BLOG: Property Tax Appeal
Rise in Appeals Causes Municipal Budget Crunch
New Jersey municipalities are facing serious budget deficits, as they experience the fallout of reduced property tax revenues resulting from a record number of property tax appeals filed in recent years. Property owners who are successful in tax appeals are entitled to refunds under New Jersey law. These refunds have created troublesome deficits at the... Read More
Newark Church Denied Property Tax Exemption
Church Not Exempt and Subject to Foreclosure for Failure to Pay Taxes A New Jersey appellate court has affirmed a trial court’s ruling that will allow the City of Newark to foreclose on a warehouse property owned by Yes Lord Ministries, Inc. Yes Lord, a religious organization qualified for exemption from the payment of taxes under federal law... Read More
Property Owner’s Appeal Dismissed for Failure to Follow Court Rules
The Appellate Division affirmed a New Jersey Tax Court judge’s decision to dismiss a property tax appeal for lack of prosecution after the property owner failed to offer any proofs to establish fair market value at trial. The property owner, a practicing attorney with 30 years of experience, argued that the taxes should be lowered... Read More
Local Property Taxes Likely to Increase Due to Budget Cuts at State Level
Property taxes will be higher in 379 New Jersey towns this year according to an article in the Asbury Park Press . According to the APP, the average property tax bill will be $7,694. The article highlights how property owners have voiced their frustrations at town council hearings, and how property owners’ frustrations will likely... Read More
Hospital’s Off-Site Physical Therapy Center Granted Property Tax Exemption
A New Jersey appellate court has held that Hunterdon Medical Center (“HMC”) is entitled to a local property tax exemption for that portion of an off-site Health and Wellness Center (“Wellness Center”) operated by HMC to provide physical therapy (“PT”) service. HMC also provides cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation (CP Rehab) at the Wellness Center, which is located... Read More
Tax Court Lacks Authority to Reduce Tax Payments and Penalties During Pending Appeals
The Presiding Judge of the New Jersey Tax Court recently held that N.J.S.A. 54:3-27 and N.J.S.A. 54:51A-1 do not authorize the court to reduce a taxpayer’s ongoing local property tax obligation and eliminate interest and penalties for failure to pay the total taxes due to the municipality. Plaintiff filed a motion seeking a reduction in... Read More
Lyndhurst Borrows Nearly $4 Million to Refund Successful Tax Appeals
The Township of Lyndhurst introduced a $3.75 million bond ordinance last week to refund taxpayers who pursued successful property tax appeals between 2006 and 2009. Officials cite successful commercial appeals as creating the largest exposure for the Township. According to Mayor Richard DiLascsio, “Our biggest hit came from the Meadowlands. When you see someone come... Read More
New Jersey Supreme Court Grants Certification for Non-Profit Exemption Issue
The New Jersey Supreme has agreed to hear a property tax exemption case, where it will decide whether the International Schools Services, Inc., a non-profit organization, which aids and promotes independent educational associations, forfeited its local property tax exemption under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6 by using some of its reserves, staff, and property to subsidize its related... Read More
Municipalities Reassessing Properties Despite Recent Revaluations
A recent article in the Star-Ledger highlights the large number of towns that are having their local tax assessors conduct reassessments, despite having recently hired private companies to conduct town-wide revaluations. Many towns conducted revaluations during the real estate boom, but are now trying to bring property assessments back in line with market values. Revaluations... Read More
Tax Break Denied to Developer in Jersey City
After purchasing the site known as 77 Hudson in 2006 for $65 million, developer K. Hovnanian recently had its lawsuit seeking a better tax abatement dismissed with prejudice by a Superior Court judge. The project first gained notoriety when one of the project’s units sold for $6 million several years ago. K. Hovnanian sought a... Read More
