Bottom line: Most LI tax grievance firms keep 40–50% of your first-year savings as their contingency fee. If they reduce your bill by $1,000, you pay them $400-$500 and keep $500-$600 the first year — then 100% of the savings in years 2, 3, 4+. Use our grievance calculator to see if it’s likely worth filing on your specific parcel.
Common fee structures (publicly stated on firm websites)
| Fee model | What it means | Common on LI? |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency 40–50% | You pay X% of the first year’s tax savings. No reduction = no fee. | Yes — industry standard |
| Flat fee | A fixed dollar amount (e.g. $200-400) regardless of outcome. | Rare on LI — only a handful of firms |
| Hybrid | Low flat fee + smaller contingency. Reduces firm risk on tough cases. | Uncommon |
| DIY (self-filed) | Zero firm fee. Just the SCAR filing fee ($30) if you escalate to the small-claims hearing in Suffolk. | Free |
How the math actually works
If a grievance firm reduces your assessed value enough to drop your annual tax bill by $1,500 and the contingency rate is 50%, the first year you pay the firm $750 and keep $750. But that assessment reduction usually lasts multiple years until the next reassessment cycle (Nassau is on a rolling four-year cycle; Suffolk reassesses sporadically by town). So over 4 years the real numbers look like:
- Year 1: Save $1,500. Pay firm $750. Net: $750 in your pocket.
- Years 2-4: Save $1,500/yr. Pay firm $0. Net: $4,500 over three years.
- 4-year total: $5,250 saved, $750 paid. The firm got ~14% of the multi-year benefit.
That’s why the 50% contingency feels steep up front but works out fairly when you compound the years.
DIY vs. firm: when each makes sense
| DIY (self-filed) | Firm (contingency 40–50%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | $0 (Nassau) / $30 (Suffolk SCAR if needed) | $0 |
| Cost if you win | $0 | 40–50% of year-1 savings |
| Cost if you lose | $0 | $0 |
| Time investment | ~3-5 hours: pull comps, fill RP-524, file | ~15 minutes: sign a one-page authorization |
| Comps research | You do it (LRV, MLS, public records) | Firm pulls comps from their MLS subscription |
| SCAR escalation (Suffolk) | You file pro-se or with attorney | Firm handles it |
| Best for | Clear-cut overassessments where comps are obvious | Complex cases, owners short on time, or anyone uncomfortable with paperwork |
NY State rules on grievance firm fees
Tax reduction service contracts are regulated under NY Real Property Tax Law and the Department of State’s Article 12-B for real estate tax reduction services. Three rules worth knowing:
- Written authorization required. The firm must have a signed authorization (RP-525-ATH or equivalent) before filing on your behalf.
- Contingency-only on personal-residence filings. Firms can’t charge a non-refundable up-front fee for grievance work on a homeowner’s primary residence.
- “Savings” must be defined. The contract should specify whether the percentage is of annual savings or multi-year savings. Ask before signing — some contracts quietly mean multi-year.
Always read the contract. If the fee is described as a percentage of “tax savings” without specifying the period, get clarification in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really no fee if they don’t reduce my taxes?
Almost always yes, on contingency contracts. The firm’s entire business model is volume — they file hundreds of grievances and win a percentage. They cover their costs out of the wins, not the losses. Always confirm in the contract that there is no “filing fee” or “administrative fee” charged regardless of outcome.
Why do they offer free service? What’s the catch?
The “catch” is the 40–50% you give up if they win. That’s not a small amount — on a $2,000 reduction it’s $800-$1,000. But because they file in volume and you only pay on wins, the math works for both sides. The other thing to watch: some firms automatically file every year unless you cancel. Read the auto-renew clause.
Can I file DIY in both Nassau and Suffolk?
Yes. Nassau files through the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) — no fee, online portal. Suffolk files at the town Board of Assessment Review during a 13-business-day window ending the third Tuesday of May. If the BAR denies, you escalate to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) — $30 filing fee. See Nassau guide and Suffolk guide.
Will grieving raise a red flag and get my assessment increased?
No. By statute the assessment can only stay the same or go down as a result of a grievance — it cannot be increased during the grievance process. The only way assessments go up is through the regular cyclical reassessment, independent of any grievance.
How much can I expect to save?
Median LI bill is $11,129/yr. Typical successful grievances reduce the assessment 5–15%, which translates to a $400-$1,500/yr tax reduction. Bigger reductions are possible if the parcel is materially overassessed (e.g. assessor still reflects pre-renovation condition). Run the grievance calculator to estimate your specific case.
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Sources and citations
- NY Tax & Finance — Contest your assessment tax.ny.gov
- NY State Form RP-524 (grievance complaint form) tax.ny.gov
- NY State Form RP-524 — instructions tax.ny.gov
- Nassau County Assessment Review Commission nassaucountyny.gov
- Suffolk County Comptroller — Information for taxpayers suffolkcountyny.gov
- Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group — fee structure mptrg.com
- Heller & Consultants Tax Grievance — fee structure hellertaxgrievance.com
- P.T.R.C., Inc. (Property Tax Reduction Consultants) — fee policy ptrc.com
- NY Department of State — Real Estate Tax Reduction Services Article 12-B dos.ny.gov
- Nassau County Assessment Review Commission — DIY grievance overview nassaucountyny.gov
Last verified May 23, 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.