Grieve your assessment
A grievance asks the assessor’s review board to lower the value your taxes are based on. It is the only way to lower your assessment, and filing it yourself is free.
- Nassau: file with the county’s Assessment Review Commission (ARC) from January 4, 2027 to March 1, 2027, online through AROW or on paper. ARC either lowers the assessment or leaves it unchanged; it never raises it. How to file online, step by step.
- Suffolk: file Form RP-524 with your town’s Board of Assessment Review by Grievance Day, the third Tuesday in May (Tuesday, May 18, 2027). Suffolk grievance guide.
The evidence that works best is what the house would sell for: recent sales of similar homes nearby, your own purchase price if you bought recently, or an appraisal. Not sure it’s worth it? Take the Should I grieve? quiz.
Check your property record for mistakes
Compare what the assessor has on file with your actual house: square footage, bedrooms and bathrooms, a finished basement, a pool, the lot size. A record that overstates your home is evidence for your grievance. In Nassau, the County’s Land Records Viewer shows the record and the market value behind your assessment. In Suffolk, your town assessor’s office has the record; you can also look up your parcel on our Suffolk property records page.
Claim every exemption you qualify for
Exemptions lower the taxable part of your assessment. Each has its own application and deadline, and most must be filed before the grievance deadline.
- STAR — Basic and Enhanced STAR lower school taxes for owner-occupied homes. Enhanced STAR is for owners 65 and older under the income limit.
- Senior citizens — Up to 50% off the assessment for owners 65 and older with incomes under the local limit. Senior exemption guide.
- Veterans — Alternative, Cold War and eligible-funds exemptions for veterans and some surviving spouses.
- Persons with disabilities — Works like the senior exemption for owners with a disability and limited income. Disability exemption guide.
- Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers — Up to 10% off the assessment where the town has adopted it. Volunteer exemption guide.
If the grievance is denied
Owner-occupants of one- to three-family homes can take a denied or too-small reduction to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR): a $30 filing fee, no lawyer required, and a hearing officer who can lower the assessment but not raise it. Commercial property goes to a tax certiorari case in State Supreme Court instead (commercial grievance guide).
What doesn’t lower your assessment
Tax rates are set by your school district, town, county and special districts when they adopt their budgets. You can’t appeal a rate, but you can vote on your school district’s budget each May (this year’s results). Paying early or in full doesn’t lower the bill, though paying late adds penalties (penalty calculator).
Do it yourself or hire a company?
Filing is free if you do it yourself, and the forms are short. Grievance companies file for you and usually take a share of the first year’s savings, with nothing owed if they don’t win a reduction. Compare fees and contract terms on our grievance companies comparison and the cost of grieving page. If you used a company last year, see how renewal works.
Frequently asked questions
Can filing a grievance raise my taxes?
Not in Nassau: ARC either reduces the assessment or leaves it unchanged. A SCAR hearing officer likewise can lower an assessment but can’t raise it.
Can I grieve every year?
Yes. Nassau’s ARC says you may file every year, and Suffolk towns hold Grievance Day every May.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. Homeowners can file a grievance and a SCAR petition themselves. Owners of large commercial properties often use a tax certiorari attorney.
When will a reduction show up on my bill?
In Nassau, a grievance filed by March 1, 2027 first shows on the October 2028 school tax bill. In Suffolk, a reduction from Grievance Day May 18, 2027 first shows on the December 2027 bill.
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Sources and citations
- Nassau County ARC — Frequently asked questions nassaucountyny.gov
- Nassau County ARC — 2028-29 calendar nassaucountyny.gov
- NY Tax & Finance — Contest your assessment tax.ny.gov
- NY State Form RP-524 (grievance complaint form) tax.ny.gov
- Nassau County Land Records Viewer (LRV) lrv.nassaucountyny.gov
- Nassau County — Small Claims Assessment Review nassaucountyny.gov
- NY Tax & Finance — STAR resource center tax.ny.gov
- NY Tax & Finance — Senior citizens exemption tax.ny.gov
Last verified October 19, 2026. Tax rules change; we re-check every page each quarter.
Educational content and estimates only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify with your county or town receiver, an attorney or a CPA before making financial decisions.