FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the "Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief" program and how do I qualify?
The Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief bill became law on July 1, 2002. This is a State program administered by the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA). For more information on this program you can click here. or you can call the DRA at 603-271-6000. Please remember that this program is NOT run by the City of Rochester. This program is run by the State so it is important that you talk to the State directly about any questions you may have.
What types of exemptions or credits are available to taxpayers?
Elderly Exemption, Veterans Credit, Blind Exemption, Disabled Exemption & Improvements to Assist Persons With Disabilities. Contact the Assessing Department for details.
When is the deadline for applying for exemptions and tax credits?
All exemptions and tax Credit applications must be filed by April 15th preceding the setting of the tax rate. No applications will be considered after the tax rate is set for the year.
How do I apply for a City or state abatement request?
When is the appropriate time to request an abatement from the City or Board of Tax and Land Appeals/Superior Court?
Step one: The taxpayer must file the abatement application with the municipality by March 1, following final tax liability (December bill).
Step two: The municipality has until July 1 following the notice of final tax liability to deny or grant the abatement application.
Step Three: The taxpayer must file an appeal with the Board of Tax and Land Appeals or Superior Court after receiving the municipality's decision, but no later than September 1 following the notice of final tax.
When does the tax year begin and end?
It begins April 1 and ends March 31 following the notice of final tax bill.
What is the tax rate and equalization for the city?
The 2007 tax rate is $18.81. The 2008 tax rate will be set in October of 2008. The equalization rate for 2007 is 96.5% with a 9.7% Coefficient of Dispersion. The state will determine the 2008 equalization rate in March of 2009.
Why did the Assessing Department leave a door hanger at my property?
The following letters written on the door hanger explain the reason for the Assessing Department's inspection.
"Q" = Quartile Program - The Department physically inspects one fifth of the properties within the City every year. Currently we are working in your neighborhood.
"P" = Permit - A building permit was issued for your property within the past year.
"F" = Customer Follow-up - We are responding to your request to ascertain the accuracy of our assessment of your property.
"S" = Questions resulting from a recent sale.
"C" = Change - Recently discovered evidence indicates that the information we have pertaining to your property may need to be changed.
How can I review my assessment?
Two computers are available on the Assessing Department counter for public viewing of current and up-to-date property records. The assessing staff will assist with any questions you have regarding the assessing information.
You can also look at your Property Assessment Records on-line!
**Use of the Patriot Properties WebPro database requires acceptance of "cookies". If you do not wish to accept cookies on your personal computer you may use computers at the Rochester Library, purchase a CD-ROM containing the database, or visit the Assessors office in person to obtain this data** |
We do regularly update this website, but, for those seeking time-sensitive material, we recommend that you visit our office where field cards containing property-assessing data may be purchased for $2.00 per card. No field card information is available over the telephone. A digital file on a CD-ROM containing current assessing data may be purchased at our office for $25.00 per copy. A list of items contained in this file and the types of file formats available may be obtained at our office or by calling us at (603) 332-5109.
Please note that if you are looking up a property by "Parcel", you must enter your parcel number EXACTLY as it is show on your tax bill. All parcel numbers have three sets of four numbers with a dash between the sets. A common parcel number might look like 0305-0027-0000 or 0322-0127-0015. In every case you MUST enter all 12 numbers and the two dashes.
To look up information on the WEB please click here.
How do I look up a parcel on a city Tax Map?
Parcels in the City of Rochester are designated by a Parcel ID that looks like
0120-0408-0000
The first series of numbers (0120) designates the Map, the second (0408) designates the parcel, and the third is used in the case of more than one unit on a parcel (like condominiums).
If you know the Parcel ID for the property in question, you can pull up the tax map (number 120 in the Parcel ID shown above) and then look for the parcel. You will find a listing of the city's tax maps by clicking here.
If you don't know the Parcel ID, you can find it by following the following steps:
This will take you to the database for our tax records. (Please note that Netscape and Internet Explorer operate differently and may show this location in slightly different ways. Internet Explorer seems to work the best.)
By Name: You can also search by a property owner's LAST name. You can enter various amounts of information and get different results. If you know the exact spelling of the owner's LAST name, that will generate the fewest results. If you are not sure of the spelling, entering just the first three or four letters of the LAST name may bring up the correct listing. (It works better if you do not enter information in the FIRST name box.)
Once you have found the correct listing, the column on the left contains the Parcel ID. If you open the property card for additional information, the Parcel ID is located in the upper right hand corner.
Now that you know the Parcel ID, the Tax Map number is included in the first set of numbers. 0103 designates Tax Map 103; 0217 designates Tax Map 217, etc. You will find a listing of the city's tax maps by clicking here.
When is the tax rate set?
The New Hampshire Department Of Revenue typically sets the tax rate late fall.
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