As Grievance Day approaches, NYS Tax Department reminds property owners, including those in St. Lawrence County, to check assessments

Forms, instructions and helpful information available at www.tax.ny.gov

Officials from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance say they remind property owners to review their assessments.

The deadline to challenge a property assessment, also known as “Grievance Day,” is May 24 in most communities, the department said.

Tentative assessment rolls, which list the assessed value of each property, are generally made public in the beginning of May.

Rolls can be accessed at a town or city website, or by visiting a local assessor’s office.

“May 24 is Assessment Grievance Day in most communities, and it’s up to you to ensure that the market value determined for your property is accurate,” NYS Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone said in a prepared statement. “Don’t wait for your tax bill to arrive. By then, it's too late to challenge the value assigned to your property or to ensure you’re getting the exemptions you deserve.”

If one believes the market value listed on the assessment roll for their property is significantly higher than the price for which the property could be sold, they have until Grievance Day to file for a review.

More information is on the tax department's “Contest Your Assessment” webpage.

One’s local Board of Assessment Review will review a case based on the information the griever provides. When filing for assessment review, one must provide a market value estimate of their property. To support that estimate, people should try to provide documentation about the sale of comparable homes or property in their community. A recent appraisal can be helpful, but isn’t necessary. The tax department’s website also includes information on how to estimate the market value of a home.

Assessment rolls also list the property tax exemptions each property receives. If a homeowner applied for an exemption, and it doesn’t appear on the assessment roll, he or she can use the grievance process to appeal to the local Board of Assessment Review.