Tax Group Helps Reno Geothermal Power Plant Reduce Property Taxes More Than 40 Percent

Holland & Hart attorney Scott Scherer, a partner in the firm’s Carson City office, recently represented USG Nevada in successfully reducing the property valuation of the San Emidio Geothermal Power Plant north of Reno by more than 40 percent.

USG Nevada was concerned about valuation of the plant for property tax purposes and asked Holland & Hart to assist them with an appeal.

Initially, the firm represented the company in front of the Washoe County Board of Equalization where the company obtained a reduction in the property taxes of approximately 50 percent. The State Department of Taxation appealed to the State Board of Equalization. After briefing the case, and before going to hearing, the firm settled with the Department on a valuation that was still more than 40 percent below the original valuation.

“The fact that we were able to represent the company in the early stages of contesting the valuation allowed us to create a record in the initial hearings that gave us a strong case on appeal,” Scherer said.

Holland & Hart attorneys Bryce Alstead in Reno and Brandon Sendall in Carson City also worked on the case.

In most cases, the deadline for appealing property tax valuations in Nevada is January 15. Scherer strongly urges companies that are interested in reducing their property valuations to obtain qualified legal representation.

Holland & Hart’s State and Local Tax Group is among the broadest and deepest in the Mountain West, and its attorneys possess decades of experience addressing state and local tax issues in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and surrounding states. The firm represents numerous industries throughout the region, including oil and gas, mining, telecommunications, cable, utilities, pipelines, retail, and small businesses.

Holland & Hart attorneys have extensive experience on the range of state and local tax issues, including state income and franchise taxes, state and local sales taxes, state and local property taxes, state and local gross receipts taxes, state severance taxes, state insurance premiums taxes, and more.