Legal Blog

​FORT WORTH – The law firm of Varghese Summersett has been listed as one of Fort Worth's Fastest Growing Companies by Fort Worth Inc. magazine. The law firm came in No. 6 on a list of 30 companies, which were ranked based on three-year revenue growth. Fort Worth Inc. unveiled the rankings on January...

As a subcontractor, common specialist, material provider, designer, professional, or any other number of redecorating professionals, your right to computer file a reputable Florida mechanics lien is an essential device to ensure the productivity and well-being of your company. A Florida mechanics li...

The Role of Marijuana in Society While it has long been considered an illegal drug that should only be used in the rarest of circumstances for medicinal purposes, marijuana is slowly becoming a popular drug of choice for Canadians. Our team at Toronto Defence Lawyers has completed significant resear...

 If you're looking for some extra cash in a hurry, Wizzcash short term loans are the ideal solution. Short team loans are ideal for people who find themselves in an emergency and need some extra cash to clear their overdraft or tie them over until pay day. Borrowing money isn't all that easy – ...

EnterAny traumatic event can bring about symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and an auto accident is no exception. If you're suffering from PTSD after a car accident, it is possible to pursue damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Bringing in an Expert Because ...

Marriage is one of the most joyous events in life. Most assume that they will be married forever. However, unfortunately, some marriages do not end up working. For some, divorce ends up being the only option. When children are born of the marriage, it can definitely make the divorce more complicated...

There are many misconceptions about child custody not only in Fort Worth but the entire world. Some divorcing parents are forced to believe in such myths because they are very common to a point many people think they are facts. It is however important to get facts straight to those starting on this ...

If you need the assistance of a professional Accident Injury Attorney in Murrieta or Auto Crash Lawyer in Murrieta, then The Baum Injury Law Group is the right place for you. The Baum Injury Law Group is the choice for those looking for maximum financial recovery from their injuries. We have earned ...

Family related issues may be quite tormenting and stressing. For an amicable resolution of such issues, it is important to seek the help of a professional family attorney that will guide you through every detail to get things done the way you expect. Family law involves a wide range of issues involv...

Anybody who has gone through DUI knows about its legal proceedings. It's difficult to handle especially when you manage it yourself. A single negligence can affect you in the forms of fines and penalties, suspension of driving license and even imprisonment. The punishment in all states is stressful,...

In life, no one really gets into a marriage with an expectation to divorce. However such eventualities are bound to happen despite the efforts the parties involved may put in to saving the marriage. When that moment comes, an attorney that specialises in divorce matters is necessary to represent you...

​Family court is a place where the toughest decision of your life can be made. There can be a huge impact on you, both emotionally and financially for the rest of your life. You may have to make a decision about the life of your children also. Here in Fort Worth, Texas the percentage of families who...

​When someone is convicted of DUI, he believes that it's difficult to get out of it. They simply agree with the conviction without questioning their rights. One needs to question the officer during evaluation. Otherwise, he may be sentenced. This is because they ignore their legal rights without rea...

​Family Law proceedings can be emotional and confusing.Whether you are seeking legal advice for an upcoming divorce, or searching for council on child custody matters, a high-quality attorney will give you the assurance that your unique needs are met. There are a number of Fort Worth Family Law Atto...

Finding a DUI lawyer in New Jersey is not as simple as it seems. Approach a lawyer who has experience dealing with your case. Following the above ways to find a DUI lawyer can help you reach the right attorney. DUI is a serious traffic violation NJ. It's the major reason why people get arrested whil...

When you are dealing with brokers of all types, you will find that there is a lot of discussion about how you are supposed to deal with fraud, negligence, and other issues. Did you know that fraud is, unfortunately, a common issue that people face when they get into these situations? That's where an...

With any car accident situation, it is challenging to figure out how best to approach the matter. But truck accidents are a little bit more complicated than a regular car accident, because there are so many other variables involved. If you or someone you love was the victim of a truck accident, wher...

Some business property is being double taxed but the owners don't know it! If you own or lease a restaurant, store, or office space with leasehold improvements there is a good chance that the personal and real property is subject to double taxation.
Real property includes all land, buildings, and fixtures. All improvements on leased property must be considered real property. However, leasehold improvements can be taxed as personal property even if those improvements are technically real property so long as the underlying real property assessment does not include value for the leasehold improvements. This is where the costly double taxation can occur.
Many real property assessments already include value for leasehold improvements. Cost calculator methods are used to value commercial and industrial buildings and these methods often have added or assumed items covering the leasehold improvements. Assessors also typically add value to the real property assessment when new construction items are added. Therefore, a review of your personal property statements and the underlying real property assessments is vital to avoid double taxation.

Coordination between the leasee and the landlord also can result in tax savings to both as the personal property tax deduction rates are often lower than real property rates and the real property item costs are sometimes lower than the acquisition costs of the leasee. Analysis of the property and coordination of the parties can result in the most effective and tax saving challenge.
Contact me today if you feel that your leasehold improvements are being unfairly taxed!

Urgent! Personal property statement deadlines have already passed, but make sure you didn't make a costly mistake!
If you have assessable commercial or industrial personal property you were probably required to file a 2012 Form L-4175 by February 1, 2012. Many taxpayers make the costly mistake of attaching tax asset detail sheets to the personal property statements. These sheets typically include acquisitions costs and dates and provide a basis for completing your personal property statement. However, the sheets often include information for income tax purposes that should not be disclosed to the assessor! Leasehold improvements that are already taxed as real property and are listed on the tax asset detail sheet only for income tax depreciation purposes can be caught by the assessor and entered into your personal property assessment, resulting in double taxation. Sometimes it is necessary to include support for Section M of the personal property statement, the leasehold improvements section. But you should limit the supporting documents to the items that you must disclose in Section M to support the return and not include the entire tax asset detail sheet. Avoiding this problem requires detailed analysis of your personal property statements and asset details. Contact me and I can help you avoid address this problem and avoid it in the future!

Many homeowners and property owners are currently being shocked by their assessments! Real estate markets have arguably stabilized in some areas. However, what many property owners did not expect is to see assessments increase! While values have remained stagnant or even have continued to fall in the majority of the State of Michigan, assessments are going up. Assessors have been using the highest priced sales to drive up assessments while ignoring the many typical lower priced sales that still saturate the market.
The best way to address this problem is to appeal your property taxes to the Board of Review and then the Tribunal. Boards typically do not give much property tax relief, but all residential property owners must appear before a Board before going to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal offers the opportunity to present appraisals and comparables to show your property's true worth. You get more than just a few minutes before a rubber stamp Board. You also get the opportunity to negotiate a settlement. I can assist you in this process. I have achieved significant tax savings for many homeowners and have the resources to present the best evidence possible.
Don't delay. Contact us here at 1-800-LAW-FIRM, PLLC for a free consultation.