Understanding The Tax Grievance Process

Long Island homeowners are no strangers to high property taxes, which is why here at P.T.R.C. Inc., we have made it our mission to ensure that they are paying the lowest amount of property taxes as required by law. How do we do so? By working on their behalf during the tax grievance process.

If you're a new homeowner or a homeowner that hasn't taken action to try and reduce your property taxes in the past, we know you might not be familiar with what a tax grievance is and how the process works. That's why today, we're here to share the steps we take so that you are well informed when the opportunity to file comes around again - here's how it works:

Step 1: The first step is for you to submit your signed application during the application period (contact us for specific details on when this is). You'll need to fill out the application based on your county, which can be found on our website when the application period is open.

Step 2: Once we receive your application, look out for a confirmation from our team - we'll confirm that the application has been submitted within the deadline and that you're eligible to file the grievance application.

Step 3: The P.T.R.C. Inc. team will represent you before the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) if you live in Suffolk County, or the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) if you live in Nassau County.

Step 4: Depending on the decision made by the ARC or BAR, we will either accept the reduction or we will move onto a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR).

Note: if a reduction is denied at the board level, SCAR is the only way that a reduction can be obtained. A $30 court filing fee is required in order for SCAR to purchase an index number - this guarantees that your case will be heard. 

Step 5: P.T.R.C. Inc. purchases the index number for you and completes all of the necessary paperwork on your behalf. After the appeal has been filed for, the Supreme Court will schedule a hearing. 

Note: many SCAR appeals are filed each year, so it can take several months to get a hearing.

Step 6: Your P.T.R.C. Inc. representative works to prepare all of the documentation needed for the appeal process, including a Comparable Market Analysis.

Step 7: P.T.R.C Inc. appears on your behalf in the hearing and presents all of the evidence needed in order to successfully obtain a reduction.

Step 8: For successful cases, depending on your hearing date and the municipality, there are a few ways in which the reduction can be reflected. For example, you may see it on your tax bills, at which point you would pay your taxes based on the lowered assessed value - in this case, no refund is due to you. 

In some instances, you may receive a refund check directly, which would be issued for any overpayment of taxes that resulted from the reduction.

Lastly, there could be a partial adjustment in your assessed value, in which case you would also receive a partial refund.

If your request for a reduction is turned down, you will not be subjected to any penalties and you can try to file again the following year. 

Still have questions about the grievance process and how our team can help? To learn more, please visit www.ptrc.com or give us a call at (516) or (631) 484-0654. We can also be reached via email at info@ptrc.com!