How It Works

How It Works: The Home Tax Saver Grievance Process

Step 1 – Submit your signed application.

Step 2 – Receive confirmation from Home Tax Saver that we received your application within the deadline and you’re eligible to file the grievance application.

Step 3 – Home Tax Saver will represent you before the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) in Suffolk County, or the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) in Nassau County.

Step 4 – Based on the decision rendered by the ARC or BAR, Home Tax Saver will either accept the reduction or we will proceed to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR).

Step 5 – SCAR is the only way to obtain a reduction if denied at the board level. We have proven extremely successful here! A $30 court filing fee is required for SCAR to purchase an index number which guarantees your case to be heard.

Step 6 – Home Tax Saver will purchase the index number and complete all necessary paperwork on your behalf. Once your appeal is filed it is up to Supreme Court to schedule a hearing (This can take up to several months because of the numerous SCAR appeals being filed).

Step 7 – We will prepare all the necessary documentation including a Comparable Market Analysis to be used in the appeal process.

Step 8 – We will appear on your behalf and present all the needed evidence to succeed.

Step 9 – Once successful, depending on the municipality and your hearing date a reduction granted can be reflected/adjusted in a number of ways. Such as, the reduction can be reflected on your tax bills in which case you would pay your taxes based on the lowered assessed value and thus no refund will be due you. Another method would be that a refund check can be issued for any overpayment of taxes as a result of the reduction. An additional method can be that a partial adjustment in your assessed value and a partial refund can be issued. A number of factors can influence the method in which the different municipalities reflect/adjust your property tax bill each municipality and reduction can be unique.

Step 10 – Send in your application for the next year to try and continue to reduce your property taxes.