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caps612
In love with my little guys!!
Member since 8/10 5108 total posts
Name:
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Grieving taxes...
Does anyone do this and have any luck? Do you do it every year? How do you end up paying the lawyers if its successful?
TIA!
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Posted 10/25/10 2:55 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
i am trying it myself this year - the paper work is very easy to fill out - Huntington gives you directions on how to fill it out
but i also found out huntington rejects 95% and need to go for appeal through small claims court - eventhat paperwork is easy to fill out- huntington again gives directions
it has cost me $30 for the petition for small claims court and for an appraisal - because we did not have one when we bought our house
ours probably may have passed has i done the appraisal prior to filing the paperwork with the town but i ran out of time
there is only a small window you can file in each town - so talk to your town - i know in huntington - the paperwork comes out in early may and it is due by the 3rd teusday in may
and after notification - you only have 30 days to appeal - so deadlines are improtant
also confusing is that to appeal this year may 2010 it was based on assessed value july 1st 2009
if you just bought a house it is definetly worth goign for yourself and if you have a bank mortage you have an appraisal that may work so it won't cost much
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| Posted 10/25/10 3:06 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
You only pay the lawyers if they are successful in reducing your assessment. Then for residential properties, it's usually 50% of the amount you saved or were refunded.
There is a court filing fee of $35 per taxing jurisdiction that you have to pay out of pocket.
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| Posted 10/25/10 3:08 PM |
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Re: Grieving taxes...
I only had to do it once. I saved about $1400 a year on taxes. The lawyer only collects part of the money if the case is won.
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| Posted 10/26/10 8:16 AM |
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Cheeks24
Living a dream
Member since 1/08 8589 total posts
Name:
Cheeks
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Re: Grieving taxes...
We are in the Town of Hempstead and waiting to hear back. My MIL's neighbor did it and saved a lot on her taxes. I'm hoping we get approved and don't have to appeal.
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| Posted 10/26/10 9:37 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
ugh good to know... does anyone know if these are the same as those letters you get from random lawyers stating to fill out a form and they will fight to lower your taxes? we've gotten quite a few of them.... i'm already paying like 1k a month in taxes and the school tax in our district is going up over 5%  when does it stop! 
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| Posted 10/26/10 2:27 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by jenbill61210
ugh good to know... does anyone know if these are the same as those letters you get from random lawyers stating to fill out a form and they will fight to lower your taxes? we've gotten quite a few of them.... i'm already paying like 1k a month in taxes and the school tax in our district is going up over 5% when does it stop!
No lawyer will send out a random letter soliciting business in this way. The random letters you get are for tax reduction service agencies - NOT attorneys. If you need a reputable attorney who specializes in tax certiorari cases, I can recommend a bunch.
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| Posted 10/26/10 3:09 PM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by Mill188
Posted by jenbill61210
ugh good to know... does anyone know if these are the same as those letters you get from random lawyers stating to fill out a form and they will fight to lower your taxes? we've gotten quite a few of them.... i'm already paying like 1k a month in taxes and the school tax in our district is going up over 5% when does it stop!
No lawyer will send out a random letter soliciting business in this way. The random letters you get are for tax reduction service agencies - NOT attorneys. If you need a reputable attorney who specializes in tax certiorari cases, I can recommend a bunch.
that would be great, i am sure when i get my new tax bill i'm gonna be shocked so i may need this info! TIA!!
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| Posted 10/27/10 9:24 AM |
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Cheeks24
Living a dream
Member since 1/08 8589 total posts
Name:
Cheeks
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by jenbill61210
Posted by Mill188
Posted by jenbill61210
ugh good to know... does anyone know if these are the same as those letters you get from random lawyers stating to fill out a form and they will fight to lower your taxes? we've gotten quite a few of them.... i'm already paying like 1k a month in taxes and the school tax in our district is going up over 5% when does it stop!
No lawyer will send out a random letter soliciting business in this way. The random letters you get are for tax reduction service agencies - NOT attorneys. If you need a reputable attorney who specializes in tax certiorari cases, I can recommend a bunch.
that would be great, i am sure when i get my new tax bill i'm gonna be shocked so i may need this info! TIA!!
What town do you live in? It's easy to fill out the info yourself.
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| Posted 10/27/10 9:39 AM |
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KittyGags
LIF Adult
Member since 7/09 5614 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by Mici C
We are in the Town of Hempstead and waiting to hear back. My MIL's neighbor did it and saved a lot on her taxes. I'm hoping we get approved and don't have to appeal.
I'm TOH too and I couldn't even find someone willing to greive mine. 
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| Posted 10/27/10 2:27 PM |
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rodrich77
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 43 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
I have a question regarding this...after you grieve your taxes do they stay at this rate until the next assessment?
Example:
Before grieving - 10,000
After grieving - 8,000
I'm new to this tax thing - just purchased in South Freeport - and have to apply since the property I purchased is seriously overtaxed.
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| Posted 10/28/10 2:18 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by rodrich77
I have a question regarding this...after you grieve your taxes do they stay at this rate until the next assessment?
Example:
Before grieving - 10,000
After grieving - 8,000
I'm new to this tax thing - just purchased in South Freeport - and have to apply since the property I purchased is seriously overtaxed.
You have to re-grieve your taxes every year and don't get your hopes up about getting your taxes reduced. I am TOH and am over taxed and grieved twice and was denied.
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| Posted 10/28/10 2:47 PM |
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rodrich77
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 43 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
You have to re-grieve your taxes every year Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon and don't get your hopes up about getting your taxes reduced. I am TOH and am over taxed and grieved twice and was denied.
So, they do not lower the taxes if your property is over-assessed? Is there a different process to have the taxes lowered to the proper amount? I know that the assessment figures are based on subsidies and all but all my neighbors are paying an extremely lower amount than I am and their properties are almost the same size. The house I purchased needs major work but I wanted the home so decided to moved ahead with the hopes of lowering my taxes to be in line with the rest of the block. I wasn't aware however that once grieved the number stills stays at the previous point.
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| Posted 10/28/10 3:21 PM |
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snowprincess
My happy babies
Member since 3/06 3428 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
if you greive - planning on having to have it appealed- most are denied in every town is what i found out
if you greive and win -yout taaxes go from 10 to 8 thousand for the next roll - the taxes can go up from 8 thousand then if the tax rate changes for the town or they up the assessed value
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| Posted 10/28/10 3:51 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
There is no way to "lower your taxes". You can only "lower your assessment." Taxes are based on a very simple formula: assessment X tax rate - exemptions = taxes
Your assessment is a percentage of market value. The market value is what you're actually contesting when you protest your taxes. The current ratio that Nassau County uses to calculate your assessment is .25%. So, if your home is assessed at $1,500, Nassau County is actually saying they believe it's worth $600,000. If your house is worth more than $600,000, you are under-assessed. If it's less, you're over-assessed.
Taxes do not stay the same year to year. Tax rates go up just about every year. The only way to control tax rates is to vote for different school budgets, etc.
Nassau County re-assesses each and every year (although this may change under Mangano's plan).
It doesn't matter if your neighbor is paying $5,000 in taxes and you're paying $10,000. If your assessments are in line with other comparable houses in your area, you're properly taxed. Hope this helps explain things.
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| Posted 10/28/10 4:30 PM |
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rodrich77
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 43 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Mill188-
Thanks for the clarification...I know taxes go up yearly because this is how operation costs are paid. My question however was more along the line of it being lowered if that is the new rate for the next assessment. I think I understand now that if the assessed value is lowered then this new lower rate will be subject to the assessment the next year.
I hope I'm not confusing things further but this entire tax process is highway robbery if you ask me. 
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| Posted 10/28/10 4:54 PM |
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Cheeks24
Living a dream
Member since 1/08 8589 total posts
Name:
Cheeks
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by KittyGags
Posted by Mici C
We are in the Town of Hempstead and waiting to hear back. My MIL's neighbor did it and saved a lot on her taxes. I'm hoping we get approved and don't have to appeal.
I'm TOH too and I couldn't even find someone willing to greive mine.
We did it ourselves. It was pretty easy.
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| Posted 10/28/10 4:59 PM |
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rodrich77
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/10 43 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
It doesn't matter if your neighbor is paying $5,000 in taxes and you're paying $10,000. If your assessments are in line with other comparable houses in your area, you're properly taxed. Hope this helps explain things
Just wanted to add that the houses that are paying less taxes than me are the same size or bigger in most cases. I just closed so I'm hoping my appraisal along with the banking statements make my case a strong candidate for a reduction.
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| Posted 10/28/10 7:11 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by rodrich77
You have to re-grieve your taxes every year Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon and don't get your hopes up about getting your taxes reduced. I am TOH and am over taxed and grieved twice and was denied.
So, they do not lower the taxes if your property is over-assessed? Is there a different process to have the taxes lowered to the proper amount? I know that the assessment figures are based on subsidies and all but all my neighbors are paying an extremely lower amount than I am and their properties are almost the same size. The house I purchased needs major work but I wanted the home so decided to moved ahead with the hopes of lowering my taxes to be in line with the rest of the block. I wasn't aware however that once grieved the number stills stays at the previous point.
When you grieve your taxes, you are actually grieving the towns assessment of your home's value. They use that assessed value and multiply by the tax rate to get your taxes.
I live in Merrick. My taxes have literally gone up $4k over the 4 years we have lived here. I have grieved them twice and been denied. For the new tax year coming, our school taxes decreased but that was because the towns assessment of our home decreased dramatically.
Although it's not fair, you can't base what you think your taxes should be on what your neighbors are. Some of my neighbors are paying $2-3k less than I am. But we have an addition, larger lot size, etc. which plays a role in higher taxes.
ETA: If you want to do it on your own you can. Alot of people in Nassau use Fred Perry to grieve there taxes and have had much success. But I believe he gets a percentage, maybe half, of whatever deduction you may get. He will be honest and tell you if he can even take your case. He would not take mine because he didnt think I could get a deduction when I called him a couple of years ago.
Message edited 10/28/2010 9:27:24 PM.
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| Posted 10/28/10 9:25 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grieving taxes...
Posted by rodrich77
Mill188-
Thanks for the clarification...I know taxes go up yearly because this is how operation costs are paid. My question however was more along the line of it being lowered if that is the new rate for the next assessment. I think I understand now that if the assessed value is lowered then this new lower rate will be subject to the assessment the next year.
I hope I'm not confusing things further but this entire tax process is highway robbery if you ask me.
In Nassau County - the easy answer is NO. Unfortunately.
Say you are successful in reducing your assessment from $1,000 to $800 for the 2010/11 tax year and your tax rate was $250 per $100 of assessed value. You would be obligated to pay $2,500 a year in taxes BEFORE your reduction and $2,000 AFTER the reduction - any over payment would be refunded to your or your tax bill would be reduced (depending on timing) for the 2010/11 tax year.
However, the County would re-assess your property as they are required to do by law (there was a lawsuit a few years ago that ordered Nassau to re-assess each year) for the 2011/12 tax year. They would re-assess as if your settlement and reduction never happened and you would have to grieve and try to settle all over again.
It's a complete mess. Unfortunately, that's Nassau's assessment system
Don't forget though, if you are in a Village, you have 2 taxing jurisdictions with different assessments and different tax rates. If your property is located in an assessing Village, it's a different story. Most villages do not re-assess every year. So if you are successful in reducing your Village assessment, the reduction should carry forward for years and years.
Suffolk's assessment system is a completely different animal.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.......can you guess what I do for a living?
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| Posted 10/29/10 10:03 AM |
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