Westchester County Property Tax Reduction

While New York is known for high property taxes, Westchester County stands above the rest. With the dubious honor of having the highest property taxes in the state, Westchester County has a median tax bill of over $9,000. Being the first true suburban area in history, Westchester competes with Nassau and Suffolk counties to be the prime destination for people looking to move just outside New York City. With record property taxes being a threat to homeowners and home buyers alike, not to mention a big drain on the bottom line of businesses, getting a cut on your Westchester County property is certainly a high priority. Thankfully, there are plenty of options, including exemptions, grievances, and cost segregation.

Property Tax Reduction Services for Suffolk County

Residential Property Tax Reduction in Westchester County

While the Westchester tax rate is not as high as those in Nassau and Suffolk counties, it still tops the charts thanks to the extreme value found in every home. Due to demand in places like Yonkers, the median sale price of a home in the county is $725,000. Westchester’s prime location adjacent to New York City is one of the driving factors for high housing costs, but spending for services like schools also puts a significant drain on the budget. Since the county has relatively small commercial real estate compared to homes, it also means that the tax burden falls squarely on the shoulders of homeowners. If you are trying to lower your property taxes in Westchester, there are several options, which can often be combined to bring even greater relief:

  • School TAX Relief Program (STAR): Westchester County has some of the best schools in the country, but that requires significant funding. This makes school taxes the largest cost for homeowners. The STAR program pays homeowners rebates or credits to counterbalance these taxes. Older homeowners may still have STAR exemptions, but these were phased out for new homeowners. Enhanced STAR offers seniors on a fixed income even larger savings.
  • Exemptions: Other exemptions can be used to enhance STAR or can run alongside it. This includes those for people over 65, disabled people, veterans, and many more options. Maximizing your exemptions is key to reducing your taxes and staying in your home in New York.
  • Grievances: The high home values in Westchester drive the county’s high taxes. Grievances allow you to appeal your home’s assessed value, hopefully lowering it to its true market value. If your assessed value is cut, then your taxes will fall, as it is used as a base by various government entities.

Westchester County Commercial Real Estate Reduction

While it has a reputation as a suburban county, Westchester still has plenty of businesses that suffer the same high taxes as homes. Since businesses do not have access to the same cornucopia of exemptions that homeowners do, different avenues must be explored to land key savings. While making housing more affordable for families should certainly be a priority, businesses are just as important for the fabric of communities, and many have been forced to shutter due to rising taxes. There has been a movement to push the tax burden from homeowners onto businesses as well, which could result in higher bills in the near future. If you own a business in Westchester, there are a few techniques that you can utilize:

Cost Segregation: Rather than lowering your property tax, cost segregation uses the depreciation of your property to lower your federal income taxes. Thanks to recent legislation and bonus depreciation, many businesses can eliminate 100% of their income burden when it comes to the federal government. This is an excellent way to shield your business from one taxing source.

Grievances: Arguably more important for businesses than homes, grievances can be used for commercial properties as well. Best used annually as a standard cost-cutting measure, grievances for businesses. This generally requires excellent financial documentation to prove the worth of a commercial property, but careful study should also be reserved for the assessment itself. When executed correctly, a commercial grievance can save thousands or even millions of dollars.

Specialized Exemptions: While more esoteric than those for homes, there are some exemptions focused on businesses, particularly those involved in agriculture. Finding and utilizing every exemption that applies to your industry can be a huge money-saver.

Important Dates for Westchester Tax Reduction

  • Exemption filing deadline: March 1, 2026
  • Grievance deadline: June 16, 2026
  • Grievance deadline for Yonkers: November 15, 2026

O’Connor is Here to Help Reduce Your Property Taxes

Thanks to record-breaking property taxes in Westchester County, homeowners and businesses are under constant pressure. While property owners are in danger of losing their real estate, buyers also face an uphill climb. Taxes do factor into mortgages after all, making monthly payments soar on top of the exaggerated value of the real estate. This can make buying and selling property difficult, even in one of the most in-demand area in the nation. We at O’Connor are here to help get things under control, hopefully leaving you with some peace of mind.

We offer solutions for both commercial and residential properties in Westchester County. For businesses, we can help put your grievance together, set up a cost segregation study, and do a deep analysis on your assessment. For homeowners, we can help with exemptions, gather key evidence, put together reports about local home sales, and compare your assessment to that of your neighbors. We will then use this evidence to launch a grievance on your behalf. We will even represent you in hearings with the Board of Assessment Review (BAR). Best of all, you will not be charged upfront for these services, and will only need to pay a contingency fee if we can lower your property taxes. For over 50 years, we have been getting our clients tax reductions across the country and are ready to serve you in all of your property tax needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Westchester County Taxes

That depends if you have a STAR credit or an exemption. An exemption removes $30,000 in taxable value, while a credit will typically rebate you between $250 and $500. Enhanced STAR, on the other hand, could get you an exemption of $86,000 or a credit between $800 to $1,500. Note that you cannot get STAR exemptions anymore, only credits. If you still have an exemption and live in the same property, you can keep it, but new homeowners or those that move cannot get a new one. You can also trade your exemption for a credit but cannot reclaim the exemption.

Proximity to New York City, particularly Manhattan, makes the area the perfect suburb for commuting. Best-in-class schools and high quality of life also raise the demand for real estate, both residential and commercial. Funding programs, especially schools, requires extensive taxation. With values being so high to begin with, any changes in the tax rate create large bills. Westchester’s tax rate is actually lower than that of Nassau or Suffolk counties. It is the overall value of the land that creates large bills.

Yes, many exemptions can be put together to grow savings. For instance, the STAR program could be mixed with the senior citizen exemption to reduce or even eliminate school taxes, the largest burden facing homeowners. Check with your tax professional or your local assessor to see which can and cannot be combined.