Thinking about making a case to appeal your property tax?
There are a lot of factors that keep us tied to the Garden State like our top-rated schools and close proximity to NYC. Our property taxes, however, have us scratching our heads sometimes. Although you might think there is nothing to do about it other than break out the checkbook, think again, as now is the time to act!
January through March is the time to appeal your taxes in Bergen County. You can do it on your own but hiring an attorney is really your best bet and April 1st is the deadline.
According to the NJ Department of Taxation, a taxpayer considering an appeal should understand that he/she must prove that his/her assessed value is unreasonable compared to a market value standard. There are a few methods used to define market value standards, but the key to a successful appeal is that your home is being taxed at a rate greater than 10% above comparable homes that have sold within a certain period of time in your town.
Although this process can be confusing if you have never appealed property taxes before, it can be worthwhile if presented correctly as I have had many clients successfully appeal their taxes over the last couple of years.
Please contact me to help you determine if you have a case and for a recommendation for a tax appeal attorney. I am happy to work with them to provide comparable properties to support the appeal.
I would love to be your real estate resource,
Miriam Lambert