Northern & Central New Jersey (908) 437-8505 Request a quote

Tax appeal screening

Chapter 123 calculator

Most New Jersey homeowners who think they are over-assessed are applying the wrong test. This applies the right one, using the State's certified figures — before you spend anything.

Where do you land in the corridor?

Being worth less than your assessment is not, by itself, a case. New Jersey gives your town a corridor either side of its average ratio, and inside it the assessment stands however much you prove. This works out where you land, using the State's certified figures for 2026.

A screening calculation from published figures — the Director's Certification of Average Ratios and Common Level Ranges for Use in the Tax Year 2026, retrieved 2026-07-31. It is not an appraisal, it is not legal or tax advice, and it cannot tell you what your property is worth. The value you enter is your own estimate; everything downstream of it is arithmetic.

How the test works

A county tax board does not ask whether your house is worth less than its assessment. It asks where the ratio between the two falls.

Take your assessment, divide it by what the property is genuinely worth, and compare the result against your municipality's Common Level Range:

Where the ratio falls What the board does
Above the upper limit Assessment reduced to true value × the average ratio
Within the range No change — the appeal fails even though a lower value was proven
Below the lower limit Assessment increased to true value × the average ratio

That last row is not a technicality. An appeal can raise your taxes, and any guide that leaves it out is describing half the outcome.

Two exceptions. Where the average ratio itself exceeds 100%, the corridor does not apply and the assessment is reduced to true value. And in a revaluation or reassessment year, Chapter 123 does not apply at all.

The effective date is not today

New Jersey assesses as of October 1 of the pre-tax year. An appeal against a 2026 assessment needs an appraisal valued as of October 1, 2025.

An appraisal carrying today's date is a different instrument answering a different question, and boards routinely give it no weight. It is the most common way money gets wasted on a tax appeal.

Filing fees and deadlines

Fees are set by assessed value, not by county, under N.J.S.A. 54:3-21.3a: $5 under $150,000, $25 to $500,000, $100 to $1,000,000, and $150 above that.

The standard deadline is April 1, moving to May 1 where a revaluation or reassessment was implemented. Property assessed above $1,000,000 may be filed directly with the New Jersey Tax Court.

Where Chapter 123 does not apply this year

These municipalities implemented a revaluation or reassessment for 2026, so there is no corridor to test against. Assessments are presumed to sit at 100% of true value and the filing deadline moves to May 1.

Compiled from the county equalization tables, which several counties publish only as scanned images. Absence from this list is not confirmation that your municipality did not revalue — your assessment notice is the authority.

Certified average ratios, 2026

Every municipality in the counties served, with the average ratio and the Common Level Range the county board applies. Source: the Director's Certification of Average Ratios and Common Level Ranges for Use in the Tax Year 2026, retrieved 2026-07-31.

Bergen County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Allendale Boro 85.11% 72.34% 97.88%
Alpine Boro · Tax Court amended 96.24% 81.80% 110.68%
Bergenfield Boro 54.72% 46.51% 62.93%
Bogota Boro 87.03% 73.98% 100.08%
Carlstadt Boro 89.09% 75.73% 102.45%
Cliffside Park Boro 63.94% 54.35% 73.53%
Closter Boro 86.08% 73.17% 98.99%
Cresskill Boro 78.85% 67.02% 90.68%
Demarest Boro · no corridor applied 101.41% 86.20% 116.62%
Dumont Boro 95.31% 81.01% 109.61%
E Rutherford Boro · no corridor applied 102.14% 86.82% 117.46%
Edgewater Boro 89.49% 76.07% 102.91%
Elmwood Park Boro 61.16% 51.99% 70.33%
Emerson Boro 66.48% 56.51% 76.45%
Englewood City 65.73% 55.87% 75.59%
Englewood Cliffs Boro 80.70% 68.60% 92.81%
Fairlawn Boro 56.53% 48.05% 65.01%
Fairview Boro 79.37% 67.46% 91.28%
Fort Lee Boro 67.17% 57.09% 77.25%
Franklin Lakes Boro 72.72% 61.81% 83.63%
Garfield City 50.76% 43.15% 58.37%
Glen Rock Boro 62.75% 53.34% 72.16%
Hackensack City 74.58% 63.39% 85.77%
Harrington Park Boro 66.17% 56.24% 76.10%
Hasbrouck Hghts Boro 78.43% 66.67% 90.19%
Haworth Boro 62.09% 52.78% 71.40%
Hillsdale Boro 63.86% 54.28% 73.44%
Hohokus Boro 62.09% 52.78% 71.40%
Leonia Boro 56.47% 48.00% 64.94%
Little Ferry Boro 82.17% 69.84% 94.50%
Lodi Boro 51.93% 44.14% 59.72%
Lyndhurst Twp 87.01% 73.96% 100.06%
Mahwah Twp 66.77% 56.75% 76.79%
Maywood Boro 86.57% 73.58% 99.56%
Midland Park Boro 60.74% 51.63% 69.85%
Montvale Boro 72.47% 61.60% 83.34%
Moonachie Boro 96.87% 82.34% 111.40%
New Milford Boro 97.49% 82.87% 112.11%
North Arlington Boro 87.43% 74.32% 100.54%
Northvale Boro 60.79% 51.67% 69.91%
Norwood Boro 64.79% 55.07% 74.51%
Oakland Boro 88.79% 75.47% 102.11%
Old Tappan Boro 70.23% 59.70% 80.76%
Oradell Boro 89.20% 75.82% 102.58%
Palisades Park Boro 87.69% 74.54% 100.84%
Paramus Boro 93.30% 79.31% 107.30%
Park Ridge Boro 64.17% 54.54% 73.80%
Ramsey Boro 97.25% 82.66% 111.84%
Ridgefield Boro 99.07% 84.21% 113.93%
Ridgefield Park Village 79.53% 67.60% 91.46%
Ridgewood Village 60.52% 51.44% 69.60%
Riveredge Boro 92.90% 78.97% 106.84%
Rivervale Twp 72.96% 62.02% 83.90%
Rochelle Park Twp 63.89% 54.31% 73.47%
Rockleigh Boro · no corridor applied 111.94% 95.15% 128.73%
Rutherford Boro 66.39% 56.43% 76.35%
Saddle Brook Twp 81.45% 69.23% 93.67%
Saddle River Boro 87.56% 74.43% 100.69%
So Hackensack Twp 98.39% 83.63% 113.15%
Teaneck Twp 89.85% 76.37% 103.33%
Tenafly Boro 64.25% 54.61% 73.89%
Teterboro Boro 94.39% 80.23% 108.55%
Upper Saddle Riv Boro 59.81% 50.84% 68.78%
Waldwick Boro 87.60% 74.46% 100.74%
Wallington Boro 96.76% 82.25% 111.27%
Washington Twp 63.37% 53.86% 72.88%
Westwood Boro 85.75% 72.89% 98.61%
Wood Ridge Boro 63.02% 53.57% 72.47%
Woodcliff Lake Boro 86.39% 73.43% 99.35%
Wyckoff Twp 75.21% 63.93% 86.49%

Essex County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Belleville Twp · Tax Court amended 59.13% 50.26% 68.00%
Bloomfield Twp 63.56% 54.03% 73.09%
Caldwell Boro Twp 65.10% 55.34% 74.87%
Cedar Grove Twp · revaluation this year 68.20% 57.97% 78.43%
East Orange City · Tax Court amended 83.93% 71.34% 96.52%
Essex Fells Twp 72.77% 61.85% 83.69%
Fairfield Twp 70.55% 59.97% 81.13%
Glen Ridge Twp · revaluation this year 58.25% 49.51% 66.99%
Irvington Twp · Tax Court amended 97.75% 83.09% 112.41%
Livingston Twp 69.18% 58.80% 79.56%
Maplewood Twp · Tax Court amended 96.50% 82.03% 110.98%
Millburn Twp 70.02% 59.52% 80.52%
Montclair Twp 56.26% 47.82% 64.70%
Newark City · Tax Court amended 40.69% 34.59% 46.79%
North Caldwell Twp 71.25% 60.56% 81.94%
Nutley Twp 81.55% 69.32% 93.78%
Orange City Twp · Tax Court amended 80.04% 68.03% 92.05%
Roseland Boro 93.62% 79.58% 107.66%
South Orange Village Twp · Tax Court amended 89.35% 75.95% 102.75%
Verona Twp · revaluation this year 64.73% 55.02% 74.44%
West Caldwell Twp · Tax Court amended 65.84% 55.96% 75.72%
West Orange Twp 99.99% 84.99% 114.99%

Hudson County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Bayonne City 66.58% 56.59% 76.57%
East Newark Boro 53.27% 45.28% 61.26%
Guttenberg Town 51.82% 44.05% 59.59%
Harrison Town 69.39% 58.98% 79.80%
Hoboken City 58.28% 49.54% 67.02%
Jersey City 72.82% 61.90% 83.74%
Kearny Town 16.08% 13.67% 18.49%
North Bergen Twp · Tax Court amended 86.99% 73.94% 100.04%
Secaucus Town · Tax Court amended 37.10% 31.54% 42.67%
Union City 95.51% 81.18% 109.84%
Weehawken Twp 84.71% 72.00% 97.42%
West New York Town 19.06% 16.20% 21.92%

Hunterdon County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Alexandria Twp 64.98% 55.23% 74.73%
Bethlehem Twp · no corridor applied 107.41% 91.30% 123.52%
Bloomsbury Boro 64.10% 54.49% 73.72%
Califon Boro 70.76% 60.15% 81.37%
Clinton Town · reassessment this year 87.85% 74.67% 101.03%
Clinton Twp 69.60% 59.16% 80.04%
Delaware Twp 65.26% 55.47% 75.05%
East Amwell Twp 65.55% 55.72% 75.38%
Flemington Boro · reassessment this year · no corridor applied 100.39% 85.33% 115.45%
Franklin Twp 77.50% 65.88% 89.13%
Frenchtown Boro 91.00% 77.35% 104.65%
Glen Gardner Boro · no corridor applied 109.80% 93.33% 126.27%
Hampton Boro 67.80% 57.63% 77.97%
High Bridge Boro · reassessment this year 92.57% 78.68% 106.46%
Holland Twp 58.62% 49.83% 67.41%
Kingwood Twp · revaluation this year 65.44% 55.62% 75.26%
Lambertville City · reassessment this year 86.35% 73.40% 99.30%
Lebanon Boro 68.44% 58.17% 78.71%
Lebanon Twp 69.03% 58.68% 79.38%
Milford Boro · revaluation this year 64.09% 54.48% 73.70%
Raritan Twp 67.25% 57.16% 77.34%
Readington Twp 69.43% 59.02% 79.84%
Stockton Boro 91.24% 77.55% 104.93%
Tewksbury Twp 74.02% 62.92% 85.12%
Union Twp 86.66% 73.66% 99.66%
West Amwell Twp · reassessment this year · no corridor applied 102.56% 87.18% 117.94%

Middlesex County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Carteret Boro · Tax Court amended · no corridor applied 112.87% 95.94% 129.80%
Cranbury Twp 68.53% 58.25% 78.81%
Dunellen Boro · revaluation this year 97.02% 82.47% 111.57%
East Brunswick Twp 17.44% 14.82% 20.06%
Edison Twp 29.69% 25.24% 34.14%
Helmetta Boro 55.50% 47.18% 63.83%
Highland Park Boro 94.73% 80.52% 108.94%
Jamesburg Boro 32.72% 27.81% 37.63%
Metuchen Boro 29.54% 25.11% 33.97%
Middlesex Boro · revaluation this year 97.52% 82.89% 112.15%
Milltown Boro 32.99% 28.04% 37.94%
Monroe Twp 53.87% 45.79% 61.95%
New Brunswick City 69.61% 59.17% 80.05%
North Brunswick Twp 33.26% 28.27% 38.25%
Old Bridge Twp 28.33% 24.08% 32.58%
Perth Amboy City 61.56% 52.33% 70.79%
Piscataway Twp · revaluation this year 89.85% 76.37% 103.33%
Plainsboro Twp 75.88% 64.50% 87.26%
Sayreville Boro 30.87% 26.24% 35.50%
South Amboy City 58.97% 50.12% 67.82%
South Brunswick Twp 29.62% 25.18% 34.06%
South Plainfield Boro 26.58% 22.59% 30.57%
South River Boro 60.61% 51.52% 69.70%
Spotswood Boro 54.51% 46.33% 62.69%
Woodbridge Twp 17.28% 14.69% 19.87%

Morris County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Boonton Town 63.26% 53.77% 72.75%
Boonton Twp 69.03% 58.68% 79.38%
Butler Boro 87.00% 73.95% 100.05%
Chatham Boro 83.67% 71.12% 96.22%
Chatham Twp 66.41% 56.45% 76.37%
Chester Boro 89.88% 76.40% 103.36%
Chester Twp 73.50% 62.48% 84.53%
Denville Twp 65.68% 55.83% 75.53%
Dover Town 61.38% 52.17% 70.59%
East Hanover Twp 51.41% 43.70% 59.12%
Florham Park Boro 65.98% 56.08% 75.88%
Hanover Twp 69.39% 58.98% 79.80%
Harding Twp 74.57% 63.38% 85.76%
Jefferson Twp 69.72% 59.26% 80.18%
Kinnelon Boro 74.42% 63.26% 85.58%
Lincoln Park Boro 83.99% 71.39% 96.59%
Long Hill Twp 87.94% 74.75% 101.13%
Madison Boro 60.22% 51.19% 69.25%
Mendham Boro 71.81% 61.04% 82.58%
Mendham Twp 90.86% 77.23% 104.49%
Mine Hill Twp 60.72% 51.61% 69.83%
Montville Twp 68.53% 58.25% 78.81%
Morris Plains Boro 68.10% 57.89% 78.32%
Morris Twp 72.98% 62.03% 83.93%
Morristown Town 90.51% 76.93% 104.09%
Mount Arlington Boro 79.84% 67.86% 91.82%
Mount Olive Twp 66.12% 56.20% 76.04%
Mountain Lakes Boro 87.51% 74.38% 100.64%
Netcong Boro 69.53% 59.10% 79.96%
Parsippany Tr Hls Twp 66.60% 56.61% 76.59%
Pequannock Twp 93.49% 79.47% 107.51%
Randolph Twp 71.53% 60.80% 82.26%
Riverdale Boro 87.19% 74.11% 100.27%
Rockaway Boro 67.26% 57.17% 77.35%
Rockaway Twp 83.81% 71.24% 96.38%
Roxbury Twp 64.45% 54.78% 74.12%
Victory Gardens Boro 52.26% 44.42% 60.10%
Washington Twp 68.81% 58.49% 79.13%
Wharton Boro 92.46% 78.59% 106.33%

Passaic County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Bloomingdale Boro 53.59% 45.55% 61.63%
Clifton City 31.87% 27.09% 36.65%
Haledon Boro 45.99% 39.09% 52.89%
Hawthorne Boro 69.15% 58.78% 79.52%
Little Falls Twp 56.86% 48.33% 65.39%
North Haledon Boro 60.50% 51.43% 69.58%
Passaic City 45.62% 38.78% 52.46%
Paterson City · reassessment this year 41.41% 35.20% 47.62%
Pompton Lakes Boro 59.15% 50.28% 68.02%
Prospect Park Boro 40.50% 34.43% 46.58%
Ringwood Boro 57.24% 48.65% 65.83%
Totowa Boro 51.88% 44.10% 59.66%
Wanaque Boro 54.41% 46.25% 62.57%
Wayne Twp 35.82% 30.45% 41.19%
West Milford Twp 54.79% 46.57% 63.01%
Woodland Park Boro · Tax Court amended 64.98% 55.23% 74.73%

Somerset County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Bedminster Twp · reassessment this year 99.24% 84.35% 114.13%
Bernards Twp · reassessment this year 95.12% 80.85% 109.39%
Bernardsville Boro · reassessment this year 97.97% 83.27% 112.67%
Bound Brook Boro · reassessment this year 93.26% 79.27% 107.25%
Branchburg Twp · reassessment this year 90.80% 77.18% 104.42%
Bridgewater Twp · reassessment this year 86.72% 73.71% 99.73%
Far Hills Boro · reassessment this year · no corridor applied 105.38% 89.57% 121.19%
Franklin Twp · reassessment this year 96.38% 81.92% 110.84%
Green Brook Twp · reassessment this year 95.95% 81.56% 110.34%
Hillsborough Twp · reassessment this year 89.75% 76.29% 103.21%
Manville Boro · reassessment this year 98.30% 83.56% 113.05%
Millstone Boro · reassessment this year 89.15% 75.78% 102.52%
Montgomery Twp 56.24% 47.80% 64.68%
North Plainfield Boro 53.42% 45.41% 61.43%
Peapack Gladstone Boro · reassessment this year · no corridor applied 100.69% 85.59% 115.79%
Raritan Boro 61.39% 52.18% 70.60%
Rocky Hill Boro · reassessment this year 91.13% 77.46% 104.80%
So Bound Brook Boro 62.07% 52.76% 71.38%
Somerville Boro 58.80% 49.98% 67.62%
Warren Twp · reassessment this year · no corridor applied 100.91% 85.77% 116.05%
Watchung Boro · reassessment this year 96.16% 81.74% 110.58%

Sussex County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Andover Boro 70.38% 59.82% 80.94%
Andover Twp 55.68% 47.33% 64.03%
Branchville Boro 79.16% 67.29% 91.03%
Byram Twp 58.12% 49.40% 66.84%
Frankford Twp 61.83% 52.56% 71.10%
Franklin Boro 89.85% 76.37% 103.33%
Fredon Twp 65.57% 55.73% 75.41%
Green Twp · no corridor applied 103.55% 88.02% 119.08%
Hamburg Boro 52.31% 44.46% 60.16%
Hampton Twp 52.94% 45.00% 60.88%
Hardyston Twp 97.47% 82.85% 112.09%
Hopatcong Boro 88.29% 75.05% 101.53%
Lafayette Twp 62.30% 52.96% 71.65%
Montague Twp 58.41% 49.65% 67.17%
Newton Town 89.64% 76.19% 103.09%
Ogdensburg Boro 60.68% 51.58% 69.78%
Sandyston Twp 56.50% 48.03% 64.98%
Sparta Twp 59.82% 50.85% 68.79%
Stanhope Boro 55.34% 47.04% 63.64%
Stillwater Twp 55.42% 47.11% 63.73%
Sussex Boro 58.73% 49.92% 67.54%
Vernon Twp 91.94% 78.15% 105.73%
Walpack Twp 93.56% 79.53% 107.59%
Wantage Twp 64.60% 54.91% 74.29%

Union County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Berkeley Heights Twp 35.73% 30.37% 41.09%
Clark Twp 80.01% 68.01% 92.01%
Cranford Twp 26.04% 22.13% 29.95%
Elizabeth City 92.76% 78.85% 106.67%
Fanwood Boro 65.63% 55.79% 75.47%
Garwood Boro 72.59% 61.70% 83.48%
Hillside Twp 24.33% 20.68% 27.98%
Kenilworth Boro 28.83% 24.51% 33.15%
Linden City 24.64% 20.94% 28.34%
Mountainside Boro · Tax Court amended 71.29% 60.60% 81.98%
New Providence Boro 34.32% 29.17% 39.47%
Plainfield City 24.85% 21.12% 28.58%
Rahway City · Tax Court amended 27.88% 23.70% 32.06%
Roselle Boro 28.06% 23.85% 32.27%
Roselle Park Boro 51.87% 44.09% 59.65%
Scotch Plains Twp 15.65% 13.30% 18.00%
Springfield Twp · Tax Court amended 82.53% 70.15% 94.91%
Summit City 30.81% 26.19% 35.43%
Union Twp 8.89% 7.56% 10.22%
Westfield Town 72.48% 61.61% 83.35%
Winfield Twp · no corridor applied 100.10% 85.09% 115.12%

Warren County

Municipality Average ratio Lower limit Upper limit
Allamuchy Twp 54.04% 45.93% 62.15%
Alpha Boro 63.67% 54.12% 73.22%
Belvidere Town 76.80% 65.28% 88.32%
Blairstown Twp 63.47% 53.95% 72.99%
Franklin Twp 66.51% 56.53% 76.49%
Frelinghuysen Twp 72.20% 61.37% 83.03%
Greenwich Twp 57.37% 48.76% 65.98%
Hackettstown Town 74.38% 63.22% 85.54%
Hardwick Twp 52.97% 45.02% 60.92%
Harmony Twp 58.37% 49.61% 67.13%
Hope Twp 59.84% 50.86% 68.82%
Independence Twp 59.23% 50.35% 68.11%
Knowlton Twp 50.27% 42.73% 57.81%
Liberty Twp 57.50% 48.88% 66.13%
Lopatcong Twp 68.98% 58.63% 79.33%
Mansfield Twp 59.32% 50.42% 68.22%
Oxford Twp 50.85% 43.22% 58.48%
Phillipsburg Town 52.96% 45.02% 60.90%
Pohatcong Twp 57.51% 48.88% 66.14%
Washington Boro 46.82% 39.80% 53.84%
Washington Twp 59.38% 50.47% 68.29%
White Twp 61.82% 52.55% 71.09%

Ratios above 100% are treated as 100% by the certification's own footnote: where the average ratio exceeds 100%, the assessment is reduced to true value with no corridor applied. Ratios are re-promulgated every October 1 — check the vintage before relying on any published table, this one included.

FAQ

Questions about Chapter 123

What is the Chapter 123 ratio?

Each year the Director of the Division of Taxation publishes an average ratio for every New Jersey municipality, measuring how far assessments in that town have drifted from market value. A ratio of 74.02% means assessments there run at roughly 74% of true value. It is promulgated on October 1 of the pre-tax year and is the figure a county tax board applies to your appeal.

What is the Common Level Range?

The average ratio plus or minus 15% — 15% of the ratio, not 15 percentage points. For a ratio of 74.02%, the range runs from 62.92% to 85.12%. Divide your assessment by what the property is genuinely worth: above the upper limit and the assessment is reduced, inside the range nothing changes, below the lower limit and the board increases it.

Can a tax appeal actually raise my assessment?

Yes. If the evidence puts your assessment-to-value ratio below the lower limit of the Common Level Range, the county board is required to increase the assessment to true value multiplied by the average ratio. It is not a discretionary penalty and it is not rare in towns where assessments have fallen well behind the market. Screening before you file is the only way to know which side of the corridor you are on.

Why does my town show no ratio?

Because Chapter 123 does not apply there this year. In a year when a municipality implements a revaluation or reassessment, assessments are presumed to sit at 100% of true value, so there is no corridor to test against and the argument is about the value itself. The filing deadline also moves to May 1.

Is this an appraisal?

No. It is arithmetic on two numbers you supply and one the State publishes. The value you enter is your own estimate, and everything downstream of it follows from that estimate rather than from any analysis of your property. A county board will not accept it, and it is not legal or tax advice. What it can do is tell you whether commissioning an appraisal is worth your money this year.

How current are these ratios?

These are the certified figures for tax year 2026, originally promulgated October 1 of the pre-tax year and including amendments made by the New Jersey Tax Court. They were retrieved from the Division of Taxation on 2026-07-31. Ratios change every October, so confirm the vintage before relying on any published table, including this one.

Next step

Tell us the purpose and the deadline

Those two things determine the effective date, the fee, and the turnaround. If an appraisal is not the right instrument for what you need, you will hear that first.