Appeal an Incorrect Tax Assessment

You received a tax assessment, tax bill, or notice of deficiency that you believe contains errors or is based on incorrect information. Tax assessment disputes are among the most common administrative proceedings, and many result in reduced assessments when properly documented. Here are the most frequent scenarios where an appeal is likely to succeed: - Property tax overvaluation: Your property has been assessed at a value significantly higher than its actual market value. This is the most common tax appeal worldwide. Evidence such as recent comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of property defects (structural issues, environmental contamination, adverse location factors) can demonstrate that the assessed value is excessive. - Incorrect income tax calculation: The tax authority has made an error in calculating your income tax liability, such as failing to apply deductions, credits, or exemptions you claimed, double-counting income, applying the wrong tax rate, or misallocating income between tax years. - Disputed business tax assessment: Your business has received an assessment for taxes you believe are incorrect, including overestimated revenue, disallowed legitimate business expenses, incorrect classification of business activities, or errors in payroll tax calculations. - Erroneous penalty or late filing charges: You received penalties for late filing, late payment, or underreporting that you believe are unjustified. Valid defenses include reasonable cause (illness, natural disaster, reliance on professional advice), first-time penalty abatement, or computational errors by the tax authority. - Capital gains tax dispute: The tax authority has calculated capital gains incorrectly, using the wrong acquisition cost basis, failing to account for improvements, applying the wrong tax rate, or not recognizing applicable exemptions (such as primary residence relief). - Double taxation or residency dispute: You are being taxed on the same income by two jurisdictions, or the tax authority has incorrectly determined your tax residency status. Double tax treaties and residency rules may apply. - VAT or sales tax assessment error: The tax authority has assessed VAT or sales tax based on incorrect turnover figures, disallowed legitimate input tax credits, or applied the wrong tax rate to your goods or services. - Inheritance or estate tax dispute: The valuation of inherited assets is incorrect, exemptions have not been applied, or the tax calculation contains errors. - Self-employed or freelance tax dispute: Deductions for business expenses, home office, travel, or equipment have been disallowed despite being legitimate and properly documented. - Tax credit or refund denied: A tax credit you claimed (child tax credit, earned income credit, education credit, energy efficiency credit) has been denied or your tax refund has been reduced.