As Seen in the News: How AirWave Lease Insights is Uncovering Millions in Hidden Property Taxes

If you own a property with a cellular antenna in Boston, you might be sitting on a significant reimbursement opportunity without even knowing it.

Recent investigative reporting from Axios Boston, Banker & Tradesman, and the Dorchester Reporter has shed light on a pervasive issue facing landlords: hidden property taxes triggered by wireless installations. At the center of these stories is AirWave Lease Insights, the firm that exposed the problem and helped a local church avoid financial disaster.

The $177,000 Surprise: A Case Study

The recent media frenzy began with the story of Global Ministries Christian Church in Dorchester. As reported by Banker & Tradesman and Axios, the church faced a shocking $177,000 property tax bill and the threat of foreclosure, all due to a T-Mobile antenna on its steeple.

While the church is tax-exempt, the city assessed taxes on the income value generated by the commercial antenna. Under standard lease agreements, the wireless carrier is typically responsible for these taxes. However, the church was unaware of the bill until a notice was affixed to their door.

AirWave Lease Insights stepped in to help. Our CEO, Steve Kropper, advised the church on a pro bono basis. AirWave’s analysis confirmed that the tax burden was "100-percent due to the cell site" and that the carrier was obligated to pay. Following a lawsuit and AirWave's guidance, T-Mobile agreed to settle the debt with the City of Boston, saving the church from losing its property.

Why AirWave is Making Headlines

AirWave Lease Insights has been featured in these publications because we are the only firm connecting the dots between complex wireless leases and municipal tax data.

• Banker & Tradesman highlighted our role in identifying that while ~75% of leases with major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) have tax reimbursement clauses, ~95% of owners never file a claim.

• Axios Boston reported on our broader data, noting that we have identified roughly 400 commercial property owners in Boston, including hospitals, universities, and other churches, who are collectively owed an estimated $7 million a year.

• The Dorchester Reporter featured our ongoing work with the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, which we identified is owed nearly $35,000 in prior years' reimbursements.

  
  

As our CEO Steve Kropper told the Dorchester Reporter, the carriers' approach is often, "Don't ask, won't pay.". If landlords do not know to claim the tax, the carriers rarely volunteer the payment.

We Have the Data

The most critical takeaway from this recent coverage is that the Global Ministries case is not an isolated incident. It is the "tip of the iceberg".

AirWave Lease Insights maintains a comprehensive dataset of all properties in Boston that incur cellular taxes. We have analyzed property tax records to identify the 389 properties in the city that are incurring property taxes as a result of their cellular installations, and likely missing out on reimbursements.

The average assessment for these properties is over $18,000 a year. Whether you are a non-profit, a small business, or a commercial landlord, you cannot afford to ignore this.

Don't Leave Money on the Roof

If you host a cellular antenna, you could be leaving significant money on the table. The carriers have experts fighting to minimize their costs; you need experts fighting to recover what is yours.

Visit AirWaveCheck.com to see if your cell site is being taxed and find out what you could be owed.