THE COHEN LAW OFFICE, P.C. IS A NYC BASED TAX CERTIORARI LAW FIRM WHICH CONCENTRATES IN CHALLENGING AND APPEALING REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS AND OBTAINING REDUCTIONS IN REAL ESTATE TAXES.
ITS FOUNDER, AARON COHEN IS A TAX CERTIORARI LAWYER AND CIVIL LITIGATOR PRACTICING IN THE AREA OF FIGHTING NEW YORK PROPERTY TAXES, LITIGATION CONNECTED THEREWITH, & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION MATTERS.
OUR FEE ON ALL TAX PROTESTS/TAX CERTIORARI MATTERS ARE CONTINGENT UPON OBTAINING REDUCTIONS IN PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS. IF YOU OWN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN NEW YORK CITY OR NEW YORK STATE, MAINTAINING AN APPROPRIATE TAX ASSESSMENT CAN SOMETIMES BE FRUSTRATING; WE HAVE SEEN PROPERTIES OVER ASSESSED BY MORE THAN FOUR TIMES THEIR APPROPRIATE LEVEL. OFTEN, REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE UNFAIRLY OVERASSESSED REQUIRING DILIGENT TAX CERTIORARI EXPERTISE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE A FIRM THAT WILL GIVE YOUR MATTER INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION. WE TAKE THE TIME TO EXAMINE EVERY ASPECT OF A PROPERTY'S TAXATION IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE AT SUCCESS AND KEEP YOU UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE SOMETIMES LENGTHY PROCESS.
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SOMETIMES HESITANT TO PROTEST THEIR ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEIR PROPERTY IS IN FACT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THE “MARKET VALUE” ASSIGNED BY THE municipality. even if this is TRUE, SINCE assessments must often be calculated using an income approach, WHAT A PROPERTY COULD SELL FOR ON THE OPEN MARKET, OR WHAT A SIMILAR NEIGHBORING PROPERTY RECENTLY SOLD FOR, IS OFTEN IRRELEVANT IN DETERMINING THE CORRECT ASSESSMENT. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT in new york, an assessment CAN NEVER INCREASE AS A RESULT OF A CHALLENGE with the tax commission or judicial review of an assessment.
IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE “MARKET VALUE” OF A PROPERTY, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE for instance USES VARIOUS FACTORS BUT OFTEN RELIES ON WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "INCOME CAPITALIZATION" APPROACH. IN OTHER WORDS, THE DEPARTMENT FACTORS IN THE RENTAL INCOME AND EXPENSES FORA BUILDING TO DETERMINE THE NET OPERATING INCOME, AND APPLIES A CERTAIN CAPITALIZATION RATE TO ARRIVE AT THE VALUE. FOR CO-OP OR CONDO BUILDINGS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE IS REQUIRED, BY STATUTE, TO EVALUATE CO-OPS AND CONDOS AS IF THEY WERE RENTAL BUILDINGS.
IT IS VITAL THAT YOU ACT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE PROPERTY TAX FILING DEADLINE, TO ENSURE TIMELY FILING; THERE ARE NO EXTENSIONS ALLOWED.
THE COHEN LAW OFFICE, P.C. HANDLES ALL TAX ASSESSMENT PROTESTS ON A CONTINGENCY-FEE BASIS, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER PAYS NO ATTORNEYS' FEES UNLESS THERE IS A REDUCTION IN THE TAX DUE.
click the overassessed tab for FREE CONSULTATION TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING OVERASSESSED, or to speak with an attorney immediately, call us at 212-813-2000
