(908) 766-2510

1 Collyer Lane
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Online Services
Payments / Recreation 

Tax Assessor

Location

Administration Building
1 Collyer Lane
Basking Ridge, NJ

Hours

8:30AM - 4:30PM
Monday - Friday

Staff

Important Dates

February 1 (on or about): Postcards mailed with assessments for the current year

May 1: Deadline to file Tax Appeal

August 1: Deadline to file Farm Assessment applications

October 1: Valuation date for all real property in district

December 1: Added Assessment Appeal Deadline

Tax Assessor

The 2024 Notice of Assessment Postcards were Mailed Friday, March 1, 2024.

* The Notice of Assessment postcards are now white

The 2024 assessments are based on market value as of October 1, 2023. 

Most Assessor’s Office related business can be handled via phone at 908-204-3082, or by email at assessor@bernards.org. If you're looking for residential property information, please click on the "SQUARE FOOTAGE & ASSESSMENT DATA" button on the right side of the page.

The Mission of the Office of Assessment is to maintain a fair and equitable tax base for the Township, based on sound assessment practices, and to treat all property types and owners impartially.

The Assessor is responsible for identifying and placing a value on every parcel of land within the Township's borders. The values are derived through the formulation of models, developed from closed comparable sales, and uniformly applied to comparable properties based on design, quality, and location. These values become the final assessed values for residential properties and should closely reflect market value.

All assessments are reviewed annually and adjusted to reflect market value as of October 1st of the pre-tax year. The 2024 assessments reflect market value as of October 1, 2023, using sales from October 1, 2022, through October 1, 2023. Annual reassessing contributes to more equitable and uniform assessments throughout the Township and a more equitable ratable base for every property owner. 

Annual Reassessing requires inspection of all properties over a five (5) year cycle. As such, we inspect approximately twenty percent (20%) of the township’s properties each year. Inspections are conducted throughout the year, weather permitting. The purpose of inspections is to obtain accurate data on each property, therefore helping us to achieve more fair and accurate assessments. Inspections also allow us to assess alterations and/or improvements that may have been completed without building permits.

All properties, physically inspected or not, will have their assessments reviewed annually. Any property not physically inspected during any given year will be reassessed using the current information on record.

Commercial Properties are assessed based upon income and expense information as well as sales data. Chapter 91's, (requests for income and expense information) are mailed annually to all commercial property owners. Data compiled from responses to the Chapter 91 requests enables us to develop economic rents that are uniformly applied to comparable properties. Compliance with this request by commercial property owners is vital in helping us establish assessments that accurately represent market value.

Bernards Township has been actively engaged in a State approved Annual Reassessment Program since 1989. The program has financial advantages, as well as creating a more equitable tax base. The program allows the Township to address fluctuating market trends, upward or downward, resulting in fewer appeals and reduced losses in ratables. Additionally, the apportioned county share of each municipality toward county taxes is more equitably distributed. Sales studies, analysis, investigation, and reviews are conducted annually with values being established reflecting the market as of October 1 of the pre-tax year.

For more information on how property is valued, please click the following link.

 https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/lpt/ptassessment.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

How am I notified of my property tax assessment?

Each year, in the beginning of February, all property owners are mailed their assessment postcard, containing the assessed value for the current tax year. If you have not received your postcard by March 1st, please contact our office. 

Please note that on occasion, the Somerset County Tax Board will grant an extension for the filing of the Tax List. In such cases, the postcard mailing will be extended accordingly. 

The value noted on the 2023 assessment postcard reflects the market value of the property as of October 1, 2022. The assessment is formulated using sales from October 1, 2021 through October 1, 2022.