Do you own residential or commercial property and have an issue with your tax assessment? You have an opportunity to submit a grievance.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance issued a notice to taxpayers that May 28 is the deadline to challenge a tentative assessment in most state municipalities.

Any property owner who feels as though the assessment posted for their property is significantly higher than the price for which it could be sold can file a grievance.

Purchasers and tenants who are required to pay property taxes pursuant to a lease or written agreement are able to file.

Where to find your property assessment

Homeowners and business owners have access to tentative property assessments beginning early in May.

These are available at city and town websites, or at your local assessor's office.

How to file a grievance

The taxation department has a webpage dedicated to contesting tentative assessments. There is no cost to file a grievance.

If you believe your assessment is too high, you can visit the site at https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/contest/contestasmt.htm.

The four-page form can be filled out and returned to the assessor or the board of assessment review in your city or town.

There are four grounds upon which one can file the complaint:

Unequal assessment

Excessive assessment

Unlawful assessment

Misclassification

If the property is located in a village that assesses property, it will require to have two assessments, one for the village and one for the town. To grieve both assessments, a separate form must be submitted to the village and town assessor.

Meeting the deadline

The deadline in most communities in the state is May 28.

There are some exceptions, including:

Town of Bainbridge: June 4

Town of Candor: May 29

Town of Chemung: May 23

Town of Conklin: May 22

Town of Dickinson: May 29

City of Elmira: July 17

Town of Greene: June 6

Town of Maine: June 4

Town of Nanticoke: June 3

Town of Nichols: May 30

City of Norwich: May 15

Town of Spencer: May 29

To check your town's date, visit http://orps1.orpts.ny.gov/cfapps/MuniPro/.

Don't live where you own property?

If a property owner doesn't live in the municipality where the property is located, the Department of Taxation and Finance notes on its site that there are additional rights for those persons.

Per the website, a non-resident owner can request a date after grievance day for a grievance hearing but must submit the form on or before the regularly scheduled grievance day. The request must be made to the assessor on or before grievance day and the BAR must set a date no later than 21 days after grievance day for the hearing.

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What happens after filing?

It is possible that the assessor or the BAR and the property owner agree on a stipulation to a reduced assessment. That is something to discuss with your local assessor.

If a stipulation is agreed upon, you cannot ask the BAR for a further reduction in the assessment.

If there is no stipulation, there will be a BAR review.

The BAR consists of three to five members appointed by the city council, town board or village board. Assessors attend all formal hearings of the board.

"You have the right to attend the hearing of the BAR and to present statements and/or documentation in support of your grievance. You may appear personally, with or without your attorney or other representative," the website states.

Was your assessment lowered?

Following the submission of the form and the review by the BAR, property owners will receive notice of the decision.

The notice will receive a the reasons for the determination.

Not satisfied?

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can seek judicial review via Small Claims Assessment Review through the Unified Court System.

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