Tax season may be wrapping up, but for many Maryland business owners, the impact of tax season is just beginning. When you’re reviewing your latest corporate real estate tax notice or when your company gets a letter in the mail from the IRS about a corporate income tax discrepancy, one thing remains true: not all corporate tax assessments are accurate.
Appealing a corporate tax assessment can feel overwhelming, but if something doesn’t look right on your business tax assessment, it’s not something you should ignore. At Saltzman Law, we help companies across Maryland challenge and resolve a wide range of business and corporate tax issues, from corporate real estate assessments to corporate income tax and employment-related tax disputes.
If your business is incorporated in Maryland and you are debating whether or not you should file a corporate tax appeal—this guide walks you through the key reasons to file a corporate tax appeal, corporate tax appeal filing timelines, and benefits of filing a business tax appeal with trusted legal assistance in Maryland.
What Is a Corporate Tax Assessment, and Why Does It Matter to Business?
A corporate tax assessment is a formal valuation or determination made by a local or federal taxing authority—such as the IRS, Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, or your county government. These corporate tax assessments are used to calculate how much your business owes in taxes.
Depending on the type, a corporate tax assessment could apply to:
- Corporate real estate property taxes
- Corporate income taxes
- Corporate sales and use taxes
- Corporate employment or payroll taxes
- Penalties and interest on past corporate tax filings
If the amount your business owes doesn’t add up—or you believe the basis for the corporate tax assessment is flawed—your Maryland business may be entitled to appeal the decision.
Common Reasons Maryland Businesses File Corporate Tax Appeals
At Saltzman Law, we’ve seen a wide range of business tax cases where corporate tax assessments were overstated, incorrect, or unfairly applied. Here are some of the most common triggers for a corporate tax appeal:
1. Overassessed Corporate Property Value
If your business office, warehouse, or commercial property has been overvalued by the state or county, your corporate real estate tax bill may be inflated. A corporate real estate tax appeal can reduce your tax liability and save your company thousands of dollars, annually.
2. Incorrect or Misapplied Corporate Income Tax Deductions
Sometimes the IRS or Maryland Comptroller denies a corporate income tax deduction you were legally entitled to take. A proper corporate income tax appeal can correct this and adjust your final corporate income tax bill.
3. Corporate Sales and Use Tax Audits
These corporate sales and use tax audits often result in corporate sales and use tax assessments based on estimated, not actual, business sales activity. If your Maryland business receives an unexpected sales and se tax bill, you may have grounds to challenge the corporate sales and use tax assessment assumptions used.
4. Late or Retroactive Corporate Tax Notices
If you receive a corporate tax bill for a past year without warning, or one that includes new corporate tax penalties, it’s worth reviewing with a trusted corporate attorney for a late tax appeal.
5. Changes in Business Use or Zoning
Sometimes business tax assessments don’t reflect recent changes in how you use your corporate property, especially after construction, downsizing, or repurposing office space.
When to Appeal YourCorporate Tax Assessment: Timing Matters in Maryland
In Maryland, corporate tax appeals are time-sensitive. You often have only 30 to 60 days from the date of the corporate tax assessment or notice to file a corporate tax appeal.
Missing the corporate tax appeal deadline can result in:
- Loss of corporate tax appeal rights
- Enforced corporate tax collection actions
- Higher corporate tax interest and penalties
- Corporate tax liens or legal proceedings
Don’t wait. If you’ve received a corporate tax assessment notice, the best time to consult a corporate tax attorney is now—even if you’re unsure whether the corporate tax assessment is correct.
What Happens During the Corporate Tax Appeal Process?
Each corporate tax appeal has a different set of circumstances, but here’s how the general tax appeal process works:
- Initial Corporate Tax Assessment Review: You or your company accountant receive a questionable corporate tax assessment.
- Corporate Tax Consultation: Saltzman Law or your preferred corporate legal team, evaluates the case and advises on a solid corporate tax appeal strategy.
- Corporate Tax Appeal Filing: Your corporate attorneys will submit a formal corporate tax appeal to the appropriate taxing authority (state, local, or federal). Saltzman Law is here to assist Maryland businesses in the process.
- Corporate Tax Appeal Supporting Evidence: A corporate attorney will gather business and tax documentation, provide a thorough tax assessment analysis, or facilitate commercial property appraisals.
- Corporate Tax Appeal Resolution: The corporate tax appeal is resolved through corporate attorney negotiation, tax appeal hearings, or tax authority administrative review.
Some corporate tax appeal cases settle quickly. Others may require tax appeal hearings or escalated tax authority review. Regardless of the avenue your company’s tax appeal resolution takes, Saltzman Law provides fullscope corporate and business tax appeal representation from start to finish.
What Happens If My Maryland Business Doesn’t File a Corporate Tax Appeal?
Failing to appeal a flawed corporate tax assessment can result in:
- Overpaying on your corporate taxes
- Reduced business cash flow due to overpaying your businesses corporate taxes
- Unnecessary corporate and business tax penalties and fines
- Inaccurate corporate tax records affecting your businesses future corporate tax filings
For more established Maryland businesses, successfully navigating a corporate tax appeal with a trusted attorney can mean tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in preventable corporate tax expenses.
Should Maryland Businesses File Their Corporate Income Tax Assessment Without an Attorney?
While CPAs and accountants are invaluable during business tax season, only a licensed corporate attorney can fully and carefully represent your business in corporate tax appeal legal proceedings, or escalate corporate tax appeal filings through the proper administrative or judicial channels.
Saltzman Law brings decades of experience in:
- Corporate income tax disputes
- Corporate real estate tax assessments
- Corporate sales and use tax appeals
- Corporate employment tax defense
- Administrative Corporate tax appeal hearings and corporate tax court cases
We work closely with your CPA or accounting team to build the strongest corporate tax assessment appeal case possible and advocate on your business’ behalf at every level of the corporate tax appeal process.
Don’t Let an Incorrect Corporate Tax Assessment of Your Maryland Business Go Unchallenged
Maryland’s corporate tax system is complex—and mistakes happen. So is the federal tax system. If your Maryland business received a corporate tax bill that doesn’t make sense, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
At Saltzman Law, we help Maryland businesses protect their financial interests and make sure they’re only paying what’s fair in corporate taxes. Whether it’s a corporate real estate tax issue, a business sales tax dispute, or a corporate income tax assessment, our team of corporate attorneys are ready to help you challenge corporate tax assessments with confidence. Contact Saltzman Law today to discuss your situation.