Moskowitz LLP

Moskowitz LLP is a San Francisco tax and accounting firm that handles personal and business tax matters, including property tax appeals and assessment disputes. Unlike dedicated property tax specialists, the firm brings accounting and legal capabilities under one roof, which is useful when a property tax issue connects to broader tax planning or ownership structure questions. The team includes CPAs and tax attorneys who have served Bay Area clients across a range of industries and property types for many years. The property tax practice covers assessment appeals, valuation disputes, and Proposition 13 and 19 compliance matters. Because property tax is one service among several, clients with layered needs often find value in having accounting and legal questions handled by the same team. That said, if property tax is your only concern, a dedicated specialist might offer more focused attention. Moskowitz tends to work best when there's meaningful overlap between your property tax situation and broader financial or business planning needs.

Moskowitz LLP handles property tax appeals and assessment reviews as part of a broader tax practice. For property owners, this includes reviewing current assessed values against market comparables, identifying grounds for appeal, preparing and filing applications with the Assessment Appeals Board, and representing clients through informal conferences and formal hearings. On the commercial side, the firm applies income and cost approaches to challenge valuations for office buildings, retail centers, and industrial properties. They also handle disputes involving change-in-ownership reassessments, which can trigger large unexpected tax increases when a property transfer is incorrectly classified. The accounting and legal capabilities allow for integrated analysis. When a property tax reduction creates accounting implications, or when a reassessment dispute requires legal documentation, having both disciplines in-house simplifies the process. The tax law team handles cases involving penalties, refund claims, and disputes requiring formal legal representation. Additional services include Prop 8 decline-in-value applications, supplemental assessment reviews, new construction exclusion filings, and Proposition 19 transfer exclusion claims for qualifying family transfers. Estate-related property transfers with intersecting tax implications are another area where the firm's cross-disciplinary structure adds genuine value.

Moskowitz starts with an intake review of your property's assessment history, recent area sales, and documentation you can provide. If there's a viable case, they'll outline the approach and fee structure before work begins. For standard appeals, they handle filing and all communication with the assessor's office. If an informal resolution is possible, they pursue it first since it's faster and less costly than a formal hearing. When a hearing is required, the firm prepares the full evidentiary package including appraisal support, market data, and legal arguments where applicable. For change-in-ownership and transfer exclusion matters, the process is document-intensive and deadline-driven. The team manages the paperwork and follows up with the assessor's office to confirm filings are processed correctly. Errors in these filings can result in significant reassessments, so the firm is deliberate about documentation and follow-through. Clients receive updates at key milestones, though response times during tax season can slow down as the broader practice handles competing deadlines.

Moskowitz LLP primarily serves San Francisco County and the broader Bay Area, including San Mateo, Marin, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties. The firm takes on commercial cases throughout Northern California when the complexity warrants it. For clients with properties spread across multiple counties, the cross-county experience is a practical advantage. Most of the active property tax caseload is concentrated in San Francisco and the Peninsula, where the firm's local market knowledge is strongest.