The Atlantic County Board of Taxation maintains information on real estate assessments for Atlantic County and is responsible for the property tax appeal process. This office maintains the property tax list books for all real estate property in Atlantic County. This information includes property owners, addresses, most recent assessment and block and lot information. The office also maintains SR1A books that list every real estate sales transaction in Atlantic County. The Board of Taxation also tabulates the Abstract of Ratables and Equalization Tables for Atlantic County.

How to File a tax Appeal

A property owner may appeal his tax assessment by completing a Petition of Appeal and paying a filing fee ranging from $5.00 to $150.00 based on the assessed valuation. The filing fee schedule is as follows:

A Petition of Appeal may be obtained from the Atlantic County Board of Taxation by sending a written request and a business size return envelope with $.60 cents in postage. Forms may be pick up at the Board of Taxation during business hours which are Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM. A detailed set of instructions is included with the petition. Staff will help those who have questions or need assistance in completing the form.

Only the tax assessment for the current year may be appealed. The deadline for filing a property tax appeal is April 1 of each year. If April 1 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is automatically extended to the close of the next business day. For a tax appeal to be considered filed in a timely manner, it must be physically present in the Offices of the Board of Taxation on or before the April 1st deadline. A postmark by that date is not acceptable.

The Atlantic County Board of Taxation does not have the authority to extend the filing deadline for individuals for any reasons. Occasionally special circumstances may require that the filing deadline for an entire municipality be extended. This usually results from a late filing of the municipal tax list and late mailing of the Notice of Tax Assessment which each property owner is supposed to receive on or about February 1 of each year.

After an appeal is filed, a hearing will be scheduled and the property owner will be notified of the date and time to appear. The law requires only 10 days notice of the date and time of the hearing. Every effort will be made to give the petitioners as much advance notice as possible.

The law provides that evidence such as appraisal reports and comparable sales data be submitted to the Board and to the municipal assessor and municipal clerk at least one week prior to the hearing. Therefore it is important that individuals begin preparing their appeals immediately upon filing.

Requests for postponements are granted only for serious reasons such as hospitalization. Requests for postponements with documentation should be submitted as early as possible.

The Board strongly recommends that the petitioner meet with the municipal tax assessor prior to the hearing if possible. Some appeals may be amicably resolved without a hearing and the parties may enter into a Stipulation of Settlement as to the new assessment.

If a property owner is not satisfied with the decision of the Board of Taxation they may appeal to the New Jersey Tax Court. Instructions for filing a complaint with Tax Court are printed on the back of the Atlantic County Tax Board judgment.