How to Grieve Your NYC Property Tax Assessment
Fight Your Property Taxes.
If your assessed value is higher than your home is actually worth, you are overpaying. Here is the step-by-step process to challenge your NYC property tax assessment and potentially save thousands every year.
1-3 Family Homes
Assessor to Supreme Court
Miss It, Wait 12 Months
Free to Challenge
Timing Note for 2026
The March 15, 2026 NYC deadline has already passed. Use this guide to prepare for the next cycle (March 2027). Start gathering your comparable sales data now so you are ready when the window opens in January. This process repeats every year.
How do I grieve my NYC property tax assessment?
The process has four levels, and most homeowners only need the first two. You file with the NYC Tax Commission, present comparable sales data showing your assessed value is too high, and request a reduction. Here are the steps.
Talk to the Assessor
Contact your borough assessor’s office before the formal deadline. Bring your comps and explain why your assessed value is too high. Sometimes resolved here without a formal filing.
File with the BAR
Submit your grievance to the Board of Assessment Review by March 15. Include your comparable sales, property photos, and any evidence of condition issues. This is where most reductions happen.
SCAR
Small Claims Assessment Review. If the BAR denies your grievance, you can appeal to SCAR. No lawyer needed, less formal, and the hearing officer reviews your evidence fresh.
Supreme Court (Article 7)
Formal court proceeding. You will likely need an attorney. Reserved for large properties or significant assessment disputes. Most homeowners never reach this level.
What evidence do I need to win?
The key is comparable sales. Find 3-5 similar homes within half a mile that sold in the past year for less than what your assessed market value implies. Include photos of any property defects, needed repairs, or negative factors (busy road, flood zone, etc.). The NYC Tax Commission provides all the forms online for free.
3-5 Comparable Sales
Similar size, age, and condition. Sold within the last 12 months. Within half a mile of your property. Lower sale prices than your assessed market value.
Property Condition Evidence
Photos of needed repairs, outdated systems, or structural issues. Contractor estimates for necessary work. Anything that justifies a lower value than the city assigned.
Start Gathering Comps Now
Do not wait until February. Track sales in your neighborhood all year. I can pull comparable sales data for any Staten Island or Brooklyn homeowner, just ask.
Need Comps for Your Grievance?
I pull comparable sales data for homeowners in my area all the time. If you are thinking about grieving your assessment, I can get you the comps you need.