This is an example how whole communities are blatantly over-assessed and of how great the potential for over-taxed homes that exist in an area (Jackson Township, New Jersey, in this case).

Two New Jersey men living in a senior development won their tax appeal and shared them with their community. They were able to get assessment dropped to $158,700 from $188,600 on one home and saw the assessment reduced to $176,900 from $221,800, saving $1,798 in taxes on the other home.

But it didn’t end there. They traveled around town educating other seniors on how to file tax appeals. Finally the tax assessor got involved and took action.

Some 3,000 homeowners in Westlake, Westlake II, Metedeconk, South Knolls and Cooks Bridge saw their assessments drop. Some 1,400 homeowners in Sixty Acre Reserve, Crystal Brook and Three Pence Brooke — three townhouse developments — saw their assessments increase.

The decreases gave homeowners approximately $500 to $1,600 a year in tax savings. Jackson Township suffered a net loss of $60 million in ratables, or $2.4 million in tax revenue, the tax assessor said.

However, the tax assessor said the town would have lost even more if it had been flooded with appeals.  The huge extra cost of the town lawyer’s time and other office costs (that is all written off to the collective taxpayers) would have rattled everyone’s cage.

If these two men didn’t step up to the plate, nothing would have happened. Is there opportunity in your area for a property tax consultant? How many homes remain over-assessed and ignored by the government tax assessment process.

For full article see: 2 Jackson men spur appeals of tax bills
Asbury Park Press - Asbury Park,NJ,USA