NASSAU COUNTY – DISPUTED ASSESSMENT FUND (DAF)

Why is this year different from all other years? That is the commercial taxpayer’s question. The answer is not simple and it might even change. This year, the real estate tax rate will increase for every commercial taxpayer. Each taxpayer that files a protest/complaint/grievance against Nassau commercial real estate tax assessments will pay on two different assessments. The portion of the assessment that the taxpayer is disputing and wants to have reduced, will go into a separate fund called the Disputed Assessment Fund (DAF). Since the school and general tax districts will receive tax payments only on the portion of the assessment not in dispute, the tax rate will have to increase. The plan is for the school and general tax districts to receive full payment albeit on a lower assessment. Therefore, the tax rate on Nassau County commercial, Class 4 properties will increase for every commercial taxpayer whether the taxpayer complains or not. The schools will not suffer, only the commercial taxpayers will suffer. The details of how the January 2017 tax bill will look are still “in dispute”. More to come as the details are worked out.