How to prepare for Tax appeals

Filing a tax appeal can be a big challenge, but with the proper planning and timing, you can be successful. In New Jersey depending upon which county you reside in, the due dates for a tax appeal will vary. Some counties like Monmouth County the filing date is January 15th and in the other counties are April 1st. Before you decide to file a tax appeal find out which date is correct for your county. In counties where there is a municipal-wide reassessment has been performed the deadline is May 1st.

The first step you should do is meet with your local tax assessor and discuss the property record card. Make sure all the information on it is correct.

If you are not satisfied with your local municipalities assessment, then fill out the paperwork for a tax appeal. You will have to provide to the tax board reasons you believe your property is over-assessed. You will have to supply closed sales that are similar to your property. An example would be the size of and the number of rooms, land features and property amenities.

Do not let this keep you from reaching out to your local tax assessor any time during the tax year. Before filing a tax appeal, we can accurately evaluate and discuss your tax assessment.

Some people hire real estate appraisers such Coast Appraisers LLC to prepare a property appraisal. In some extreme cases, people hire firms specializing in tax appeals and attorneys.

Remember that in your county with revised calendars the reassessment date may be different, so check with your municipality. It is essential to give yourself enough time to gather your facts and records to ensure you are on track to validating a reassessment of your property.