Assessments

Division of Assessment

It is the responsibility of the Assessor’s Office to uniformly value all properties in the municipality so that all taxpayers pay their fair share of the tax obligations for the schools, the county, and the municipality.

Local Property Tax

The local property tax is measured by property values and is apportioned among taxpayers according to the assessed value of taxable property owned by each taxpayer. It is a local tax assessed and collected by the Borough of Tenafly for the support of the school district, county government, and municipal government.

The amount of local property tax (tax levy) is determined each year by the amount of revenue need to meet the municipal budget requirements not covered by fees and other revenue sources. This along with the needs of the school district and the county determine the amount needed to be raised by taxation. Therefore, the local property tax is determined by dividing the amount to be raised by the total assessed valuation of all properties expressed in $ 1 per $100 of taxable assessed property.

New Jersey Property Tax Deductions

Property Tax Deduction for Veterans or Surviving Spouses

An annual deduction each year from taxes due on the real property of qualified war veteran or their surviving spouse (widow/widower). The deduction is $250.

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.
• You must be a property owner and a legal resident of New Jersey and, where applicable, prove that the deceased veteran or serviceperson was a legal resident of New Jersey.
• Claim Form V.S.S: File the completed forms and necessary documentation with the municipal tax assessor.
• $250 real property tax deduction for senior citizens, disabled persons, or a surviving spouse of the age of 55 years or over.

Senior Citizen, Disabled Person, or Surviving Spouse

An annual $250 deduction from real property taxes is provided for the dwelling of a qualified senior citizen, a disabled person, or a surviving spouse (widow/widower).

To Qualify

• You must be a senior citizen or a permanently and totally disabled individual or a surviving spouse.
• You must be a legal resident of New Jersey for one year immediately prior to October 1st of the year before the year for which the deduction is requested.
• You must be an owner of and a permanent resident in the dwelling on October 1st of the year before the year for which the deduction is requested.
• Income may be no more than $10,000 during the year for which the deduction is requested, excluding, with restrictions, monies received from social security or Federal and State pension, disability or retirement programs.
• Claim Form PTD (PDF): File the completed forms and necessary documentation with the municipal tax assessor.

100% Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouses

Certain permanently and totally disabled war veterans or the surviving spouses (widows/widowers) of such disabled war veterans and servicepersons are granted a full property tax exemption on their dwelling house and the lot on which it is situated.

To Qualify

• You must be an honorably discharged veteran, who had or performed active service in time of war in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such a disabled veteran. Surviving spouses of servicepersons who died in active service in time of war also qualify.
• You must be the owner and a permanent resident in the dwelling and legal resident of New Jersey. In the case of surviving spouses, the deceased spouse must also have been a legal resident of New Jersey.
• Claim Form D.V.S.S.E. (PDF): File the completed forms and necessary documentation with the municipal tax assessor.

Additional Resources

• Bergen County Board of Taxation
  Two Bergen County Plaza
  1st Floor 
  Hackensack, NJ 0760-7076 
  Phone: 201-336-6300
• State of New Jersey:
  Automated Tax Information: 800-323-4400
  Tax Hotline: 609-292-6400
• Property Record Search