Assessor
 Tax Assessing Department

Tax Assessor,  Raquel Serrano,  CTA  
rserrano@southplainfieldnj.com 
Telephone (908)  226-7622 Fax 908 226 7612
Office hours are  8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

Mission Statement

Our mission is to administer the Borough of South Plainfield’s Tax Assessor’s Office in a manner that assures public confidence in our accuracy, unbiased and objectivity in providing fair and equitable valuation of all real property. The State of New Jersey constitution, Statutes, administrative Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices will guide our mission.

Goals & Objectives

  • Provide assistance, service, and resources to all taxpayers and citizens concerning the valuation and administration of the property tax.
  • Manage all assessment functions and activities pertaining to the Borough of South Plainfield’s Tax Assessor's Office.
  • Discover, list, classify, and value all taxable real property within the Borough of South Plainfield.
  • Certifies to the Middlesex County Board of Taxation the total valuation for assessment of all taxable property located within the territorial limits of the Borough.
  • Complete the assessment of all taxable property within the Borough (including added assessments, omitted assessments, and partial assessments as required).
  • Maintain accurate, legible and complete tax maps identifying the parcels of land in the Borough.
  • Defend all assessed values challenged.

Chapter 75 Postcards

Postcards are mailed to property owners the end of January. This statutory requirement is intended to inform property owners of their assessment for the current year.  If a property owner does not agree with their assessment, they may confer with the Tax Assessor or file an appeal.  The appeal deadline is April 1 st . anyone wishing to appeal their assessment may obtain an appeal form from the Middlesex County Board of Taxation, 75 Bayard St., New Brunswick, NJ 08903

Tax Appeal Forms may be accessed at the following link:

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/lpt/petappl.pdf

2023 General Tax Rate $6.678

2023 Equalization Ratio 32.59%

Property Tax Relief Programs

100  % Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouses  100% totally disabled war veterans or their unmarried surviving spouses are granted a full property tax exemption on the house in which they reside. To qualify you must be an honorably discharged disabled veteran who had active service in time of war in the US Armed Forces, or the unmarried surviving of a disabled veteran.  Unmarried surviving spouses of services persons who died in active service in time of war also qualify.  Wartime service connected disability must be certified by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The disabled veteran or surviving spouse must be the full owner and permanent resident in the dwelling and be a legal resident of New Jersey (in the case of surviving spouses, the deceased spouse must also have been a legal resident of New Jersey).  Applications must be filed with the municipal tax assessor.  

Senior Citizen/Disabled Persons/Surviving Spouse  - An annual $250 deduction from property taxes is provided for the dwelling of a qualified senior citizen, disabled person or their surviving spouse. To qualify you must be age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled individual or the unmarried surviving spouse, age 55 or more of such person . You must be a legal resident of New Jersey, you must own and reside in the dwelling for which the deduction is requested and your income can not exceed $10,000 during the year for which the deduction is claimed , excluding with restrictions, monies received from social security, federal and state pension, disability and retirement programs. Applications must be filed with the municipal tax assessor. Must submit application , Supplemental Income Form, Federal Income Tax Form (for Senior Citizen/Surviving Spouse) and or Social Security Award letter/Doctor's Certificaiton (Disabled Person)    

Veteran's Tax Deduction  - Veterans are eligible for a $250.00 property tax deduction. Veterans must meet the following requirements as of October 1st of the pretax year:

  1. Honorably discharged with active wartime service in the U.S. Armed Forces (copy of DD214 required).
  2. Own property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed.
  3. Be a citizen and legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.

Surviving Spouse of a Veteran  The Surviving Spouse of a Veteran  must meet the following requirements as of October 1st of the pretax year:

  • Document that the deceased veteran or service person was a citizen Honorably discharged with active wartime service in the U.S. Armed Forces (copy of DD214 required).
  • Own property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed.
  1. Be a citizen and legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey resident of New Jersey at death.
  2. Veteran had active wartime service in the United Stated Armed Forces and was honorable discharged or who died on active wartime duty.
  3. Surviving Spouse cannot have remarried.
  4. Be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.
  5. Own the property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed.

CLICK ON FORMS BELOW TO COMPLETE

  • Senior Citizen deduction ($250) annual
  • Surviving Spouse deduction ($250) annual
  • Disabled Persons deduction ($250) annual
  • 100% Disabled Veteran deduction (totally exempt from property taxes)
  • Veteran’s deduction ($250) annual
  • Veteran’s Widow deduction ($250) annual
  • Tax Abatement 5-year