Practice Areas
Jeff McNaught has spent the better part of his law career with Lindquist & Vennum dealing with all facets of property tax law, on a wide variety of cases.
It’s likely that property taxes are one of your largest expenses. An incorrect valuation can break your bottom line.
As a property tax attorney with over 30 years experience helping businesses of all sizes, I have extensive experience in all key areas of property tax law. I can help you create a fair valuation of your property and initiate a property tax appeal in the courts if your property has been unfairly assessed.
If you’d like to address your property tax assessment, or need help with any aspects of property taxation, please call Jeff McNaught for a consultation at 612.578.8455.
My practices areas:
1. Property Tax Valuation & Appeals – As a prudent property manager or business owner, you have to pay close attention to how government entities assess the value of your properties, and take action to correct excessive or inaccurate assessments. Your property assessment itself is the valuation that the assessor places on your property each January. If you haven’t discussed your property valuation with the assessment office in quite some time, chances are that your valuation is being set by a computer driven assessment process and not an actual person with experience in the valuation of property. If you feel your property has been unfairly assessed, I can help. I can initiate a property tax appeal in the courts and work to resolve the issues.
2. Property Tax Classification – Not only is the property’s valuation important to determining its taxes, but so is its classification. Minnesota has a number of property classifications and each carries a different tax rate. In some instances, a property can have multiple classifications. A property owner should make sure that their property is properly classified.
3. Property Tax Exemption – Minnesota recognizes special classifications and uses of property and grants tax exemptions. The exemption is not limited to just charitable organizations, some specialized properties are given exemptions and others are given valuation breaks and considerations. A thorough understanding of the subject property, along with a familiarity with the programs available, may result in that property qualifying for and receiving a special designation.
4. Special Assessments – Special assessments are specific costs for local improvements that are levied on properties that benefit from the improvement. For example, the costs of new street lighting or new pedestrian sidewalks are typically billed to the particular properties that receive the benefit from the new improvement. The special assessment is not a property tax, even though it appears on the property tax statement. However, like the property tax, the special assessment is tied to the value of your property. The amount of the special assessment cannot exceed the increase in value to the property upon which it is levied. So, the improvement that results in an assessment of $10,000 on a property must add at least $10,000 of increased value to that property, or it can be challenged. The special assessment is not challenged in the same manner that one appeals the property tax. The special assessment must be challenged at the point when the property owner receives formal notice from the city or county that the property will be assessed. Failure to object at that early stage will bar any subsequent ability to appeal.
5. Eminent Domain/Condemnation – Our constitutions (state and federal) give state government the authority to take private property for public use. The government must compensate the property owner, and others who possess an interest in the property, for their losses. Recent law changes have given property owners a stronger hand in the process. But, land owners should seek the assistance of counsel in connection with any condemnation action. The condemnation action begins with a communication from the government entity notifying the owner of the possible taking. The process can be intimidating and confusing. Involving counsel early in the process will give the property owner the important benefit of understanding the process and having a representative there to protect the owner’s interest. The compensation due to a property owner for condemned property is almost always determined through the valuation process.
Editor of The Property Tax Deskbook
Jeffery McNaught serves as national Editor-in-Chief of the American Bar Association’s Property Tax Deskbook and is the primary author of the book’s Minnesota chapter. His relationships with the authors of the book’s other 50 chapters give him a nationwide network of real estate attorneys he can tap immediately when it’s beneficial for clients. The Property Tax Deskbook provides property tax managers, attorneys, accountants, and other professionals the information they are most likely to need to address state property tax issues, planning and procedures.
Contact Jeff 612.578.8455
To reach Jeff, complete the form below or call the number above if you’d like to address your property tax assessments, or need help with any aspects of property taxation.
The Law Offices of Jeffery J. McNaught
201 Ridgewood Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55403
Office: 612.578.8455
Cell: 612.964.2758
Conveniently located near downtown Minneapolis.