The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19
CITY AND SUBURBAN REALTY ACTIVITY
LARGE SUMS PAID
TO TAX REDUCERS
Despite Mayors Advice Many Owners
Share Savings From Reduced
Property Assessments

Despite Mayor Mitchel's suggestion TO
property owners who think their prop
critics ore ovcrassessed to carry their
grievances personally 10 the Tax De
partment certain lawyers and real es-
tate agents who have found the field
profitable IN tho past few years are
again combinE the city. especially In
sections where reductions in assess
nents are sure 10 be made by the Tax
Board, seeking 70 be retained on a
contingency basis 70 obtain lower as
easements. During the last few weeks,
according 10 the best information OBJ
tainable. owners Of property in every
part OF the city except those few parts
which show strongly maintained values
have received circulars. letters, PAM
phlets and the Ike suggesting 20 them
that their property is overassessed by
tho city, and that the writer believes
ne can obtain n material reduction. In
some INSTANCES the bargain Is boldly
suggested that the writer will take a
commission to obtain a reduction, and
will accept as his fee one-half the
amount OF taxes saved FOR next year.
Up at the Tax Department they say
Chat these Intermediates s-e entirely
unnecessary. and thnt property owners
by retaining them are taking money
out Of their own pocket quite need
Iessly. II is figured that ono firm alone
has taken SIS 600 during the last year
from property owners II was sup
posed 70 represent, the assessments on
whose properties would have been cut
by the Tax Board without any applica-
ton from owners. The tax assessors
arc especially opposed TO agents being
retained by owners. because Il has been
brought to their attention that in some
instances the agents represent them
selves as standing in with the assessors
and intimate that there IL division of
ne saving.
Tho department has no effective means
of combating the practice Of the pro-
ressional assessment reducer but IN an
effort TO overcome me practice II has
had blanks circulated on which owners
may state their criticisms and make
suggestions Az TO the assessment of
their properties. Those who have used
the blanks report entirely satisfactory
treatment, with a saving Of money 70
themselves. AS a suggestion 10 own
ers 70 avoid the professional tax re-
ducers the department has had printed
on the back OF the blanks the following:
ITO OWNERS OF REAL ESTATE.
The Department Of Taxes and A.
easements desires the aid and coopera-
ton of the taxpayers IN It's efforts TO do
it's work with fairness and importantly,
both as to the citizens as individuals
and 10 citizens as the body forming the
city Of New York. The department Is
as greatly averse 70 overassessment as
the taxpayers can be. II seeks 10 know
and assess at true value all the realty
Il assesses so that II may not be unfair
70 the owner by overassessing or un-
fair TO the whole citizen body by under
asse ssing. II Is endeavoring 10 reduce
the assessments OF all property that has
declined IN value or has been over
valued, and 10 increase the assessments
Of all property that has risen In value
or has been undervalued, so that the
burden OF taxation may fall equally and
Justly upon all.
The within form has been designed
20 place the department IN possession
Of such Information as owners may
have concerning their own properties
so that at least as to such parcels the
departmen may be able 10 form more
Intelligent Judgment
TT Is hoped that owners WIN respond
freely 20 the departments desire ror
cooperation With them
How extensive the business has be-
come Of seeking tax reductions Is to be
Judged by the fact that one Arm re-
Gently sent out 10000 booklets on the
subject 10 property owners in Man
haitian and another Arm sent out even
a larger number Of letters. The argu-
mont made in every .nse Is most plausl-
Die and rarely fails TO gain a customer
No fee IL demanded the profit OF the
professional reducer being regulated by
the amount he Is supposed TO save his
customer His argument " about like
this: II think your taxes are too high
and I am in position to get you q
=. reduction. | know the assessors and
know the workings OF the Tax Depart
ment. You give your case to me and
] will guarantee 10 get you a substan-
tial reduction in your assessment II
] do not get II my work will not cost
YOU anything. but whatever saving
do get for You YOU will divide with
me-"
with this arglmens the professional
reducer has anticipated the action Of the
Tax Board and has taken thousands OF
dollars for his services. Wherever rea
estate men note dropping values, due
either 10 changing conditions or to IN
fation. there the tax reducer will III
found. At a recent meeting OF the Ta'
Board an expert appraiser was seekinl
a reduction on property in the lower
Fifth avenue section for customer o.
his Arm. He gave rs hts opinion. on'
which Is highly regarded, that the whole
of the district in question was over
.ssessed. Members OF the Tax BoarC
agreed with him and Il was intimatet
that on the next assessment rolls the
valuations would be reduced. Almost
Immediately owners in the district were
flooded with literature Of the profes-
sional reducers.
How many thousands OF owners
throughout the Old wholesale district, tn,
Sixth avenue shopping section anC
Harlem have shared with professional
reducers tax savings which would have
been theirs by the voluntary action OF
the Tax Board can hardly be counted
one firm ha& so many rethlners Last
year that they buucrcd their applica-
lions for reductions in groups Of sew
ersl hundreds ANA merely mentioned &c
the tax commissioners IN writing that
they expected reductions. The assessors
nj OHrlrg made fb. gnt- or bsif1 &