Many homeowners are intimidated by solicitations from companies offering to reduce their property taxes. Our goal is to be clear and honest, and to make sure you understand the process – and our involvement – so you can make an informed decision.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (click on the question for the answer). If you don’t find your question is here, call us at(516) 889-5500 or email us at ClientServices@ZapMyTax.com.
- Why Should I File A Tax Grievance?
- Can ZapMyTax Get Me A Property Tax Reduction?
- If I Don’t Win, Do I Have to Pay You a Fee?
- If I Do Win, What Does It Cost?
- I’m Ready to Fight for a Property Tax Reduction. What Do I Do?
- What Is a Property Tax Assessment?
- Why Do Taxes Go Up Every Year?
- What Can I Do about This?
- Doesn’t My STAR Exemption Take Care of My Assessment?
- Do I Lose My Star Exemption If My Assessment Is Lowered?
- Can This Backfire On Me? By Filing A Tax Grievance, Can My Assessment Be Increased?
- Are There Any Inspections Conducted Inside My Home During This Process?
- What Taxes Are Affected By Filing A Tax Grievance?
- How Often Can I File A Tax Grievance?
- What Is The Tax Grievance Deadline?
- My Tax Grievance From Last Year Is Still To Be Determined. Should I Reapply?
- How Long Does A Tax Grievance Take?
- When Does The Tax Year Start?
- Can I Apply For An Assessment Reduction For A Home That I Own But Do Not Live In?
- Do You Automatically File Village Tax Grievances?
Why Should I File A Property Tax Grievance?
Do you think you qualify for a property tax reduction because you are overpaying your property taxes? More importantly, if you are overpaying, don’t you deserve a reduction?!
The fact is that Property Assessments have not always kept pace with the realities of the housing market. You shouldn’t have to pay for that!
Fortunately, there is something you can do about it — you have the right to challenge the town’s imposed property taxes and assessment! With our expertise, you can ZAP your taxes down to a fair and equitable amount. That means more money in your pocket!
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Can ZapMyTax Get Me A Property Tax Reduction?
You bet! We have a successful track record of more than30years of experience fighting for our Nassau and Suffolk County homeowners and winning property tax reductions for their homes. We are the Property Tax Reduction Specialists thatknow how to win. And the proof is in the tens of millions in property tax reductions we’ve secured for our clients.
ZapMyTax is in every town, every neighborhood and, just about, every street. We know your community and we are experts in the property tax reduction process. We fight for our clients to get them the property tax reduction they deserve!!
The Property Tax Assessment process applies a standard formula to all houses. ZapMyTax forces your town to consider your home individually. It’s your right to fight unfair property taxes, assessments arrived at using incorrect or outdated information, and other unreasonable tax assessment methods. Plus, there is no risk for trying.
(Here’s something that other firmsdon’t tell you — you can go file a property tax grievance on your own behalf but it can be time-consuming and somewhat intimidating. Given our expertise, we knowyour best chance of winning isby using ZapMyTax!
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If I Don’t Reduce My Property Taxes, Do I Have to Pay You a Fee?
No. No. No. This is a NO RISK proposition. No Reduction = NO FEE. Oh, and in case you are worried about your house being “under-assessed”, the assessor cannot charge you any additional taxes because you filed a property tax grievance. No worries.
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If I Do Win a Property Tax Reduction, What Is The Cost?
If wewin your property tax reduction, our fee is a percentage of the first year of savings. Tax savings in subsequent years are entirely yours.
IF THERE IS NO REDUCTION, WE DO NOT CHARGE A FEE.
Arecent appraisal of your property is necessary to file a property taxgrievance. If you have a recent certified appraisal, you can provide this to us. If not, we will conduct a market analysis on your behalf. If you receive a tax reduction, you may be charged a fee for this analysis. Call our offices if you have questions.
IF WE DO NOT OBTAIN A REDUCTION, YOU ARE NOT CHARGED THE APPRAISAL FEE.
Should your tax grievance be declined, we may file an appeal if we believe we can still win a reduction for you. Note that not all cases are appealed. If we do appeal your case, New York State will charge a filing fee of $30.
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I’m Ready to Fight for a Property Tax Reduction. What Do I Do?
Simply complete theNassauAuthorization formor the Suffolk Authorization form.
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What Is a Property Tax Assessment?
A Property Tax Assessment is based on the market value of your home as determined by your Assessor. The assessment is usually a percentage of your home’s determined value.
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Why Do Taxes Go Up Every Year?
Your property taxes (assessment) which appears on your tax bill, iscalculated with your tax rateto determine what you pay in taxes. Tax rates generally increase every year, so even if your assessment remains unchanged, your taxes increase.
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What Can I Do about This?
As a homeowner, you are entitled to file a Property Tax Grievance. A Property Tax Grievance allows your assessment to be reviewed by the Assessor to see if a reduction is warranted. If the Assessor does not reduce your assessment, an appeal can be filed to have an impartial hearing officer determine if your house is overvalued for tax purposes.
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Doesn’t My STAR Exemption Take Care of My Assessment?
Your STAR exemption provides a reduction from a portion of your School Taxes. It has no bearing on your assessment and your General Taxes.
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Do I Lose Any of MyExemptions If My Assessment Is Lowered?
No. One has no bearing on the other.
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Can This Backfire On Me? By Filing A Tax Grievance, Can My Assessment Be Increased?
Absolutely not!! It is against the law.
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Are There Any Inspections Conducted Inside My Home During This Process?
No.
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What Taxes Are Affected By Filing A Tax Grievance?
School and General taxes can be reduced by filing a tax grievance. A separate grievance must be filed to grieve village property taxes.
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How Often Can I File A Tax Grievance?
In Suffolk County, a property tax grievance can be filed every year, unless you received a reduction through an appeal in the prior year. In that case, a homeowner must wait one year to file another tax grievance. So, for example, if a Suffolk County homeowner was successful in their tax grievance for the 2016/17 tax year, they can not file a grievance until the 2017/18 tax year.
In Nassau County, a property tax grievance can be filed every year. Even if you still do not know the outcome of filings from years prior.
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What Is The Tax Grievance Deadline?
The deadline changes every year. Check out our Critical Datespage for the latest information.
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My Property Tax Grievance From Last Year Is Still Not Determined. Should I Reapply?
Yes. You only have a once a year opportunity to file a tax grievance. Once a tax year’s tax grievance deadline passes, there is no recourse to file for that year. Filing a tax grievance each year ensures that you will not miss an opportunity for a property tax reduction.
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How Long Is The Property Tax Grievance Process?
The property tax grievance process is a long one. It could take more thana year from beginning to end. However, regardless of when your case is settled, the results will always be retroactive to the beginning of the tax year for which you filed your property tax grievance.
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When Does The Tax Year Start?
The Suffolk County tax year is a fiscal year that runs from December through November.
The Nassau County tax year:
School Taxes: October through September
General Taxes: January through December
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Can I Apply For An Assessment Reduction For A Home That I Own But Do Not Live In?
Yes, you can. However, if the case goes to an appeal, the law states that the home must be owner occupied.
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Do You Automatically File Village Tax Grievances?
We generally do not file Village tax grievances. If you want to file, you must contact your Village to obtain the form and to ensure you file by the proper deadline.
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