How do I file a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition?
SCAR stands for“Small Claims Assessment Review” and refers to the process whichallows owner-occupants of residential property to file a court case to challenge a tax assessment. This can only be done after a property tax assessment grievance has been turned down by the local Board of Assessment review. If you have not already filed with a local Board of Assessment Review, please check with your local tax assessor to learn the dates by which your grievance must be filed on the local level.
The SCAR process is an alternative appeal process for residential property to a formal Tax Certiorari proceeding and provides for review before a Hearing Officer in an informal setting. Your SCAR petition must be filed within 30 days of the filing of the final assessment roll in your community. Each community may have a different assessment roll date, so please be sure to confirm the date with the municipality in which the property is located. If the petition is filed more than 30 days after the filing of the assessment roll, your petition may be dismissed.
- Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR)
- After filing your Petition in NYSCEF
- What to do next
- Please Note
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Complete and sign a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition
Complete the online application and then log into NYSCEF using your User ID and Password.
In NYSCEF, go to “Multi-PDF Upload”
• Select “Putnam County Supreme Court” as the court.
• Select “Other Real Property-SCAR” as the case type.
• Input party names. The homeowner is the Plaintiff/Petitioner. The municipality in which the taxes are being grieved istheDefendant/Respondent, which will be typed into the “Business/Organization Name” field. Pleaseclick herefor a complete list of each municipality and how they should entered in this field.
• Select “SCAR Petition” as the commencement document and attach the pdf of the petition that you have filled out and signed.
• You will pay your $30.00 filing fee online via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). -
After filing your Petition in NYSCEF
- County Clerk staff will review your Petition to ensure that it is complete and assign your Petition an Index Number. You will receive an e-mail notification that your Index Number has been assigned (generally within a few hours after submission during business hours) and you will be able to access a File Stamped copy of your SCAR Petition immediately in NYSCEF.
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What to do next
Withinten daysafter filing your Petition in the NYSCEF website, you must serve stamped copies of your SCAR petition on:
(1) The Clerk of the school district where the property is located (by regular mail). Pleaseclick here for a complete list of each school district;
(2) The Commissioner of Finance at 40 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel, New York 10512 (by regular mail)PLEASE NOTE-IF YOU ARE ELECTRONICALLY FILING YOUR SCAR PETITION THIS STEP IS NOT NECESSARY!!;
(3) The Village Clerk if the property is situated in a Village (by regular mail) and;
(4)The Assessor or the Board of Assessment of the municipality in which the property is located (by certified mail, return receipt requested or by personal delivery). Pleaseclick here for a complete list of each municipality.PLEASE NOTE-IF YOU ARE ELECTRONICALLY FILING YOUR SCAR PETITION AND THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF CARMEL, THIS STEP IS NOT NECESSARY!!
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Please Note
If you wish to opt-out of e-filing you must deliver your Small Claims Assessment (SCAR) Petition to the County Clerk’s Office in hardcopy,in quadruplicate, with the required $30.00 fee. Upon return of a stamped hard copy you will follow the service instructions above.
- First Steps
- In NYSCEF, go to “Multi-PDF Upload”
- After filing your Petition in NYSCEF
- What to do next
- Please Note
-
First Steps
Ensure that you have a complete and fully executedSmall Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Petition for each homeowner/property.
Complete the application for yourNYSCEF Filing Agent user ID
You may fax your completed form to the E-filing resource center at (212) 401-9146. You may also e-mail your completed application to the E-filing resource center at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Once the application process is complete and you have obtained your NYSCEF Filing Agent ID you may proceed to file the petitions. There may be a 24-48 hour processing period.
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In NYSCEF, go to “Multi-PDF Upload”
- Select “Putnam County Supreme Court” as the court.
- Select “Other Real Property-SCAR” as the case type.
- Input party names. The homeowner is the Plaintiff/Petitioner. The municipality in which the taxes are being grieved istheDefendant/Respondent, which will be typed into the “Business/Organization Name” field. Pleaseclick here for a complete list of each municipality and how they should be entered in this field.
- Select “SCAR Petition” as the commencement document and attach the pdf of the petition that you have filled out and signed.
- You have the option to enter multiple actions by using this method.
- You will pay your $30.00 filing fee online via credit card foreachpetition filed (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).
-
After filing your Petition in NYSCEF
- County Clerk staff will review your Petition(s) to ensure that they are complete and assign your Petitions Index Numbers. You will receive an e-mail notification that your Index Number has been assigned (generally within a few hours after submission during business hours) and you will be able to access a File Stamped copy of your SCAR Petition immediately in NYSCEF.
-
What to do next
Withinten daysafter filing your Petition in the NYSCEF website, you must serve stamped copies of your SCAR petition on:
(1) The Clerk of the school district where the property is located (by regular mail). Pleaseclick here for a complete list of each school district;
(2) The Commissioner of Finance at 40 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel, New York 10512 (by regular mail)PLEASE NOTE-IF YOU ARE ELECTRONICALLY FILING YOUR SCAR PETITION THIS STEP IS NOT NECESSARY!!;
(3) The Village Clerk if the property is situated in a Village (by regular mail) and;
(4)The Assessor or the Board of Assessment of the municipality in which the property is located (by certified mail, return receipt requested or by personal delivery). Pleaseclick here for a complete list of each municipality.PLEASE NOTE-IF YOU ARE ELECTRONICALLY FILING YOUR SCAR PETITION AND THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF CARMEL, THIS STEP IS NOT NECESSARY!!
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Please Note
If you are eligible to opt-out of e-filing pursuant to Section 202.5-bb of the Uniform Rules for the Trial Courts, please complete theNotice of opt outform as well as theNotice of Hard Copy Submissionand deliver your Small Claims Assessment (SCAR) Petition to the County Clerk’s Office in hardcopy,in quadruplicate, with the required $30.00 fee. Upon return of a stamped hard copy you will follow the service instructions above.
