Assessor: Kimberly Smith

Hours:

Monday afternoon by appointment
Wednesday 8:00AM – 12:00 PM Assessor

Location: Downstairs on right, Town Hall

Address:
PO Box 459
Canaan, NY 12029

E-mail: assessor@canaannewyork.org

Phone: (518) 781-3433

Board Liaison: David Patzwahl

Town of Canaan Assessment Rolls

Real Property Inventory

The deadline for filing any exemption is March 1st.

TAXES – The Assessor does not determine tax rates or collect taxes. For information regarding TAXES please call the TAX COLLECTOR. You can view or print your tax bill by following this LINK.

CanaanTown and CountyTax Collector (January Bills) – Charlotte Cowan – 518-781-3144
Town and County Bills – http://egov.basny.com/Canaan/
New Lebanon School Tax Collector (September Bills) – 518-794-9016
New Lebanon School Tax Bills – http://tax.neric.org/Search.aspx?district=104801
Chatham School Tax Bills (September Bills) – (518) 392-1508
Chatham School Tax Bills – http://infotaxonline.com/FindProperty.aspx

DEEDS and other PUBLIC Documents are not kept in the Assessors office. To view these records please follow this LINK.

LINKS

NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS)

Columbia County Real Property

Assessment & Inventory Data for all Columbia County Municipalities

Deeds and Public Records

Tax Bills

Tax Foreclosure Sales

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ASSESSMENT COMPLAINTS

Current status: NON RE-ASSESSMENT YEAR May 29, 2018-May 30, 2022

NON RE-ASSESSMENTS YEARS: If you feel your assessment does not accurately reflect the current Market Value of your property you may submit written documentation prior to March 1st to be reviewed by the assessor. Documentation must be either a recent appraisal, recent sales of similar properties, comparative market analysis from a realtor or a recent listing agreement. Comparable ASSESSMENTS are not accepted as proof of Market Value.  Follow this link for MID YEAR ASSESSMENT REVIEW FORM. After March 1st you must follow the grievance process. 

RE-ASSESSMENT YEAR: Notices of preliminary assessments will be sent around February 2022. If you feel your assessment does not accurately reflect the current Market Value of your property you will have a chance for an informal review prior to the tentative roll. Instructions for informal review will be provided on the notice.  After March 1st you must follow the grievance process. 

GRIEVANCE DAY INFORMATION

The 4th Tuesday in May.

Normal hours are between the hours of 4 pm – 8 pm. 

In the year of a Reassessment they may start earlier.

The Board of Assessment Review is a public meeting held  once a year in the Meeting room located in the  Town Hall.

Complaint forms can be accepted up until the close of the meeting. However, to avoid an adjournment forms should be submitted 3 days prior to Grievance Day to allow time for the Assessor to review. Forms can be mailed, emailed or dropped off at the Town Hall.

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EXEMPTIONS

RENEWALS are sent the first week in December.

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN MARCH 1.  LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE DENIED.

NEW STAR applicants- you will no longer be able to receive STAR directly on the school tax bill.
Instead, it will come as a REBATE check. You will need to register with the Department of Taxation and Finance to receive the rebate.
Property owners without access to a computer can register by phone weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm (518-457-2036) or www.tax.ny.gov.

STAR PROGRAM

If you’ve recently bought your home or you’ve never applied for the STAR benefit on your current home, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars each year. You only need to register for the STAR credit once, and you’ll continue to receive the annual benefit as long as you’re eligible. Register Below!

Switching from the exemption to the credit? Register below! You may receive a greater benefit.

REGISTER FOR STAR

Enhanced STAR – If you are already receiving a BASIC STAR exemption and are turning 65, you can apply with the Assessor for the Enhanced STAR.

If you do NOT currently have BASIC STAR and are applying for Enhanced STAR , you must register with the State using the link above.

Enhanced Star Renewals

Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, the Tax Department will annually review applicants’ income to determine their eligibility for the Enhanced STAR exemption. You do not need to reapply with the Assessor.

Following your eligibility determination, the Tax Department will use the Social Security numbers to confirm the income eligibility of the property owners. If there is a change in your determination, they will notify you.

In subsequent years, the Tax Department will determine income eligibility using the Social Security numbers. If additional information is needed, the department will contact the property owner directly.

STAR APPEALS

If a property owner disagrees with the Tax Department’s eligibility determination, they may appeal to the Tax Department. If the Tax Department denies the appeal and the property owner still believes they are eligible, they can then appeal to the State Board of Real Property Tax Services.

Seniors with LOW income – please see AGED exemption below.  If you think you will qualify please submit application “AGED” to the Assessor.

AGED– (low income Senior)- sliding scale 5% to 50% based on income must be primary residence

  • Town, County and School income limit-$37,400*
  • * Town also allows for medical expenses deduction
  • * New Lebanon School District-allows for school age children to reside in the home.
  • Additional Forms- Renewal Form

Disabled with limited income – sliding scale 5% to 50%- must prove disability and income

  • Town, County and School income limit income limit-$37,400

Veterans

Combat Vet – primary residence

Disabled Vet– primary residence

Cold War– primary residence- 10 year exemption

Disabled Cold War

Agricultural Exemption–

What Is the Property Tax?

The real property tax is a tax based on the value of real property. Counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and special districts each raise money through the real property tax. The money funds schools, pays for police and fire protection, maintains roads, and funds other municipal services enjoyed by residents.

What Determines the Amount of a Property Tax Bill?

The amount of a particular property’s tax bill is determined by two things: the property’s taxable assessment and the tax rates of the taxing jurisdictions in which the property is located. The tax rate is determined by the amount of the tax levy to be raised from all, or part, of an assessing unit, and the unit’s taxable assessed value. The assessment is determined by the assessor and is based on the value of the property less any applicable property tax exemptions.

What Kind of Property Is Assessed?

Every parcel of real property in an assessing unit, no matter how big or how small, is assessed. Real property is defined as land and any permanent structures attached to it. Examples of real property are houses, gas stations, office buildings, vacant land, shopping centers, saleable natural resources (e.g. oil, gas, timber), farms, apartments, factories, restaurants, and, in most instances, mobile homes.

Though all real property in an assessing unit is assessed, not all of it is taxable. Some, such as religious or government owned property, are completely exempt from property taxes. Others are partially exempt, such as veterans who qualify for an exemption on part of the property tax on their homes.

What Is an Assessment?

A property’s assessment is a percentage of its market value. Market value is how much a property would sell for under normal conditions. Assessments are determined by the assessor, an elected or appointed local official who independently estimates the value of real property in an assessing unit. Assessing units follow municipal boundaries — county, city, town, or village.

The assessor can estimate the market value of property based on the sale prices of similar properties. A property can also be valued based on the depreciated cost of materials and labor required to replace it. Commercial property may be valued on its potential to produce rental income for its owners. In other words, the assessor can use whatever approach provides the best estimate of a property s market value. Properties in suboptimal uses generally may not be assessed at market value; they must be assessed at their current-use value.

How Do I Know If My Assessment Is Right?

It is up to individual property owners to monitor their own assessments. Taxpayers should bring any questions about assessments to the assessor before the tentative roll is established (contact your assessor for the tentative roll date). In an informal setting the assessor can explain how the assessment was determined and the rationale behind it.

What Determines the Tax Rate?

The tax rate is determined by the amount of the tax levy. There are several steps involved in determining the tax levy. First, the taxing jurisdiction ( a school district, town, county, etc.) develops and adopts a budget. Revenue from all sources other than the property tax (State aid, sales tax revenue, user fees, etc.) is determined. These revenues are subtracted from the original budget and the remainder becomes the tax levy. It is the amount of the tax levy that is raised through the property tax.

(Do you have more questions about how the property tax works? The information above was excerpted from a pamphlet published by New York State: How the Property Tax Works. Read the entire pamphlet or talk to the Assessor.)