Reminder! Tax Grievance Applications Are Available Now!

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

In case you haven't heard, applications for tax grievances are NOW available! The current applications are for the 2018/2019 tax year, and if you're interested in filing, you shouldn't delay submitting your application for any longer!

The deadlines for these applications are as follows:

March 1, 2017: Nassau County

May 16, 2017: Suffolk County

Submitting an application is easy, and we have everything you need right on our website! You can either sign online or email, fax or mail your completed application right to us. Once we receive it, we'll send you a confirmation to let you know that you've met the deadline and that you are eligible to file.

A few reminders:

In Nassau County, the grievance process can take anywhere from 18-24 months, and in Suffolk County, it can take anywhere from 12-18 months. For this reason alone, it is so imperative that you get your application in on time if you're hoping to see a change in your property taxes doing the 2018/2019 tax year.

Additionally, don't forget that when you work with P.T.R.C. Inc., we only charge a fee for successful cases, and we do not charge a fee to be qualified. It's as simple as this - no reduction = no fee. If your case is successful and a reduction is warranted, our fee is 50% of the property tax reduction payable after official notification of the tax reduction. 

Note: if a SCAR petition needs to be filed, a $30 court filing fee may also apply. Additionally, if your reduction is for a Suffolk County property, a $75 CMA fee applies unless you provide us with a recent certified appraisal.

The P.T.R.C. Inc. team has been specializing in reducing property taxes for homeowners since 1990, and we'd love for you to be the homeowner we help next.

If you're ready to file, just head on over to www.ptrc.com to download your application. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at (516)/(631) 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com.

Understanding Property Taxes as a First Time Homebuyer

There's certainly a lot to learn when you embark on the journey of buying your first home, but one thing in particular that we think you should spend time on is property taxes. Though buyers often ask for a rough estimate of what the taxes tend to be on the house each year, to understand property taxes you have to know more than just a number.

With that said, today we'd like to share our knowledge about property taxes with all first time homebuyers - here's what we think you should know:

1. How are property taxes calculated?
Property taxes are calculated using a simple formula: multiply your property's assessment by the tax rates for municipalities, counties, school districts and special districts. 

2. How is a home's assessed value determined?
A home's assessed value is determined by looking at a number of factors, such as neighborhood comps, the home's features, the economy, and nearby infrastructure. Remember that your home's assessed value is important to know as it plays a big role in your property taxes each year.

3. Why do property taxes rise?
Property taxes can rise for several reasons, some of which include an increase in property value in your neighborhood as well as home improvements that you make. Property taxes may also rise if it becomes an economic necessity in your neighborhood, such as if the school district needs additional funding.

4. What can you do about rising property taxes?
Now onto the good news - as a homeowner, you are entitled to file a property tax grievance, which allows your assessment to be reviewed by an assessor to see if you are eligible for a reduction. If they do not offer a reduction, you can file an appeal to have an impartial hearing officer determine if your house has been overvalued for tax purposes.

Have additional questions about property taxes and tax grievances? The team here at P.T.R.C. Inc. would be more than happy to help and provide answers!

To speak with one of our experts, please call (516)/(631) 484-0654 or send an email to info@ptrc.com. You can also find answers to some common FAQs on our website!

Ways to Celebrate Fall 2016 on Long Island

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

There's certainly something special about every season that makes it great, but we can't help but get super excited about fall - from apple picking to pumpkin picking, Halloween and more, there's just so much to do, especially right here on Long Island.

If you're looking for some things to do with your friends and family this season, we've got you covered. With help from LongIsland.com, here are some of the top fall attractions to check out around town:

F&W Schmitt's Family Farm
Located in Melville, F&W Schmitt's Family Farm has it all - hay rides, farm animals, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, you name it. The farm and the pumpkin stand are open seven days a week, so pick a day that's most convenient for you and head on over to experience what fall on Long Island is all about!

Fire Island Lighthouse
Check out one of Long Island's greatest landmarks and enjoy the beautiful scenery that comes with it! Some even believe that the lighthouse is haunted by a caretaker, which makes it the perfect hotspot for fall and Halloween fun. On Saturday, October 22nd, there will even be a "ghost stories" event at 7 PM, and it's free!

Harbes Family Farm
With three awesome locations - one in Mattituck, one in Jamesport and one in Riverhead - Harbes Family Farm offers everything from pumpkin picking to hayrides, wine tasting, corn mazes and more (activities vary by farm). Although no more apples remain for the 2016 season, there's plenty to keep you and your family busy throughout the rest of fall!

Bayville Scream Park
Make your Halloween celebration as spook-tacular as possible by visiting Long Island's Halloween Theme Park - Bayville Scream Park! With six different haunted attractions (one is all new for 2016!), this destination will have you shrilling and shrieking all night long!

Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Travel back in time and learn what life was like on Long Island back in the 19th century when you visit the Old Bethpage Village Restoration! Beautiful and scenic during the day, on select nights until October 30th the village will be hosting "haunted tales and trails" - perfect for the fall and Halloween season!

Do you have another favorite place to go or activity to do during the fall season on Long Island? If so, be sure to share it with us on Facebook and/or Twitter!

P.T.R.C. Inc. has been helping Long Island homeowners reduce their property taxes since 1990. For information about how to file a tax grievance or how P.T.R.C. Inc. can help, please call (516)/(631) 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com.

3 of the Biggest Mistakes Homebuyers Make

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Although people buy homes all the time, it's not something that you yourself are going to do every day - that said, there's certainly a lot to learn before diving in to make sure you get things right the first time.

If one of the next big tasks on your to-do list is to start house hunting, put as much effort as possible into avoiding these mistakes so that your home buying experience is a positive one:

1. Expecting immediate results.
It's good to be optimistic, but don't be too optimistic about how soon it will be before you move into your new home. Buying a home (and selling your home, if you need to) is a process, and assuming you'll find a house, put in an offer, and close the deal in a week or two is not really realistic. At the very least, you should expect that it will take 30 days from start to finish, but you should budget your time for more.

2. Choosing your first mortgage option.
In addition to shopping for a house, you also need to shop for a mortgage. Even if you feel like the mortgage you're offered by your bank is a great one, look into some other lenders so that you have other options to compare it to. And remember, even if this will be your first mortgage, try not to make it so obvious to the lender - yes, you should always ask questions, but making yourself seem as if you're not knowledgeable on the subject could position you as someone that the lender feels they can charge more.

3. Forgetting to be respectful.
At the end of the day, you need to remember that you're in someone else's home as you look around, so you should still be respectful of what is currently their living space - especially when you're trying to negotiate. There is a big difference between speaking very negatively about the home in order to knock down the price and politely offering your reasoning for why the asking price should be lower - the words you choose and the way you use them can have a huge impact on negotiations.

Once you decide on a home and settle into it, there's another mistake we'd like you to be aware of - not grieving your property taxes. After all, if you don't ever ask, the answer is always no!

Here at P.T.R.C. Inc., we encourage all Long Island homeowners to submit an application for a tax grievance, even if you suspect that you may not be successful. Why? There are NO penalties if your request is turned down, nor do we charge a fee for cases that are unsuccessful, so you've got nothing to lose!

To access this year's applications, please visit us on our website. Then, if you have any questions about submitting the application or about the grievance process in general, please give us a call at (516)/(631) 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com.

Why Should You Submit Your Tax Grievance Application Early?

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Although the deadline to file a tax grievance isn't until March of 2017 for Nassau County homeowners and May of 2017 for Suffolk County homeowners, we can't stress enough to our readers how important it is to get your application in as soon as possible. 

In case you aren't familiar with the specifics of the grievance process, in Nassau County it can take anywhere from 18-24 months from start to finish, and in Suffolk County, it can take anywhere from 12-18 months from start to finish - this is why it is so important to get your applications in not just on time, but in advance of the deadline.

Now, let's go over the grievance process in more detail:

1. Step 1 would be to submit your signed application to us. This you can do directly online, by fax/email or through direct mail.
2. Next, we'll send you a confirmation once we receive your application and let you know that you're eligible to file for a tax grievance.
3. Step 3 falls on us - P.T.R.C. Inc. will represent you before the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) in Suffolk County or the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) in Nassau County.
4. Depending on the outcome from step 3, our team will either accept the reduction or we'll move forward to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR). Note: SCAR is the ONLY way to get a reduction if the request is first denied at the board level, and a $30 court filing fee is required in order for SCAR to purchase an index number, which is essential in order for your case to be heard.
5. Our team will purchase the index number for you and complete all paperwork. After all has been filed, the Supreme Court will schedule a hearing. Keep in mind this could take a few months since there are a ton of SCAR appeals being filed.
6. At this point, we will get to work on preparing documents such as a Comparable Market Analysis that will be used as part of your appeal.
7. P.T.R.C. Inc. appears on your behalf to present all of the findings and evidence that shows you should be eligible for a reduction.

For successful cases, your reduction can come in a few different ways. For example, it may be directly reflected on your tax bill so that you pay the lower amount upfront, or, a refund check may be issued to you if you have already overpaid (this all depends on the timing of your hearing and the decision, as well as a few other factors). Lastly, you may see a partial adjustment on your bill and also receive a partial refund. 

Remember - if you file this year but do not receive a reduction, you can always file again next year. Same goes for successful cases as well - you can submit another application next year to try and reduce your property taxes even more!

If you have any questions about the grievance process, please give us a call at (516)/(631) 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com. We look forward to working with you!

Everything You Need to Know About Filing a Tax Grievance This Year

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Regardless of whether you're new to Long Island or an established homeowner in Nassau or Suffolk County, this time of year is one that you cannot ignore - it's filing season! Filing season for property tax grievances, that is. Every year homeowners just like you are overwhelmed with how much they have to pay in property taxes, but we at P.T.R.C. Inc. know that many times homeowners pay more than their fair share of property tax - this is why we so strongly recommend that you file a tax grievance.

If filing a tax grievance is in fact on your to-do list, here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• The filing deadline for Nassau County is March 1, 2017. The filing deadline for Suffolk County is May 16, 2017.
• The P.T.R.C. Inc. team does not charge you a fee to be qualified, and we will not charge a fee if there is no reduction. Our fees only apply to successful cases.
• The grievance process can take 18-24 months in Nassau County and 12-18 months in Suffolk County, so you will want to get your application in early!
• The owner, other applicant-taxpayer, or a representative who has the applicant's written authorization is permitted to sign the application form.
• If your request for a reduction is turned down, your property taxes will remain unchanged and you may file again next year if you'd like.
• Most incorporated villages require a separate filing if you want to grieve their taxes - contact us for more information if you have questions about this.

Ready to get started with your application? We have applications available right on our website, and you can submit yours to us online, via email/fax or by mail. 

If you have further questions about the process of filing a tax grievance this year, please do not hesitate to email us at info@ptrc.com or give us a call at (516)/(631) 484-0654 today.

Nassau County School Tax Bills Are Out!

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Nassau County homeowners - it's that time of year again, the time where school tax bills are being delivered to your door. If you haven't gotten your October bill yet, keep an eye on your mail as it should be coming soon. On the other hand, if you already received it, let us ask you this - are you happy with the amount that you have to pay? If you're in tax shock over high how your bill is, turn to the experts at P.T.R.C. Inc. for help!

Here at P.T.R.C. Inc., our team knows how it feels to receive a tax bill that seems too high, and we want to help homeowners just like you feel more at ease over future bills by working with you on a tax grievance! The taxes you're receiving now are your 2016/2017 tax bills, and when you file a grievance with us, we'll help you work on your taxes for 2018/2019! 

We know what you're thinking - isn't that far in advance? While yes, it may seem like a long way off, in Nassau County it can take 18-24 months for the grievance process to be complete, so you must file a tax grievance early.

So why file?

The answer to this is simple - if you don't at least try, you'll never know if you're eligible for a reduction on your future property taxes! Our team has worked tirelessly since 1990 to save money for Long Island homeowners (find properties near you where we've saved here), and we would love to work with you next! 

As a homeowner, you are entitled to file a tax grievance, so we see no reason why you shouldn't give it a shot. Applications are available on our website, and submitting one to us is simple - either sign online, email/fax us, or send us a hard copy by mail.

Remember, at P.T.R.C. Inc., we do not charge a fee if there is no reduction - fees only apply to successful cases!

If you have questions about this year's school tax bills or would like more information about the grievance process, please email info@ptrc.com or give us a all at (516)/(631) 484-0654 today.

P.T.R.C. Inc.'s Sean Acosta Tells All in Long Island Business News

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Since 1990, the P.T.R.C. Inc. team has been helping Long Island homeowners with their property taxes in an effort to make sure that they are paying the lowest amount of property tax as required by law. Led by president and founder, Sean Acosta, we've successfully handled 230,000 assessment challenges and have secured millions of dollars in savings for homeowners.

Recently, Sean sat down with Long Island Business News to answer questions about tax grievances, the process and more - let's dive into what he had to say.

First and foremost, Sean went over how counties figure out what to charge homeowners in property taxes and why your taxes can go up each year. The answer? Counties use property assessments (which are based on market value) and tax rates to determine property taxes. The reason property taxes can go up every year is because market values can change and budgets of local governments and school districts go up, which also means tax rates do too.

Next, Sean covered an important question that we bet many of you might have - why do some homeowners that live on the same street and in the same neighborhood pay different property taxes? The answer to this is simple - some homeowners have fought their property taxes while others have not. If you've already challenged your taxes, it is certainly possible that you can get another reduction, so whether you have or have not filed for a tax grievance in the past, it's worth looking into it this year.

In his interview Sean also addressed the question of how you can see if you have the right assessment and if you're paying the right amount of property taxes. Ultimately, each town has its own website with property tax and assessment information, or you can take a look at your tax bill. Once you have that information, you'll need to compare your home's market value to others in your neighborhood and see how things match up. Note: don't look at what others in your neighborhood pay in property taxes - comparable home sales is what you should be most concerned with!

And what about those homeowners who live in an incorporated village? Sean explains that you can fight those taxes too, but most villages issue a separate tax bill with assessments and market values that differ from the counties. Additionally, incorporated villages tend to have different filing deadlines.

If you're thinking about filing a tax grievance this year, don't push it off for any longer - send P.T.R.C. Inc. your application today! In Nassau County the process can last between 18 - 24 months, and in Suffolk County it can take from 12 - 18 months, so  you'll want to get started as soon as possible. Additionally, you don't want to risk missing the deadline, which is March 1, 2017 for Nassau County and May 16, 2017 for Suffolk County.

For more information, please visit www.ptrc.com or call (516)/(631) 484-0654 today.