Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

DH and I just purchased our first home last February and have received letters from several companies to get a tax reduction. The two we've seen the most of are Zap My Taxes and Maidenbaum. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with either company?

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

I use ZapMyTax. Filed with them I think twice and got my first reduction for 2017. Got a nice drop on my school tax portion and waiting on my property tax portion. My parents use them also and they have gotten reductions.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Maidenbaum. They are a law firm - rather than a company. Same fee structure - but true legal representation.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Zap My Tax or one of the other multitude of companies is probably very good at what they do - and let's face it filing a SCAR tax grievance is not rocket science.

BUT - if you could spend the same amount and see the Dentist or the Dental Hygenist - why wouldn't you see the Dentist? It's still a court proceeding and I believe you should be represented properly. Also, if there is anything unusual about your grievance, (not owner occupied, you want a greater than 25% cut, etc.), a tax reduction company cannot handle it - it will need to be handled by an attorney.

Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Neither - do it yourself!

That's what we did.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Do it yourself or find a law firm that charges a flat fee instead of taking half or more of your reduction.

Please check out this FB Group:
Nassau - Grieve Your Taxes

Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Thanks for posting the FB Group. I've wanted to file my own, but couldn't find clear information on how to do it. I just filed it, and this made it so much easier!

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

It's really easy to do yourself. I grieved last year on my own and got a 2K reduction.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Message edited 2/1/2017 3:51:10 PM.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Do it yourself!

Last year we used maidenbaum and paid the fee

This year we did it ourself. Super easy to do

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Another vote to do it yourself. It's super easy.

Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Are people getting reductions by doing it every year?
we did it last your ourselves, and got a reduction in value of 9%. Seems good. Howver, if there is more room I could do it again, or pay someone this time.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Wait, this is something you do more than once?
So like every year you can grieve and just keep getting it reduced?

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

If you live in Suffolk, you cannot do it every year. There is a one-year moratorium after a reduction is granted. If you get your assessment reduced for the 2016/17 tax year, the Town must honor that reduced assessment for the 2017/18 - as long as they do, you can't protest.

If you live in Nassau, it's more complicated. If you get denied at the administrative level and have to go to a SCAR hearing and the assessment is reduced and Assessment Review Commission's paperwork catches up, and they set the assessment at the reduced level that the hearing officer granted, then no you cannot file.

If you are granted a reduction at the administrative level and want to try for more the following year, there's nothing stopping you.

So my advice in Nassau: file every year. You won't be penalized!

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

I'm in Nassau and the guy said to make sure you do it every year

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

I'm in Suffolk, where can I find info on grieving on my own?

Thanks.

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

on your town's website. The filing period in Suffolk is May 1 through the third Tuesday (this year it's 5/16)

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I was told I could do it every year!

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

This company is great. My parents and I have used them for years. We grieve every single year and always get a reduction. They have my house assessed for less than half of what it is actually worth. I don't know how they do it, but they do. When I purchased my house in 2012, my taxes were 32K. Now they are 16-17K. Use them!

Re: Tax Reduction- Maidenbaum?

We used maidenbaum and got a nice reduction. I could do it myself but I get very overwhelmed with paperwork and deadlines. And with 2 kids and a full time job it's a miracle my bills get paid on time! Maybe at a different point in my life I will do my own.