2025 REVALUATION BULLETIN:
As we approach the end of the year, we are already looking forward to the 2025 Tax Appeal Season. To help plan for the future ahead, we have developed this notice to inform taxpayers across the State of any upcoming Revaluations & Reassessments that may b ...More
REASSESSMENT BULLETIN: CITY OF UNION CITY
REASSESSMENT BULLETIN: CITY OF UNION CITY
As many of our Union City clients know, the C ...More
LEGISLATION BULLETIN: NEW LAW TO EXTEND TAX REFUND PERIOD UP TO 3 YEARS
On August 9, 2019, the New Jersey Legislature signed into law an amendment to N.J.S.A. 43:3-27.2 governing tax refunds resulting from successful real property tax appeals. ...More
REVALUATION BULLETIN: CITY OF BAYONNE
As many of our Bayonne clients may have heard, The City will be undergoing an historic revaluation for tax year 2020. ...More
CHAPTER 91 NOTICE, A TAX ASSESSOR'S SECRET WEAPON
As many seasoned property owners may be aware, Municipal Tax Assessors across the State periodically mail out requests for income information to owners of income-producing property pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-34, or more commonly, "Chapter 91." ...More
JERSEY CITY REVALUATION BULLETIN-TAX APPEAL FILING DEADLINE TO BE EXTENDED
As many of our clients may know, the general tax appeal filing deadline is April 1 every year. This deadline has been extended for municipalities undergoing a revaluation or reassessment. ...More
Be on the Lookout if Your Property is Vacant!
Several municipalities have recently passed ordinances requiring that property owners register vacant commercial property, and pay a registration fee. These ordinances have surprised many of our clients who often purchase property with an intention to hold it vacant for future development. ...More
SALE OF PROPERTY IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC BAR TO FREEZE ACT APPLICATION
In a recent Tax Court decision, Ritchie & Page Distrib. Co. v. City of Trenton, (Decided December 8, 2016), the Court ruled that the purchaser of property was not automatically barred from seeking relief pursuant to the Freeze Act where prior owner obtained a Tax Court judgment establishing a base tax year to which the "freeze" was to be applied. ...More
TAX COURT UPHOLDS NJ PROPERTY TAX
In a recent Tax Court decision, Cobblestone Acquisition LLC v. Twp. Of Ocean, (Decided August 16, 2016), the Court clarified an oft-cited exception to the Freeze Act N.J.S.A. 54:51A-8 when it found against defendant-municipality by drawing a distinction between a "reassessment" and a "complete revaluation/reassessment," thus permitting plaintiff-taxpayer to "freeze" judgment entered for tax year 2015 in 2016 and 2017. ...More
PROFESSIONALISM AND COURTESY - YOUR QUALIFIED IMMUNITY MAY DEPEND ON IT
It is often said that "a word to the wise is sufficient." A recent decision of the Appellate Division of the Superior Court is a clear shot across the bow for municipal officials whose official duties require them to interact with the public. ...More
ADVOCATING FOR PROPERTY TAXPAYERS - IT DOESN'T STOP WITH THE ASSESSMENT
Let's begin with a simple and obvious reality-the vast majority of taxpayers who seek the advice of real estate tax professionals do so because they are unhappy with the assessed value of their property, the tax burden levied on the property, or both. ...More
REVALUATION BULLETIN: CITY OF PATERSON
The City of Paterson is in the final stages of the implementation of its second revaluation in eight years. Paterson taxpayers have, within the last week or so, received in the mail preliminary notice of their 2015 assessments. ...More
Claims for Closing Costs for Displaced Businesses under the New Jersey Relocation Assistance Act
When government seeks to acquire property using the power of eminent domain against a property owner or tenant, or entity in possession, as the case may be, a critical issue is whether those affected by the acquisition are entitled to relocation assistance. ...More
GETTING YOUR DUCKS IN ORDER- ASSISTING YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL IN THE EVALUATION OF YOUR TAX APPEALS FOR INCOME-PRODUCING PROPERTIES
The 2014 tax appeal filing deadline of April 1, 2014* is right around the corner and by now you would have (or should have) given some thought to whether or not you should be appealing the tax assessment on your real estate holdings.
To save time and ensure that the analysis of your assessments is as accurate as possible, you should anticipate what your tax professional will be asking for and begin to get it together. Responsible tax professionals will not file tax appeals without a thorough review of the critical information. In the case of income producing property such as office, retail, apartment buildings or industrial space, to name but a few, your consultant will need, at a minimum, the following:
...More
RELIEF FROM MORTGAGE INTEREST OBLIGATION UPON FILING OF CONDEMNATION ACTION AND ORDER FOR PAYMENT INTO COURT
Coordinating the disbursement of funds resulting from a condemnation award - so that the person receiving the award can timely pay its obligations-- is always difficult when litigating condemnation actions especially since, in contested actions, the offer funds are not available until after the property is "acquired" through the filing of the complaint in condemnation and declaration of taking, and the deposit of the offer into Superior Court Trust Funds. ...More
2014 Property Tax News: Monmouth County Assessment Demonstration Program Makes Major Changes to Current Assessment Practice
As 2013 winds to a close, it's time to begin thinking about your 2014 property taxes, especially if you own property in Monmouth County. On February 4, 2013, Governor Christie signed into law Chapter 15 P.L. 2013, known as the Assessment Demonstration Program ("ADP"). ...More
BEWARE: RESPOND TO THAT INNOCUOUS LETTER FROM THE MUNICIPAL TAX ASSESSOR
In the past five years, with the onslaught of tax appeals, there has been a sharp spike in the use by local tax assessors of the Chapter 91 "Request for Information on Income Producing Properties" pursuant to NJSA 54:4-34. Compliance with Chapter 91 should not at all be onerous. ...More
WMM Defense of Taking Claims - CRDA Active in New Atlantic City Projects
Our firm has a long history of representing property owners in Atlantic City in matters involving governmental acquisition of property through the use of eminent domain. The agency which is involved in almost all such acquisitions in Atlantic City is the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority ("CRDA"). ...More
PROPERTY TAX WATCH
In the past weeks, Tax Assessors all over the State mailed Notices of the 2013 Property Tax Assessment to property owners. This inconspicuous post-card size mailing is all the notice you will receive as to what the assessed value of your property will be in 2013. The Notice of Assessment will not tell you what your Tax Bill for 2013 will be because the tax rate will not be established by the municipalities until June at the earliest and in many cases the Fall of 2013. ...More