Property Assessment Grievance Day is May 22 in Most Communities
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded New Yorkers that they can challenge their property assessments through May 22 – Assessment Grievance Day in most communities.
Taxpayers should visit the Web site of their city or town to find their property assessments. State law requires towns and cities to make assessment rolls available on the Internet and provide a link to the information from their homepages.
The Tax Department also has created a number of useful videos and publications that help taxpayers understand property tax assessments. They’re available at www.tax.ny.gov.
Local online assessment rolls list each property’s assessed value, estimated market value and exemptions. If a property owner believes that the estimated market value of his or her property is significantly higher than the price for which the property could be sold, the property owner should take the following steps:
1. Determine the market value of the property
The best sources for estimating the market value of a home are recent sales of similar properties. Property owners can find information on local property sales at assessors’ offices, in the paper and on the Internet. More information is available in the Department’s online publication, How to Estimate the Market Value of your Home.
2. Talk with the assessor
Once the property owner has evidence to support a reduction in the assessment, he or she should schedule an appointment with the assessor. Often, an informal discussion between a property owner and an assessor can result in a sharing of information beneficial to both parties.
3. File an assessment grievance
The deadline for submitting a grievance application in most communities is May 22nd. (Notable exceptions include: New York City, Nassau County and Westchester County.) Property owners should confirm the deadline with their assessors’ offices. To assist with filing a grievance, the Department publishes Contesting Your Assessment in New York State on its Web site.
Property tax cap
To address the burden of high property taxes on New Yorkers, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last year introduced and signed the property tax cap into law. The cap is bringing the unprecedented attention of citizens and local officials to property taxes that are among the highest in the nation. During the first year of the property tax cap, the majority of local governments and school districts proposed budgets that did not exceed the local cap.
For more information
- Visit www.tax.ny.gov
