Elizabeth Roche, Suffolk County Property Tax Grievance Consultant, Launches Web Site

Jan. 15, 2012 - PRLog -- Ms. Roche, whose office is in Riverhead, has been challenging residential property taxes in the Suffolk County Towns for over twenty years. She says "We don't really challenge or grieve the real estate taxes, we try to reduce the assessments or assessed values on which they are based."  Property Tax = Assessment (after adjustments) X Town Tax Rate.

As Ms. Roche explains in a video on her web site, the typical property tax grievance process starts by comparing a home owner's assessment to those of similar properties to determine if the home is over-assessed.  If it is, Ms. Roche, who goes by Betsy, will try to negotiate a settlement with the Town Assessor.  Failing that, she'll file a petition or protest with the Town's Board of Assessment Review (BAR). If that's unsuccessful or unsatisfactory, the BAR decision is challenged via a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) which includes a hearing, where Ms. Roche presents the evidence for assessment reduction.

Ms. Roche says her success rate varies from year to year and Town to Town, but is always over 90%.  She charges no fee unless she wins a case, and then the fee is 50% of the first year's tax savings.  The home owner reaps the full tax savings in subsequent years.

The new web site gives additional details, a comprehensive FAQs, a Market Value Calculator programmed for all ten Suffolk Towns, and a set of resources including a grievance checklist for self-filers, recommended books and web sites, and a grievance glossary.

For more information, please call Ms. Roche at 631-779-2605 during office hours, or email her anytime through the web site: http://www.suffolktaxappeal.com.

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