FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2015

CONTACT
Lee Baerlocher, Business & Income Tax Division Administrator

Montana Department of Revenue
(406) 444-3717, lbaerlocher@mt.gov         

Mary Ann Dunwell, Public Information Officer

(406) 444-6700, mdunwell@mt.gov

Montana Department of Revenue and AT&T Mobility reach settlement of property valuation dispute

Helena, MT – The Montana Department of Revenue and AT&T Mobility have reached a settlement over the market value of the company’s centrally assessed property for tax years 2011 through 2014.
The department’s determination of AT&T Mobility’s property value in the state resulted in an estimated $12 million in property taxes being assessed for tax years 2011 through 2014. Of that amount, AT&T Mobility paid an estimated $8.9 million under protest in dispute over the appraisal methods the department used to calculate the company’s property values. As part of the settlement, the state and counties will keep an estimated $5.9 million of the amount the company paid under protest, and AT&T Mobility will receive an estimated refund of $3 million.

“This is a good resolution for Montana’s taxpayers,” says Revenue Director Mike Kadas. “It saves the department the expense of litigation and it frees up the revenue that can now go towards funding the services the state and counties provide. We appreciate AT&T Mobility’s assistance in reaching this agreement.”

The department will soon release the AT&T Mobility taxes to the state and to the 51 counties in which AT&T Mobility owned property during the tax years in question.

For information explaining centrally assessed and intangible property, visit the department’s website revenue.mt.gov.

##

Mary Ann Dunwell

Public Information Officer

Montana Department of Revenue

mdunwell@mt.gov

www.revenue.mt.gov
Twitter: @MTRevenue

(406) 444-6700, (406) 461-2648 cell

125 N. Roberts, PO Box 5805, Helena, MT 59604-5805