Much of the recent Association of Computers and Taxation conference was focused on data analytics—how to manipulate data, and the opportunities and challenges analysis presents. A problem that was discussed at length is one most companies are currently struggling with: How do tax departments gain easier access to the variety of data that will help them make more strategic decisions?

You’re probably aware of the availability of experts who offer commercial property valuation services, but you may not know when or if you need them (or what exactly they bring to the table). This article covers the most common reasons why companies enlist a valuation expert for property taxes, and how to know if you should consider hiring one.

Often, transformation requires disruption. It’s our belief here at CrowdReason that the property tax industry is ripe for transformation, perfectly poised to benefit from disruptive influences such as artificial intelligence. And our advanced property tax software, MetaTaskerPT and TotalPropertyTax (TPT), are leading the charge.

Is your tax team currently using a homegrown tool to manage your company’s property taxes? You may be in that position for any number of reasons—you’re a small-enough company that your solution seems sufficient for the job; you expect you’ll have to pay more for vendor software than you do for your annual tax liability; or maybe you’ve simply been doing things the same way for so long that you haven’t investigated your options lately.

Almost every business carries property insurance of some kind, whether it’s for the building the company is housed in (building insurance) or the assets inside it (business personal property insurance). But just because insurance is a necessity doesn’t mean it should be viewed as an expense line item that’s out of your control. (The same holds true for business personal property tax compliance—you have more control over the process than you might think.) The more you understand about business personal property insurance (or BPP insurance), the better equipped you’ll be to find the right coverage, and an insurance partner you can trust.

Thinking of purchasing new property tax software? Or maybe you’ve already invested in new software (of any kind) and are planning the implementation process. Either way, you’re right to be doing your homework in advance of the change. Tech-related implementations require the same level of attention as any other type of organizational change initiative—a substantial number of which are prone to failure due to lack of planning.

Taxes are still one of the certainties in life (it’s nice to know some things haven’t changed since the 18th century), but the same can’t be said for the amount of taxes paid. Thanks to the property tax appeal process, valuation amounts are never set in stone—as long as you take full advantage of your right to challenge an unfair assessment.

Our clients who file Alabama business personal property tax returns have different perspectives on the state’s timing: Some see it as having an early return due date; others see it as having a late return due date. That’s because Alabama has an unusual tax year compared to other states. Learn more about that—and a few other highlights of Alabama’s property tax practices and policies—below.

Almost all companies have been subject to downsizing at one point or another. Even during periods of strong economic growth, sometimes the individual needs of companies in the short-term makes intermittent layoffs unavoidable. Following any downsizing activity, the question then becomes: How does a smaller group of people handle the same workload as before?

“Simplified workflows”

“Fewer clicks”

“Intuitive design”

These are all terms that have been used to describe TotalPropertyTax (TPT), the most advanced property tax software in the industry. But what, exactly, do those terms mean as applied to daily use, and how do they impact the user experience?