The Reason for Uniformity in Assessments and How it is Accomplished
The reason for uniformity in assessments is that all types and classes of properties are to be assessed at the same rate or ratio of value to the true value of the properties. If all properties are assessed at the same ratio to market value, each taxpayer will be paying a fair share of taxes on each property within the municipality.
This uniformity is accomplished in part by analyzing all sales within the municipality to determine their use in the sales ratio study program. In addition to the ratio study, the Assessor reviews the variations from the average sales ratio to determine uniformity.
Some Things to Remember
1. Your Collector can answer questions about tax collections; the Assessor about assessments.
2. The Assessor cannot legally collect tax money.
3. Tax payments may be made to the Tax Collector by mail following instructions on the back of your Tax Bill.
4. Interest is required to be charged on late payments of taxes.
5. When you are issued a Building permit, you may expect visits from both the Assessor and the Construction Code Official, as their duties require.
6. Improvements may be subject to Added Assessments, which begin the 1st of the month following substantial completion, occupancy or use. The Added Assessment list is submitted to the County Tax Board on October 1st, and the tax thereon is due November 1 of the same year.
7. If you wish to demolish an old building, consider its tax cost and usefulness before you tear it down. Remember that any building standing as of January 1st may be taxable for the entire following year. Also a demolition permit is required from the Construction Code Official.
You and Your Assessment
As with almost everything, inflation also causes local government, county government and school costs to rise. The tax rate on your bill is determined by the County Board of Taxation based on budgets submitted by the municipality, county and schools, and the total assessed value of the municipality.
With changes in budgets, tax rates and assessments all affecting the tax you pay, the key to your Real Estate Tax is the bottom line of any budget: “Amount to be raised by Taxation.” Presently, state school aid, part of which comes from the State Income Tax, is based on the equalized valuation of assessments.
Tax Appeal Information
To view information that was developed by the Bergen County Board of Taxation to assist taxpayers in properly preparing for tax appeal hearings, click here. It includes general information derived from New Jersey laws which govern tax appeals: Administrative Code Title 18:12 and New Jersey Statutes Titles 54:3 et seq and 54:4 et seq.
The Bergen County Board of Taxation recognizes recent changes in the appeal process have made procedures more complex. This presentation was developed as an aid to the property owner, but it should not be considered as an all inclusive guide . Most importantly, it is essential taxpayers understand they must prove their assessment is unreasonable compared to a market value standard. Your current assessment is by law assumed to be correct. You must overcome this presumption of correctness to result in an assessment change.
