March 1, 2021 is the deadline to challenge your 2020 real estate taxes.
Please keep in mind the deadline to challenge your 2020 real estate taxes is March 1, 2021. Your request for a refund must be postmarked by this date and addressed to the municipality in order for the municipality to grant you a refund. You can obtain a municipal abatement form to request a refund from the Board of Tax and Land Appeals.
What is the abatement process?
The abatement process is the process a property owner requests a refund of property taxes with the local assessor, and if unsuccessful, with the Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA) or Superior Court in the county in which the property is located. Generally, in order to be granted a refund, a taxpayer must prove the assessed value is greater than the fair market value of the property adjusted by the general level of assessment.
A taxpayer must file an application for abatement on time and on the Municipal Application form with the municipality in order for the assessors to consider the abatement request and to preserve the taxpayer’s right of appeal to the BTLA or Superior Court. The local assessors then have until July 1 to act on an abatement application. After receiving a timely Municipal Application form, the local assessor may either (1) deny the application; (2) grant an abatement, including a partial abatement; or (3) take no action on the application. If the assessors take no action on the application, the application is deemed denied on July 1.
A taxpayer may appeal the denial of an abatement or partial abatement after July 1 or the municipality’s denial or partial denial to the BTLA or the Superior Court by September 1. A filing fee is required for appeal to the BTLA, $65.00, or the Superior Court, $280.
Should you pay your taxes while challenging your assessed value?
New Hampshire does not require a taxpayer to pay his or her taxes to request an abatement; however, paying taxes usually is a good idea because the municipality will assess 8% interest on unpaid taxes while only being obligated to pay 6% on abated taxes. Given today’s interest rate environment, “overpaying” taxes is not a bad deal, assuming an abatement eventually is obtained.