Property Tax Got You Peeved? Here’s Appeal-ing Info

Dear Ms. Maplewould,

I just about passed out when I read my new tax bill. After I’m done doubling over in shock, how do I appeal?

Taxed Beyond Belief

Dear Taxed,

The wise and wonderfully ever witty Mark Twain said of taxes, “The only difference between a taxman and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.”

Having been quite fleeced myself, I feel your pain… So does most of the town, I’m afraid.

The good news is the deadline has been extended until May 1st to accommodate issues and concerns raised by the revaluation. A quick trip to Town Hall was all it took to get the information you’ll need to get started on your appeal. The bad news is I’m sure the process will be quite a bit more taxing than it sounds. That said, here’s the information I received with links embedded to make it somewhat easier:

Basically, you’ll want to go to www.njactb.org and click the forms section in the upper right hand corner.

Scroll down until you hit A-1 (Petition of Appeal) click on and download the form. (This form must be printed on legal size paper.)

If you don’t have access to a computer or printer – or you have other questions about the process – you can call the Essex County Board of Taxation at 973-395-8525. Their mailing address is 50 South Clinton Street Suite 5200 East Orange, NJ 07018.

I hope that helps and wish you luck!

Updated to clarify: I should also mention that what you’ve received couldn’t have been your ‘new’ (as in 2011) tax bill, because they won’t go out until the budget is approved.

You may be responding to the ‘Notice of Property Assessment for 2011’ , but know the figure printed on that is actually for net taxes billed in 2010.  (I’m assuming you have already calculated your projected taxes, which you can do on the Appraisal Systems website using their ‘Maplewood Tax Worksheet’.)

Also, the only things the Tax Collector’s office has mailed out in the past two weeks are notices of delinquent taxes, so be sure to double check your form!