As we all know, property taxes in Nassau County are among the highest in the nation, and these taxes, for many homeowners, represent the single largest contributor to the total cost of home ownership. Unfortunately, even modest increases in assessed values or tax rates can strain a household budget to the breaking point. The good news is that you can take steps to understand how your bill is calculated and, in many cases, reduce it.
How Property Taxes Work in Nassau County
Your property tax bill is built from three main components:
- Assessed value: what Nassau County says your property is worth for tax purposes.
- Tax rates: the levy set by your school district, county, town, and village.
- Exemptions: reductions for eligible homeowners, such as STAR or veteran status.
It’s important to note that you cannot challenge tax rates directly; only the assessed value of your property.
Ways to Reduce Your Property Tax Burden
- Apply for Exemptions
Exemptions reduce taxable value before rates are applied. These programs can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your property taxes. For more information on eligibility and what you must do to take advantage of these money-saving programs, visit:
- STAR (Basic and Enhanced, depending on income and age)
https://www.tax.ny.gov/star/
- Veterans’ exemptions
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/exemption/vetexempt.htm
- Senior citizen exemptions
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/exemption/seniorexempt.htm
- Disability exemptions
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/exemption/disablexempt.htm
Applications are made through Nassau County, the State,or your local town assessor’s office, and deadlines vary. If you need a quick refresher on how taking advantage of exemptions can save you money, read this article on the Maidenbaum blog: https://www.maidenbaumtax.com/blog/januarys-tax-exemption-deadlines-are-approaching-so-get-ready-now/
- File a Grievance (Assessment Appeal)
Grieving your assessment means filing a grievance that the county has valued your home too high or unequally compared with similar properties. That’s where the experts at Maidenbaum can really help. For more than three decades, Maidenbaum has been the trusted leader in helping homeowners reduce their property tax assessments and in turn, their property taxes. We know the system inside and out, and we’ve built our reputation by helping tens of thousands of Nassau County residents save millions of dollars.
The grievance filing period begins on January 2, 2026. For the 2027/28 tax year, the deadline is March 2, 2026. You can authorize Maidenbaum to handle your grievance right now, and let us worry about meeting those deadlines (while keeping you continuously informed about the state of your property tax matter as it makes its way through the system).
Remember: filing a grievance has no downside – your assessed value cannot go up as a result. The outcome will either be a reduction or no change.
What Happens After Filing
If Nassau County’s Assessment Review Commission (ARC) decides to offer a reduction, you’ll be notified. If you’re working with Maidenbaum, we’ll receive the offer first and pass it along to you by email and postal mail, along with expert advice on whether it makes sense to accept it.
If you don’t want to accept the offer, you still have the right to appeal and take your case to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR). This involves filing a petition by April 30, 2027 and paying a $30 filing fee. If you’ve chosen Maidenbaum to be your representative, we’ll handle all of that for you, including showing up at the hearing to argue your case.
Maidenbaum has a strong track record of successfully contesting unequal or inflated assessments at SCAR hearings. And the only cost involved is a modest $30 court filing fee.
Maidenbaum: Nassau County’s #1 Property Tax Reducer
Understanding your Nassau County property tax bill is the first step to lowering it. Filing a grievance with Maidenbaum is the next step toward securing the maximum reduction you’re entitled to by law.
Maidenbaum is the original tax reduction company trusted by Nassau County homeowners for decades, and the LI Choice award winner three years running. We’ve helped thousands of Nassau County homeowners reduce their property tax burden, and it would be our pleasure to take care of your grievance for you! Get started today by visiting our website or calling 516-336-8622.