Frequently Asked
Questions:
Q � What is a tax
grievance?
A � A tax grievance is a formal complaint filed
against a town�s assessed value on a particular
parcel of property based upon comparable sales. The
town places a value on every property. ie - $600,000
- if we can prove your home is worth less than that
value, we will accept your grievance. If there are
sales in your area that are equal and above that
value, we will send you a letter stating that, in
our opinion, you have no case. If a neighbor has a
similar home, and has lower property taxes, it may
mean that they are under assessed; it is not a basis
for accepting your case. The easiest cases to win
are those on homes that have been purchased within
the last year or homes that are currently for sale.
To help entice potential buyers we can supply a
letter stating an estimated reduction for homes that
are for sale.
Q - Why should I use
The Mark Lewis Tax Grievance Service?
A � The Mark Lewis Tax Grievance Service is in
its 19th year serving Suffolk County. Tax grievances
are our only business. Our office is open year round
to serve our clients when they need us. We serve
Suffolk County and Suffolk County ONLY. We are
extremely proud of our record; we have won more than
55,000 reductions. There has never been a complaint
at any business reporting bureau nor at the
Department of Consumer Affairs. Within the past 3
years there have been more than 6 complaints on 2
Nassau based companies operating in Suffolk County.
It is estimated that only 1 in 50 dissatisfied
clients actually file a complaint. Some of these
complaints remain unanswered. We implore you to go
online and check out our record along with any other
company that you consider using. There are many new
companies in Suffolk County doing tax grievances.
Most of them charge up front fees. As we have heard
another Suffolk County based company just went out
of business and kept their clients� money. WE
IMPLORE YOU; DO NOT HIRE A COMPANY THAT CHARGES ANY
UP FRONT FEES!!! There are many reputable companies
on Long Island and most of them do not charge any up
front fees.
Q � Can they raise my
taxes because I filed a grievance?
A � Under no circumstances can your taxes be
raised due to filing a tax grievance. Your
assessment can only go down or remain the same.
Q � Will anyone from
the assessor�s office come to my house?
A � No one from the assessor�s office or The
Mark Lewis Tax Grievance Service will come to your
home.
Q � I think my taxes
are low, and I don�t want to raise a red flag.
A � Even if you are under assessed � they cannot
raise your assessment unless they reassess the
entire area. There is ABSOLUTELY no down side to
filing a grievance.
Q � I won a reduction
4 years ago; should I file again?
A � Yes, 2010 is an extremely unusual year, many
homes not entitled to reductions last year, are
definitely entitled to LARGE reductions this year.
It�s FREE to find out if you are entitled to a
reduction.
Q � Why is the Mark
Lewis Tax Grievance Service different from other
companies?
A � Many other companies accept your
grievance application whether you have a case or
not. If you lose the case, they have collected their
up front fee(s) which range from $50 to $399. This
is a gimmick! We, at The Mark Lewis Tax Grievance
Service, analyze your application and respond
usually within 1 week to notify you whether or not
we feel you have a case. There is no charge for this
analysis. If we accept your case, and happen to
lose, we charge NOTHING. We pay for the appraisal
and all court costs on a losing case.
Q � How often should
I check if I am over assessed?
A � We recommend sending an application to us
every year. Some years there may be sales on your
block that hurt your case. However, in many cases
there are sales close to your home that will help
your case.
Q � If a large
reduction is granted, and a large fee is incurred,
will you accept payment arrangements?
A - We make arrangements with many of our
clients to break the payments up over 3, 4, and
sometimes 5 months to make it easy to pay our fee.
Q � Does this affect
my basic star program?
A � Under NO circumstances will this have any
effect on the basic star program.
Q � How long does it
take to reduce my property taxes?
A � Winning grievances will take effect December
1, 2010. Important dates: 1 - May 18, 2010 we will
file your grievance. 2 � August/September 2010 we receive
answers from the township. We have 30 days to appeal
if we are not satisfied with the answer. 3 �
Generally court is held between September and
November. If
you win in court, a refund / rebate may be issued
retroactive to your December 1, 2010/2011 tax bill.
Q � When is the best
time to file a grievance?
A � The best time to apply for a grievance is
today! Our brochures are inserted in some of the
local papers many times through the year. As soon as
you see it, fill out the application and mail it in.
You can also apply online; our website is
www.marklewistax.com . We will let you know whether
or not we feel you have a case shortly after we
receive your application.
Q � Why would it be
beneficial for me to file a grievance this year?
Convince me.
A � With no down side to filing a grievance, we
truly believe this is the only no lose deal in
America. 1 � We analyze your application and usually
within one week you know whether or not you have a case.
Most other companies accept every application,
charge court fees and appraisal fees whether they
win your case or not. At Mark Lewis Tax Grievance
Service there is ABSOLUTELY NO FEE until we win your
case. 2 � The town cannot raise your assessment as a
result of filing a grievance. 3 - Our reductions
average between $1,500 and $4,000 per year. 4 � Our
company is licensed by the Department of Consumer
Affairs, and is complaint free. 5 � We have received
a Proclamation from the Suffolk County Executive,
Steve Levy for our work in helping homeowners. 6 �
No one from the town or our office will visit your
home. 7 � WITH ABSOLUTELY NO DOWN SIDE TO FILING A
GRIEVANCE, THIS IS THE YEAR FOR HOMEOWNERS TO TAKE
ACTION AND APPLY FOR A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION.
Mark Lewis Tax Grievance
1685 Middle Country Rd.
Centereach, NY 11720
P: (631) 696-2222
F: (631) 696-5844
marklewistax@aol.com
