Understanding Business Property Taxes: Is There Tax Relief?

Property taxes are often discussed through the lens of home ownership. However, business owners also have to pay property taxes. 

Property tax is any tax that a business has to pay on privately-owned property. That includes real estate and personal property, as well as business-related inventory.
 

UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY TAXES FOR BUSINESSES

Property tax is paid to local and state governments. The federal government does not collect property taxes. That said, there are different types of state and local property taxes.

REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX

Any business that owns real estate is required to pay taxes on that real estate. That includes but isn’t limited to retail buildings, commercial spaces, office buildings, and land. 

The amount of tax owed is dependent upon the assessed value of the property. This is the same method used for taxing homeowners. 

PERSONAL PROPERTY & BUSINESS INVENTORY

Property tax is typically calculated by multiplying the property tax rate by the value percentage of the taxable property.

Business inventory may be calculated as a unique subcategory of personal property taxes, but this varies from state to state. Tennessee does not collect business inventory taxes directly, but includes it in other forms of business tax (like franchise and excise tax).

Related: Excise Tax: What Is It and When Do You Have to Pay It?

DEDUCTING YOUR BUSINESS PROPERTY TAXES 

If you meet the IRS’s requirements, you may be able to deduct some of your business property taxes on your annual business tax return. 

What can be deducted: the portion of the levied property tax based on the property’s assessed value. 

As a business, you can also deduct any portion of the property tax that was levied as a “local benefit.” In other words, you can deduct the cost of things like sidewalks, streets, water and sewer lines, public parking facilities, or other improvements that benefit the community as part of your business expenses.

Deducting business property taxes as part of your federal return is incredibly complicated. It’s easy for ordinary business owners to become overwhelmed by this system. 

Working with a small business CPA in Memphis, TN protects you from paying more than your fair share of taxes. Your tax burden should be based on what you truly owe, and the best way to know that is to partner with a tax professional.

Related: How Can A CPA Help Your Small Business?

IS THERE RELIEF? CONTESTING YOUR TAX ASSESSMENT

In some circumstances, you may be able to contest the assessed value of your property. When you receive your assessment bill, it will include the information you need for filing a contestation with the local tax authority. 

This is something else that a small business CPA can help you with! 

CHALIFF + ASSOCIATES: HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES MANAGE THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS

At Chaliff + Associates, we spend our time supporting small business owners as they navigate bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll management, budgeting, business licenses, and much more. 

Our qualified and experienced CPAs know how to protect small business owners from overpaying their taxes. That includes property taxes!

We take away the stress that comes with navigating complicated systems, changing instructions, and unfamiliar processes. Work on growing your business while we help you manage your books. 

To find out more about the kinds of tax relief that you may be missing out on, reach out today to set up a free consultation with one of our tax experts.