Tax Assessor
The main function of the Tax Assessor’s Office is the appraisal and evaluation of all land and buildings within the municipality for tax purposes, according to state statutes. Additional duties include maintaining property transfers, keeping current ownership updated, checking building permits that have been issued and maintaining current values.
The Tax Assessor approves applications for Veteran, Senior Citizen and Disabled Deductions and total tax exemption applications for Disabled Veterans and non-profit organizations.
The Tax Assessor prepares the Added and Omitted Assessment List that includes all new construction that has been completed within the tax year, and represents the Borough in all tax appeals before the Bergen County Board of Taxation and the Tax Court of New Jersey.
Deductions & Exemptions
If you are a qualified Veteran, Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner of a Veteran, Senior Citizen, Disabled Person or Surviving Spouse of a Senior Citizen or Disabled Person, you may be eligible for a property tax deduction that would reduce your tax liability. You can request an application form for any of the below listed deductions or exemptions from the Tax Assessor’s Office, or you can download the application in PDF format by choosing the appropriate link below.
Veterans & Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner
An annual $250 deduction from property taxes is available for the property of a qualified Veteran or Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner of a Veteran. In order to be eligible the applicant must be an owner of the property and citizen and resident of New Jersey as of October 1 of the pre-tax year and the Veteran must have been honorably discharged or released from active service in the US Armed Forces during one of the following periods:
| Mission or Operation |
Time Period Served |
| Operation Northern/Southern Watch*
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August 27, 1992 – March 17, 2003
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| Operation Iraqi Freedom*
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March 19, 2003 – Ongoing
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| Operation Enduring Freedom*
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September 11, 2001 – Ongoing
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| Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard*
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November 20, 1995 – June 20, 1998
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| Restore Hope Mission*
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December 5, 1992 – March 31, 1994
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| Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm*
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August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991
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| Panama Peacekeeping Mission*
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December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990
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| Grenada Peacekeeping Mission*
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October 23, 1983 – November 21, 1983
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| Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission*
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September 26, 1982 – December 1, 1987
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| Vietnam Conflict
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December 31, 1960 – May 7, 1975
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| Lebanon Crisis of 1958*
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July 1, 1958 – November 1, 1958
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| Korean Conflict
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June 23, 1950 – January 31, 1955
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| World War II
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September 16, 1940 – December 31, 1946
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| World War I
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April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918
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* Peacekeeping Missions require a minimum of 14 days service in the actual combat zone except where service incurred injury or disability occurs in the combat zone, then actual time served, though less than 14 days, is sufficient for purposes of property tax exemption or deduction. The 14 day requirement for Bosnia and Herzegovina may be met by service in one or both operations for 14 days continuously or in aggregate. For Bosnia and Herzegovina combat zone also includes the airspace above those nations.
You can request an application from the Tax Assessor’s Office, Claim Form V.S.S., which can be filed with the Assessor or Collector. Additional proofs required for a veteran include a copy of the Honorable Discharge or Release, Form DD214. A surviving spouse/domestic partner must also include a copy of the veteran’s death certificate.
If you are a Veteran or Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner of a Veteran who served during a Peacekeeping Mission you must also submit the Supplemental Form for Peacekeeping Missions, Supplemental D.V.S.S.E/V.S.S.
Senior Citizen, Disabled Person or Surviving Spouse
An annual $250 deduction from property taxes is available for the property of a qualified senior citizen, disabled person or surviving spouse who meet certain income requirements. Senior Citizen, Disabled Person and Surviving Spouse are defined as follows:
Senior Citizen – Age 65 or more as of December 31 of the pre-tax year.
Disabled Person – Permanently and totally disabled as of December 31 of the pre-tax year.
Surviving Spouse – Age 55 or more as of December 31 of the pre-tax year and at the time of death of person receiving Senior Citizen or Disabled Person Deduction.
In addition to the requirements set forth above, the applicant must be an owner and resident of the home as of October 1 of the pre-tax year and a New Jersey resident one year prior to that date and a yearly income less than $10,000 excluding Social Security Income and Disability Benefit Income or certain public pensions, which ever is more.
You can request an application from the Tax Assessor’s Office, Claim Form PTD, which can be filed with the Assessor or Collector. Additional proofs include proof of age and an Income Statement. The Tax Assessor may also require an applicant to furnish a copy of their most recent Income Tax Return.
Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partners
Certain permanently and totally disabled war veterans or the surviving spouses/domestic partners of such disabled war veterans are granted a full property tax exemption on their dwelling house and the lot on which it is situated.
In order to qualify, you must be an honorably discharged veteran, who had active service in time of war in the U.S. Armed forces (dates), or the unmarried surviving spouse/domestic partner of such a disabled veteran. Surviving spouses of servicepersons who died in active service during a time of war also qualify. The veteran must be certified as 100% permanently and totally disabled by the United States Veteran’s Administration.
Applicants must also be the owner as well as a permanent resident in the dwelling and a legal resident of the State of New Jersey to qualify. In the case of surviving spouses/domestic partners, the deceased spouse/partner must also have been a legal resident of New Jersey.
You can request an application from the Tax Assessor’s Office, Claim Form D.V.S.S.E., which can be filed at any time during the year with the Assessor. Additional proofs required for a veteran include a copy of the Honorable Discharge or Release, Form DD214 and the Veterans Administration Certification of Disability. A surviving spouse/domestic partner must also include a copy of the veteran’s death certificate.
If you are a Veteran or Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner of a Veteran who served during a Peacekeeping Mission you must also submit the Supplemental Form for Peacekeeping Missions, Supplemental D.V.S.S.E/V.S.S.
Tax Appeals
Taxpayers who disagree with their property’s assessment have the right to appeal to the Bergen County Board of Taxation on or before April 1 or 45 days from the date the Assessment Notifications are mailed by the taxing district, whichever is later. Appeal forms can be requested from the Bergen County Board of Taxation, or can be downloaded in PDF format below:
If the property is assessed for more than $1,000,000.00 the taxpayer can appeal directly to the N.J. State Tax Court. If you are dissatisfied with the judgment of the Bergen County Board of Taxation, you may file an appeal with the N.J. State Tax Court within 45 days from the date of the final judgment.
Added & Omitted Assessments
Added Assessments
New Construction, structural additions and improvements completed after October 1 are valued and taxed under the Added Assessment Law. This way property that becomes accessible after October 1 does not avoid its fair share of the tax burden for the rest of the year.
A new structure, or an addition to or alteration of an old structure, is valued as of the first day of the month following completion. If the value when completed is greater than the assessed value placed on the structure on October 1 of the pre-tax year, an Added Assessment based on the difference must be made. The Added Assessment is prorated on the number of full months in the tax year.
Omitted Assessments
Additional assessments that through error, were not made at the proper time, may be placed on the tax rolls through the Omitted Assessment Laws. An Omitted Assessment can be made for the current year of discovery and one prior year.
Tax bills for both Added and Omitted Assessments are generally sent in October and are payable on November 1. If you disagree with the Added or Omitted Assessment that is placed on your property, you can appeal it to the Bergen County Board of Taxation prior to December 1. An appeal form can be requested from the Bergen County Board of Taxation or downloaded in PDF format, Added/Omitted Petition of Appeal.
To access the Borough's Tax Map, please click the below drop down box and click "Tax Maps".
Listing files in 'Tax Assessor Documents'
Added/Omitted Petition of Appeal
Supplemental D.V.S.S.E/V.S.S.
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Contact Information
Name: Tim Henderson
Title: Tax Assessor
Phone: (201) 794-5319
E-Mail: taxassessor@fairlawn.org
Bergen County Tax Board
One Bergen County Plaza
3rd Floor, Room 370
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-336-6300
Bergen County Board of Taxation Website
Tax Court of New Jersey
P.O. Box 972
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-5082
New Jersey State Tax Court Website
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