Paterson Tax Appeals Mostly Fail After Revaluation

Most of the 1,391 Paterson tax appeals filed this year did not lower property assessments after a citywide revaluation.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Taxes

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stepped row of brick rowhouses in deep red and cream, with one taller navy-accented building rising above the rest. — Paterson homeowners who appealed their property assessments mostly lost, with 86% of 1,391 appeals failing to lower values after a revaluation that more than doubled the city's total assessed value. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Passaic County Board of Taxation reported that 86% of 1,391 Paterson tax appeals did not lower assessments. The result follows a 2026 citywide revaluation that more than doubled the city's total assessed property value.

Why it matters

The revaluation raised total assessed value in Paterson from $6 billion to $14.15 billion, leaving thousands of homeowners facing higher tax bills. With appeals up 47% from 2025, residents now have fewer successful avenues to reduce what they owe.

Of 1,391 Paterson tax appeals, 1,193 ended with no change and 199 had assessments reduced, a 14% success rate. Residential assessments rose from $3.9 billion to $8.8 billion, while commercial assessments rose from $2.3 billion to $5.2 billion.

The players

Appraisal Systems Inc.

A private appraisal firm that conducted the 2026 citywide revaluation in Paterson by inspecting every property in the city.

Passaic County Board of Taxation

The county body that hears property tax appeals and issued the decisions reported in this story.

The details

Appraisal Systems Inc. conducted the revaluation and sent appraisers to every Paterson property, after which many owners appealed to the county tax board. Many appellants told the board during the summer that they could not afford the increases, and the board's decisions left most of those appeals unchanged.

Early 2026: Citywide revaluation completed, boosting assessed values.
Spring 2026: Mayoral election held in Paterson.
Summer 2026: Homeowners appeared before the county tax board.
2026: Tax appeals filed, with 86% unsuccessful.

Roadmap

The appeal outcomes follow directly from the 2026 Paterson citywide revaluation, which raised total assessed value from $6 billion to $14.15 billion. Many recent sales exceeded pre-2026 property values, and the board's decisions show how those market-driven increases carried through into individual tax bills.

Paterson homeowners whose assessments rose by more than $1,000 per year now face higher annual tax payments, and the failed appeals mean many will not see relief through the county process. Residents facing increases between $250 and $999 should weigh the cost of appealing against the low success rate reported this year.

The takeaway

Property owners facing a sharp reassessment should document their home's value and sale comparables early, since this year's appeal results show that informal arguments rarely reduce assessments. Checking the county tax board's appeal process before the filing deadline gives homeowners the best chance to act.