Tax Litigation

Calfee’s Tax Litigation practice provides representation for companies and individuals before county boards of revision, the Ohio Tax Commissioner, Ohio Board of Tax Appeals, Ohio Supreme Court, and United States Tax Court.

We advocate for our clients on matters that include real property tax complaints and exemptions, sales and use tax assessments and exemptions, public utility tax assessments, municipal income taxes, tax refund litigation, audits and federal administrative proceedings.

Noteworthy

Chambers USA Band 4 Ranking (Ohio)

For well over a decade, our Litigation group and individual litigation attorneys have been ranked and recognized by Chambers USA.

In 2019, one client told Chambers USA researchers: "They are extremely knowledgeable and responsive," further adding: "They clearly have our company's best interests at heart." Other sources also comment: "Calfee acts as a true strategic partner and develops strategies that incorporate our business objectives as well as political realities."

Chambers researchers previously reported that sources described Calfee's Litigation group as "highly responsive and their lawyers are really devoted to their clients’ interest. They're thoughtful, creative and they work hard.”

Chambers researchers further noted that peers commented, “The quality is very high across the board; it’s a wonderful group of lawyers.”

U.S.News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firm" Rankings

Calfee's Litigation practice was selected for inclusion in the 2019 "Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S.News – Best Lawyers in America in Tax Law and several Litigation practice areas (national and metropolitan rankings).

Benchmark Litigation Rankings

Calfee has been selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2019 as a "Recommended" litigation firm in Ohio. Several of Calfee's Litigation attorneys have been ranked as Leading Litigators by Benchmark Litigation 2019.

Professionals

Experience

• Assisted property owners in reducing the assessed value of their real property by pursuing complaints filed with county boards of revision and, when necessary, pursuing appeals to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and Ohio Supreme Court
• Obtained Board of Tax Appeals decision reducing client’s public utility property taxes by more than $25 million by successfully introducing alternative valuation rebutting presumption accorded tax commissioner’s standard valuation method
• Successfully argued state preemption of municipal income tax assessment against motor transportation company before Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and on appeal to Ohio Supreme Court, Panther II Transp., Inc. v. Seville Bd. of Income Tax Rev., 138 Ohio St.3d 495, 2014-Ohio-1011
• Represented clients in personal income tax litigation cases in U.S. Tax Court
• Represented clients concerning audits involving federal and state personal income taxes, the Commercial Activity Tax, and sales and use taxes
• Litigated sales and use tax exemptions before the Board of Tax Appeals and Ohio courts, including the employment service exemption and transportation-for-hire exemption
• Represented clients seeking property tax exemptions before the Ohio Tax Commissioner

Services

• Tax refund litigation
• U.S. Tax Court proceedings
• State tax administrative proceedings and litigation
• Real property tax valuation litigation
• Real property tax exemption litigation
• Sales and use tax audits and litigation
• CAT tax audits and litigation