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Phone: (973)470-5838)
Fax: (973)-470-5923
Hours:
Mon. 8:15am - 7:30pm
Tues. - Fri. 8:15 - 4:15pm
Municipal Assessor: Jon N. Whiting, CTA
Senior Assistant Assessor: William Schmidig, CTA
The New Jersey Constitutional mandate to assess all real property according To the
same standard of value has been statutorily translated into Assessor's Duty to “determine
the full and fair value of each parcel of real property situated in the taxing district
at such price as, in his judgement, it will sell for at a fair and bona fide sale
by contract” (N.J.S.A. 45:4-23). The Objective is simply to fairly distribute the
necessary tax burden among all property owners, based upon the true value of their
property.The actual procedure would be for your property to be inspected, measured,
and photographed. The sales of properties in your neighborhood are also analyzed
so that the current value trends within Clifton may be estimated. Another method
to value property is based on how much money it would take, at current material
and labor costs, to replace your property with one similar. The standards outlined
in the appraisal manual for assessors, prepared by the State of New Jersey, are
followed in estimating values.
The appraiser (assessor) has nothing to do with the total amount of tax collected.
His primary responsibility is to find the fair market value of your property, so
that you may pay only your fair share of the tax burden. The sum of the budget requirements
needed
each year, by all taxing agencies (the Municipal Government, the County Government
and the local Board of Education) determines what is called the tax rate. This tax
rate is applied to your property’s assessed value.
There are a few New Jersey property tax benefits. There is a $250.00
property tax deduction for veterans or their surviving spouses. To qualify, you
must be an honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces war veteran, or the unmarried
surviving spouse of such a war veteran or the surviving spouse of a serviceperson
who served in time of war and died while on active duty. There are specific wartime
service periods of active duty required for eligibility. Please call for specific
requirements. Claim Form V.S.S. must be obtained from and filed with the Clifton’s
Assessing Department.
There is a $250.00 deduction for senior citizens, disabled persons, or surviving
spouses. To qualify, you have to be 65 or over and live in the house that you own
as October 1 of the year before the year for which the deduction is requested, excluding,
with restrictions, monies received from social security, and some Federal and State
pensions. Please call for additional requirements. Claim Form PTD must be obtained
from and filed with the Clifton’s Assessing Department.
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