BLOG: Property Tax Appeal

Township Ordered to Refund Property Owner that Paid Taxes by Mistake

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
10 Oct 2017
The Correction of Errors statute, N.J.S.A. 54:4-54, provides relief where a taxpayer has mistakenly paid the property taxes of another.  Under this statute, in Hanover Floral Co. v. East Hanover Twp., the plaintiff sought a refund of property taxes paid by mistake of property that was not their own.  By mistake of the Township’s Tax... Read More

Flawed Highest and Best Use Determination Cripples Taxpayer’s Case

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
5 Sep 2017
A valuation trial of a retail bank branch was recently heard before the Tax Court.  Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank v. Twp. of Mount Laurel involved a one-story retail bank branch that is owner-occupied.  The history of the subject property was relevant to plaintiff’s valuation analysis.   Approximately 20 years ago, Rt. 38 was widened from four lanes... Read More

Testimony on Reasonable Probability of Zoning Change Not Limited to Real Estate Appraisers

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
18 Aug 2017
In a recent dispute before the Tax Court, the court addressed the issue of whether only a real estate appraiser may offer testimony as to the reasonable probability of a change in zoning of the subject property as of the relevant valuation dates.  In Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. v. Twp. of Toms River, the taxpayer... Read More

Denial of Veteran’s Tax Exemption Upheld on Appeal

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
19 Jul 2017
On or about March 21,  2016, the Tax Court issued a ruling in Fisher v. Millville which addressed a taxpayer’s application for disabled veteran’s property tax exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30.  The issue in the case was whether plaintiff’s disability satisfied the statutory criteria for a veteran’s property tax exemption.  The Tax Court denied plaintiff’s application for an... Read More

Even in Bankruptcy, Prior Owner’s Failure to Respond to Ch. 91 Request Not Excused

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
29 Jun 2017
The Tax Court once again dismissed an appeal for taxpayer’s failure to provide income and expense information pursuant to the municipality’s Ch. 91 request.  In 975 Holdings, LLC v. Egg Harbor City, the prior owner of the subject property had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and plaintiff acquired the subject property in a bankruptcy... Read More

Omitted Assessment Tossed — “Error” in Setting Value Not an Erroneous Omission

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
8 Jun 2017
New Jersey’s omitted assessment law allows a municipal tax assessor to go back one year in the event an assessment on a property was inadvertently omitted from the tax rolls (Yes, it does happen. I once had a client that owned an office building that was assessed at over $4 million for which the assessment was simply... Read More

“Hotel for Pets” Is Deemed Not Income-Producing

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
1 Jun 2017
The Township had a bone to pick with plaintiffs who filed appeals of a property that consisted of a pet boarding kennel.  In Pittius v. Old Bridge Twp., the subject property consisted of one residential improvement and another improvement which consisted of a boarding kennel for animals. The property is classified as a 4A (commercial)... Read More

Rite Aid Goes the Wrong Way In Tax Appeal

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
25 Apr 2017
In a recent opinion the New Jersey Tax Court affirmed the assessment on a Rite Aid pharmacy for tax years 2009 and 2010 after rejecting every aspect of the testimony offered by its appraiser. The Court found that the appraiser for the Borough of Roselle offered a more credible opinion of value. Rite Aid’s appraiser... Read More

Taxpayers’ Reliance on MLS to Find Market Value Rejected

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
23 Mar 2017
A real property trial was held in Reznick v. Twp. of Marlboro wherein plaintiffs challenged their residential property tax assessment.  Plaintiffs had initially filed to the Monmouth County Board of Taxation which reduced the assessment from $909,000 down to $862,000.  Plaintiff thereafter appealed to the Tax Court seeking a reduction of the assessment to $800,000.... Read More

Property Tax Exemption Not Dependent Upon Frequency of Use

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
21 Feb 2017
Recently, the plaintiff in Holy Trinity Baptist Church v. Trenton successfully voided an added assessment imposed by the City and also retained its property’s tax exemption for the entire property.  The property at issue was two-story building in Trenton being used for charitable and religious purposes.  The first floor was used for services, prayer meetings,... Read More