- Whether the property appears over-assessed
- What the anticipated savings may be
- Whether it's worth filing an appeal this year
If EPTA determines there's no appeal value, there's no cost or obligation. EPTA doesn't take cases just to take them — if there's no real opportunity, EPTA says so upfront.
EPTA works on a contingency basis, which means EPTA only gets paid when it saves the client money.
There are no hourly fees. EPTA does collect an upfront retainer that mainly covers filing and misc. fees; the amount varies by state — see the fees page for the full breakdown.
Then EPTA is owed nothing.
EPTA's incentives are aligned with the client's — EPTA only wins when the client wins.
Most cases are resolved within the same year, often without going to Tribunal, BTA, IBTR. Some cases take longer depending on the municipality and complexity.
EPTA handles the entire process and keeps clients informed.
No.
EPTA handles filings, negotiations, and communication with the municipality. Client involvement is minimal.
EPTA handles commercial properties, including:
- Retail
- Office
- Industrial
- Multifamily (5+ units)
(EPTA does not handle single-family residential properties.) See all services.
If the deadline passes, the property is generally locked into that assessment for the year.
That's why EPTA strongly recommends reviewing an assessment as soon as it's received. See 2026 filing deadlines.
No.
This is about making sure a property's taxes reflect reality — not outdated or inflated values.
The Detroit PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) program is a City of Detroit initiative that allows multifamily property owners (6+ units) to replace their traditional property tax with a significantly lower service charge — potentially saving up to 80%.
Once approved, the reduced rate is locked in for 15 years and can be renewed for an additional 15. Applications are rolling, but limited to 1,500 units per year on a first-come, first-served basis.
EPTA handles the entire application process. Learn more about the Detroit PILOT program.
EPTA serves commercial property owners across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The team handles appeals in major metro areas and suburban counties throughout all three states.
In Michigan, EPTA regularly works in Wayne County and Oakland County. In Ohio, EPTA handles cases in Cuyahoga County and beyond. In Indiana, EPTA serves Marion County and surrounding areas.
EPTA can help owners of commercial property in any of these states.
Assessed value is the figure a local assessor assigns to a property for tax purposes. Market value is what the property would actually sell for in an open transaction between a willing buyer and seller.
These two numbers should be closely related, but they often diverge — especially when assessors rely on outdated data, mass-appraisal models, or incomplete property records. When the assessed value exceeds true market value, the owner is overpaying on taxes.
Understanding this gap is the foundation of a successful appeal. Read EPTA's commercial property tax assessment guide for a deeper breakdown.
Start by comparing a property's assessed value to recent sales of similar properties in the area. If the assessment is significantly higher than what comparable properties are selling for, there's a good chance the property is over-assessed.
Other signs include a large year-over-year increase in the assessment, a decline in property income or occupancy, or physical issues that reduce value but aren't reflected in the assessment.
Use EPTA's over-assessment checker for a quick self-evaluation, or learn what evidence supports a strong appeal in EPTA's appeal evidence guide.
Simply request a Free Pre-Deadline Property Tax Defense Review. EPTA takes it from there.
