29 Percent of New Jersey Homeowners Should Appeal Property

Over-Taxation Averages $1,919 per Affected Home


New Jersey Property Tax Appeal Deadline is April 1st



February 26, 2009 – As many as 29 percent of New Jersey homes, an estimated 722,000 residential properties, are over-assessed beyond the state’s 15 percent buffer, according to a study released today by analytics expert Adam Berkson.


The study also found that approximately one-half of the records available through the New Jersey Division of Taxation have incomplete information, such as missing square footage, which makes it difficult for the individual homeowner to go online and quickly determine whether his or her home is being accurately assessed.


Berkson, who conducted a comprehensive state-wide analysis of 2008 property sales as compared to property tax assessment information provided by the State, found that in some communities as many as one-half of residential properties are over-taxed by at least 15 percent.


“Property taxes are a necessary but major financial burden for New Jersey homeowners,” said Berkson, “and that makes it essential that they are assessed equitably. Our research, which is based on publicly-available data, shows that 55 percent of all New Jersey residential tax bills are higher than they should be, and that nearly a third are eligible to be appealed.


“Put simply, if you are one of those 722,000 property owners and you don’t file an appeal, you are subsidizing other owners who aren’t paying their fair share.”


Most homeowners only have until April 1, 2009 to file this year’s property tax appeal – the deadline is May 1 in municipalities that have been reassessed this year.


Berkson’s research report on New Jersey properties follows a similar report he released in San Diego, Calif., in 2008 that received considerable local attention. In the coming months, he plans to conduct similar research in several more heavily-populated states, including Arizona, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York, Oregon and in additional California counties.


To help New Jersey homeowners, Berkson has launched EasyTaxFix.com (www.EasyTaxFix.com), where the owner can easily and quickly determine the likelihood and degree to which his or her home is unfairly assessed. The homeowner can take that information to an appraiser and/or an attorney to launch an appeal, or simply download completed forms and detailed instructions on how to file an appeal directly with local and county tax offices. The latter service is available for nominal $49 fee. EasyTaxFix.com is the only place on the World Wide Web where New Jersey property owners can download a completed property tax appeal application.



ABOUT EASYTAXFIX.COM

Adam and Jeff Berkson founded EasyTaxFix.com in 2008. The user-friendly, web-based service uses a unique methodology for analyzing existing property value and tax information to assist homeowners in completing a property tax appeal application. EasyTaxFix.com is currently available in the San Diego and Fresno, Calif. areas and statewide in New Jersey.