The government requires property to be taxed because this is one of the sources of revenue. Indeed property taxes are an expense to the homeowner and can extend to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Property taxes are usually appraised after some time. There are cases when these taxes are calculated unfairly. When you think that you are paying very high taxes, the state allows you to file for NJ property tax appeal. You will need an attorney to assist you in the process so that you can pay the accurate property tax that is fit for you. It is important for you to understand how property taxes are determined before you request for an appeal. Typically, the town’s tax authority calculates property tax based on the town’s budget. This ensures that budget for schools, the police and fire department and maintenance of the town are accounted for. The value of your property will also be put into account. It is important to know how much your property is worth. When you hire a property tax appeal attorney, he or she will advise you on the right time to appeal for the property taxes. Here are some considerations:
- Requirements: The tax appeal process requires all appellants to fulfill certain requirements before they file the case. The taxes need to be fully paid by the time the appeal is requested. The property tax appeal must also show that there was a misrepresentation on the market value of the property and that other occurrences caused your property to depreciate in value. This could be recession, inflation or natural calamities.
- Time limit: After you file for the tax appeal, there is a certain time limit that is required for your attorney to present the case before the assessor and the county tax board. This is within three months. The property tax appeal attorney will prepare the case considering the time limit and have all the required records to prove that the tax given is erroneous, discriminatory and unreasonable and ensure that you win your case.
Remember that the NJ property tax appeal process is costly. You will need to account for filing fees, attorney fees and other charges. It is therefore important to ensure that your appeal is credible and worth the effort. Although there are tax appeal calculators that you can use in the beginning, it is important to hire an attorney who will assist you in identifying the irregularities and filing for the appeal. The attorney will present the report and comparables to the assessor and members of the tax board. The assessor is also required to be present to act as witness when the hearing is scheduled. The attorney will prove that your tax exceeds the common level range and therefore it will be reduced.
It is important that you hire an attorney who is knowledgeable about New Jersey laws and procedures during the property tax appeal case.
