Navigating property tax scenarios for your business: Key events to watch

Property taxes and business license compliance present a complex landscape, especially when significant business events involving mergers, acquisitions, or expansion occur.

Understanding which business events can trigger changes to your property tax obligations or business license requirements can help you avoid surprises, stay compliant, and manage costs effectively. In this blog post, we’ll cover key business events that impact property tax and business licenses, along with what you need to consider for each.

Property tax considerations:

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can significantly affect your company’s property tax obligations. When a merger or acquisition takes place, properties and assets are often revalued, leading to new assessments and potentially higher property taxes. The combined entity might trigger a reassessment, which could increase your tax liability due to changes in asset ownership and market value.

It’s also crucial to monitor deadlines for filing property tax returns, as M&A activity may mean different jurisdictions or assets require new filings. Ignoring these deadlines can lead to penalties or missed opportunities for appeal.

A merger or acquisition may also change property ownership and/or billing details, which can impact timely payment of bills, filing of returns, and assessment review.

Business license considerations:

For M&A activity, business license requirements may change as well. In many cases, licenses are nontransferable, meaning new licenses will need to be applied for and existing licenses canceled. The specific license change and procedure to update the business license will vary by the details of the transaction. A new license may be required or the company may be able to update their existing license depending on the nature of the transaction and the specific rules of that jurisdiction.

Additionally, local jurisdictions may impose new compliance obligations to reflect changes in ownership, which can complicate your licensing strategy.

Property tax considerations:

Expanding your business — whether by opening new locations, acquiring additional assets, or increasing operations — directly impacts property tax. New property purchases and new constructions are typically subject to reassessment, which can significantly increase property tax costs. For leased properties, your tax obligation could increase if your lease includes property tax pass-throughs, which means you’re responsible for covering any additional taxes assessed on the property.

Furthermore, if you expand the business into new jurisdictions, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with local property tax regulations and deadlines. In some cases, you may be eligible for incentives or abatements that reduce the tax burden for new business activities.

Business license considerations:

Expanding to new locations means obtaining the appropriate business licenses in each new jurisdiction. Just because you’re licensed appropriately in jurisdiction A doesn’t mean you’re licensed correctly in jurisdiction B. Every city or county may have different licensing requirements, and these can be complicated to navigate if you’re expanding into new jurisdictions. Be sure to assess the types of business licenses you’ll need to obtain, as well as renewal timelines and the associated fees.

Property tax considerations:

Relocating assets, such as moving your business equipment or inventory to a different jurisdiction, can trigger property tax implications. Moving assets may mean you’ll be subject to different tax rates or valuation methods, which can impact your tax bill.

In many states, property tax on business personal property is assessed annually, and the location of the property at the time of assessment determines which jurisdiction collects the tax.

In addition, some states require businesses to report their property values annually, which means moving assets between locations will need to be properly documented to avoid discrepancies in your property tax return or unexpected audit findings.

Business license considerations:

Relocating assets can also require updating business licenses. Certain jurisdictions may require amended licenses when assets are moved or when there’s a change in business activity levels. Make sure to review local requirements and update or obtain new licenses where necessary to avoid penalties for noncompliance.

Property tax considerations:

Whether you purchase or lease new equipment, you may see a change in your property tax liability. Business personal property, such as machinery or equipment, is often taxable and must be reported to local authorities. The timing of these purchases can impact how quickly they’re assessed and added to your property tax bill.

If you lease equipment, check whether your lease agreement includes property tax obligations. In many leases, the lessee is responsible for reimbursing the lessor for property taxes associated with the leased equipment. This means your property tax costs could vary depending on the equipment’s assessed value and the lessor’s compliance with tax filings.

Business license considerations:

When adding new equipment, especially for activities like manufacturing or production, you may need to update your business licenses. Depending on the equipment type, you may be required to apply for special permits or operational licenses to comply with health, safety, or environmental regulations.

Property tax considerations:

Selling property or business assets can lead to property tax adjustments or refunds, depending on the timing and nature of the sale. If you sell real property, that’s likely to trigger a reassessment for the buyer, which may change the property’s tax value and result in changes to your property tax return filings. In addition, personal property sold during the year should be reported on your property tax return, which may result in prorated tax obligations or tax savings.

Business license considerations:

If you divest or sell part of your business, you may need to cancel certain licenses or apply for new ones that reflect your business’s new scope. Some jurisdictions require notice of changes in business activity to maintain compliance, and failing to update this information can lead to fines or other complications.

Property tax considerations:

Reorganizations, such as changes in business structure or transferring ownership between entities, may trigger reassessment events for property tax purposes. The ownership change can lead to revaluation of your real estate and business assets, increasing your tax liability if the market value has appreciated.

In some cases, reorganizations may also qualify for property tax exemptions, but these exemptions often come with specific filing requirements and deadlines. Keeping detailed records and consulting a property tax professional can help ensure you take advantage of any available benefits.

Business license considerations:

A change in business structure, such as moving from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or corporation, typically requires updates to your business licenses. Some jurisdictions even require you to get a brand-new license for this change. Different entities have different licensing requirements, and failure to update licenses when reorganizing can leave your business noncompliant.

Tips for staying compliant during business events

Business events such as mergers, acquisitions, expansions, or asset sales can have significant implications for your property tax obligations and business license requirements. Being proactive and understanding these impacts can save your business from unnecessary penalties and costs while helping you stay compliant.

• Keep detailed records. Whether it’s property transactions, equipment purchases, or changes in ownership, detailed records are crucial. These records will help you file accurate property tax returns and ensure your business licenses are up to date.

• Consult with professionals. Property tax professionals and business licensing experts can help navigate the complexities of these changes and identify potential tax savings or compliance issues before they become problems.

• Stay informed on local regulations. Each jurisdiction has its own rules for property taxes and licensing. Expanding your business into new areas requires awareness of different filing deadlines, assessment rules, and license requirements.

Whether you’re managing property tax returns, responding to notices of assessment, or ensuring your business licenses are current, careful planning and the right expertise are your best tools for navigating these changes effectively.

Avalara Property Tax is a secure hub for real and business personal property tax information and tax-related activities. Use Avalara Property Tax to manage deadlines, asset categorization, depreciation schedules, returns preparation, assessment notices, appeals, and tax bills in one system. It also helps automate data entry for critical assessment notices and tax bill document management, reducing risk of human error and penalties.

Avalara License Management is cloud-based software that lets you centralize hundreds to thousands of business licenses, permits, and tax registrations through a single application. Streamline the ongoing renewal of your business licenses, automate and accelerate the process of acquiring new licenses, and easily research requirements on the federal, state, and local levels with Avalara. Visit avlr.co/business-licenses to learn more.