Lower your Monroe County property taxes
Monroe's towns each assess their own homes, while the City of Rochester runs an earlier calendar of its own. Combined county, town and school taxes here run about 2.2–3.0% of market value, so a market value that's even a little high adds up every year. 30% of first-year savings, only if you save.
What a too-high value costs you
If your home is assessed at $260,000 but similar homes point to about $240,000, you're taxed on $20,000 too much. At a 2.60% rate that's about $520 a year. Our fee would be $156; you'd keep $364.
What gets missed in Monroe County
- Rochester's March deadline. The city's Board of Assessment Review meets on the third Tuesday of March — two months before the towns.
- The equalization rate. Divide your assessment by your town's equalization rate to see the market value it implies — the number our example uses.
- Condition. Original kitchens, roof wear and basement water aren't in the assessor's records.
- Wrong comparisons. Sales from another town or school district, where prices and tax rates differ.
Insider tip: Rochester owners: the city's tentative roll is due by March 1 and complaints are heard the third Tuesday in March, so sign up before March.
Reviewed by the founder
Julien reviews every Monroe County case personally and tells you the value we’ll ask for before anything is filed.
Get my free reviewMonroe County calendar
| July 1, 2026 | Valuation date for towns (Rochester: February 1, 2027) |
| March 1, 2027 | Taxable status date for towns; exemption applications due |
| March 16, 2027 | City of Rochester Board of Assessment Review hears complaints |
| May 1 | Town tentative rolls filed (Rochester's final roll by this date) |
| May 25, 2027 | Grievance Day in Monroe towns — RP-524 due |
| July 1 | Town final rolls filed |
| 30 days after the final roll | Deadline for SCAR ($30) or Article 7 |
Sources: Monroe County — assessment dates · City of Rochester Charter § 6-91 · Town of Brighton — assessment review · NY Open Data — full value tax rates by municipality (ORPTS). Dates are checked each year; confirm with the county for your property.
Exemptions to check
New owners get the STAR credit from the state if household income is $500,000 or less; owners 65 and older with income up to $113,550 can get Enhanced STAR for 2027. Veterans and lower-income seniors may qualify for partial exemptions where their town and school district offer them. Exemption applications are due to the assessor by March 1 in the towns (February 1 in Rochester). We check your exemptions free at sign-up.
Monroe County questions
How do I grieve in Monroe County?
File Form RP-524 with your town's Board of Assessment Review by May 25, 2027 (Rochester: by its March 16 hearing date). To have us file, you sign Part Four naming us as your representative.
Can I file my grievance by email?
Not everywhere. Brighton, for example, doesn't accept RP-524 by fax or email for Grievance Day. Check your town's rules.
What if the board doesn't lower it?
Owner-occupied 1–3 family homes can file Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) for $30 within 30 days after the final roll. Other property goes to court under Article 7.