Compare 10 firms for a commercial property tax appeal in 2027, from national consultants to property tax law firms, with fee models and what each does best.
Property tax is often the largest operating expense on a commercial building after debt service, and assessments do not always track what a property is actually worth. A well-prepared commercial property tax appeal can correct an overstated value, but deadlines are short, rules differ by county, and the evidence has to hold up in front of a review board or tax court.
This list is for owners and asset managers of office, retail, industrial, multifamily, hotel and special-use property. We looked at firms that actually prepare and argue appeals, not lead-generation sites. We weighed the depth of each firm’s property tax practice, its geographic reach, whether it uses attorneys, consultants or both, and how clearly it explains its work. Every firm below was checked against its own website.
Appeals plus litigation management and forecasting
DuCharme, McMillen & Associates
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Industrial and multi-jurisdiction owners
Employee-owned, 50+ years in tax
Baker Tilly
National accounting and advisory firm
REITs and institutional investors
Annual valuation review across 50 states
Faegre Drinker
U.S. law firm, team led from Indianapolis
Indiana and Midwest appeals in tax court
Attorney-supervised analysts
Best Commercial Property Tax Appeal Firms In 2027
1. Ryan — Global Tax Firm With A Large Dedicated Property Tax Practice
Ryan is a Dallas-based tax services and software firm that started in 1991 as the CPA firm Collis & Ryan. Its property tax practice has grown largely through acquisitions, including Marvin F. Poer and Company (announced in 2022, founded in 1964), Paradigm Tax Group (2022), the property tax consulting business of Austin’s Popp Hutcheson (2024), and Altus Group’s global property tax business, sold to Ryan for C$700 million in a deal that closed at the start of 2025.
That history means Ryan now has local consultants across many U.S. jurisdictions plus Canada and the U.K. The firm describes its property tax work as guidance on assessments, reducing tax burdens and defending valuation positions, backed by its own property tax software for tracking appeals and deadlines.
Ryan suits owners with properties spread across many counties or countries who want one firm to manage the calendar, the filings and the negotiations. Smaller owners with a single building may find a local specialist more hands-on.
Best for: Institutional and multi-state commercial portfolios that want one national property tax provider.
2. Siegel Jennings — Property Tax Law Firm Operating Since 1974
Siegel Jennings Co., LPA is a law firm that works only on property tax reduction for real estate owners. It has operated since 1974 and is based in Cleveland, with offices in Chicago, Columbus and Pittsburgh. Its services include contesting and defending valuations, planning tax exposure at purchase, tracking assessments and deadlines, and preparing tax projections for due diligence.
The firm’s published case results cover shopping malls, apartment buildings, nursing homes, office and warehouse properties, distribution centers, hotels and office and lab buildings in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Managing partner J. Kieran Jennings is president of American Property Tax Counsel, a national alliance of independent property tax law firms that represent commercial owners.
Because appeals can end up in court, owners who expect a contested case often prefer a law firm from the start. Siegel Jennings is a good fit for that situation in its core states.
Best for: Commercial owners in Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania who want attorneys handling the appeal.
Marcus & Pollack LLP is a Manhattan law firm focused on real estate tax review and litigation, known in New York as tax certiorari. It also handles commercial and residential exemptions and abatements, condemnation and related municipal law matters. The firm says it represents many leading owners and developers in the New York metropolitan area.
The partners come from both sides of the table. Joel R. Marcus served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York and has tried major real estate tax cases. Robert M. Pollack has worked as an appraiser and as a Senior Assessor with the New York City Department of Finance. The firm is the New York City member of American Property Tax Counsel.
New York City’s assessment system, abatement programs and filing calendar are distinct from the rest of the state, so a firm that works there every day is a practical advantage for office, retail, hotel and residential building owners.
Best for: Owners of New York City office, retail, hotel and large residential buildings.
4. K.E. Andrews — State And Local Tax Firm Founded In 1978
K.E. Andrews is a national state and local tax firm founded in 1978, with offices in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston and Denver and more than 200 professionals. Its property tax services include appeals and litigation, compliance, budgets and accruals, check writing and pre-acquisition reports, which means it can manage the full property tax cycle rather than only the protest.
The firm lists experience across build-to-rent, data centers, health care, hospitality, industrial and logistics, manufacturing, multifamily, office and retail, plus upstream, midstream and renewable energy assets. It also offers cost segregation studies, valuation and appraisal work, and credits and incentives advisory, so an owner can coordinate property tax and income tax positions with one team.
K.E. Andrews offers client dashboards and its own software tools for tracking assessments and appeals, which helps owners who need regular reporting across many parcels.
Best for: Real estate and energy owners who want appeals plus ongoing property tax compliance.
O’Connor & Associates is a Houston-based property tax consulting firm that handles both residential and commercial protests. Its corporate office is in Houston, and it lists offices in Texas, Illinois, Georgia and New York. For commercial property, the firm says it covers properties in 45 states.
The commercial fee model is a key reason owners choose it: O’Connor states there are no upfront fees for commercial appeals and no fee if taxes are not reduced. It also offers a Commercial Property Tax Protection Program and commercial appraisal services. The firm reports that it saved clients over $213 million in 2025, a figure it publishes on its own site.
O’Connor is most established in Texas, where annual protests are routine and the volume of filings is high. Owners should read the engagement terms closely and confirm the commercial fee percentage, which the firm does not publish online.
Best for: Owners, especially in Texas, who want contingency-based commercial protests.
6. Kroll — Real And Personal Property Tax Appeals With Fixed Asset Reviews
Kroll, the global advisory firm, has a property tax services team that prepares real and personal property tax appeals and supports clients through audits. The team works with companies nationwide, with experts listed in Austin, Richardson, Chicago, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Houston and Philadelphia.
What sets Kroll apart is its attention to tangible personal property alongside real estate. Its services include fixed asset reviews, identifying non-taxable items, and pursuing exemptions such as pollution control, alternative energy and Freeport inventory exemptions. For owners of hotels, manufacturing plants or other asset-heavy properties, the personal property side of the bill can be as important as the land and building value.
Kroll also has deep valuation resources, which help when an appeal turns on a contested appraisal.
Best for: Owners with significant personal property, such as hotels, plants and distribution facilities.
Cushman & Wakefield’s Property Tax Agency Services team, part of its valuation and advisory group, prepares, files and negotiates assessment appeals. It provides valuation support when dealing with assessors and when appearing before tribunals or courts, and it manages the litigation process for clients.
The team also forecasts annual assessments and tax liability, including the effect of acquisitions, new construction and other changes on future bills. It covers retail, office, industrial, multifamily, hotel and special-use property, and it draws on the wider firm’s market research, which can be useful evidence in an income or sales comparison argument.
This option makes most sense for owners who already use Cushman & Wakefield for leasing, valuation or property management and want property tax handled inside the same relationship.
Best for: Owners who want appeals and tax forecasting from a global real estate services firm.
DuCharme, McMillen & Associates (DMA) is an employee-owned corporate tax consulting firm based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that has worked in corporate tax for more than 50 years. Property tax is one of its main practice areas, with separate teams for industrial and commercial property.
On the commercial side, DMA describes formal assessment appeals in which it prepares valuation analyses, market data and documentation, as well as full assessment reviews and pre-roll negotiation with assessors to resolve concerns before values are finalized. It covers office, retail, multifamily, industrial, hospitality, mixed-use and special-purpose property, and it supports organizations with regional, national and multi-jurisdiction portfolios across North America.
DMA also handles property tax compliance and audit recovery, so it suits companies that want the appeal work tied to their filings.
Best for: Corporate owners with industrial and commercial property in many jurisdictions.
9. Baker Tilly — Annual Valuation Reviews For Commercial Portfolios In 50 States
Baker Tilly is a national accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated commercial real estate property tax team. The team reviews each property every year using cost, income and market approaches, then builds an independent, documented valuation to support appeals when the assessed value is too high.
The firm offers state and local tax services in all 50 states and lists experience with retail, office, multifamily, hospitality, industrial, self-storage, data centers, hospitals, senior living and student housing. It also prepares pre-acquisition property tax estimates with three- to five-year projections and customized reporting for national portfolios, and it describes a transition team that onboards new clients within 30 days.
Because Baker Tilly also offers audit, income tax and advisory services, it is a natural fit for REITs and funds that want property tax coordinated with their wider accounting work.
Best for: REITs, funds and institutional owners with national portfolios.
10. Faegre Drinker — Attorney-Led Appeals Through County Boards And Tax Court
Faegre Drinker is a large U.S. law firm with a property tax appeals and disputes practice. Its team reviews assessments, has full-time tax analysts working under attorney supervision to spot over-assessed property, negotiates with local assessors, and represents clients before county boards, state boards and tax court. It also negotiates abatements and exemptions and advises on tax planning for new construction.
The practice covers commercial, industrial, residential and special-use property. Its listed professionals are based mainly in Indianapolis, with others in Des Moines, Florham Park and Denver. The firm has published analysis of sharp 2025 increases in Indianapolis commercial and industrial assessments, which is the kind of local tracking that helps owners decide when to file.
Faegre Drinker is the right call when an appeal may need litigation or when abatements for a new project are part of the plan.
Best for: Owners in Indiana and nearby markets expecting a contested appeal or abatement negotiation.
How To Choose A Commercial Property Tax Appeal Firm
Do You Need A Consultant Or A Property Tax Attorney?
Many appeals are settled at the informal or board level by property tax consultants. Cases that move to tax court or require formal litigation need licensed attorneys, and some states limit who can represent owners at certain stages. If your property is high value or the assessor is unlikely to settle, start with a firm that has property tax attorneys or works closely with one. American Property Tax Counsel is a useful way to find independent property tax law firms by state.
How Is The Fee Structured?
Contingency fees, where the firm takes a percentage of the tax savings, are common. Flat fees and hourly billing are also used, especially for law firms and complex cases. Ask how savings are calculated, whether the fee covers one year or several, and who pays for appraisals and expert witnesses.
Does The Firm Know Your County?
Filing deadlines, evidence rules and assessor practices vary widely by county and state. Ask for recent results in the same jurisdiction and property type, and confirm who will actually handle your file.
Can The Firm Coordinate With Your Income Tax Strategy?
Values used in a property tax appeal, a purchase price allocation and a depreciation study should be consistent. If you are planning a cost segregation study, tell both providers so the positions line up.
What Reporting Will You Receive?
Owners with several properties should ask for a calendar of deadlines, status reporting on each appeal and a clear summary of savings by year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I File A Commercial Property Tax Appeal?
Appeal windows often open when assessment notices are mailed and can close within weeks. Check your county’s deadline as soon as the notice arrives, and engage a firm early enough for it to gather income and expense data.
What Evidence Supports An Assessment Appeal?
Typical evidence includes rent rolls, operating statements, recent sales of comparable properties, an independent appraisal and records of physical or economic problems with the property.
Can An Appeal Raise My Assessment?
In some jurisdictions a review board can increase the value as well as reduce it. A qualified firm will review the risk before filing.
Is A Property Tax Reduction Permanent?
Not always. Many jurisdictions reassess regularly, so a property tax reduction in one year may need to be defended again in the next cycle.
Conclusion
The right commercial property tax appeal firm depends on where your properties are, how likely a case is to be contested and how you want to pay. National firms such as Ryan, K.E. Andrews and Baker Tilly fit large portfolios, while law firms such as Siegel Jennings, Marcus & Pollack and Faegre Drinker fit owners who expect hearings or court. Compare engagement terms carefully and keep your property tax and income tax advisors talking. For related planning, see our list of tax strategy firms for real estate investors.
This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.
