Guide · Sources reviewed September 20, 2026

How much does a Nassau County tax grievance cost?

The County charges nothing to file with ARC; SCAR has a separate $30 fee. Representatives charge a percentage of savings, a flat fee, or a hybrid, so read how and when any fee is owed before signing.

What the County charges

An appeal to the Assessment Review Commission costs nothing to file. Nassau County’s instructions state that there is no fee and that a homeowner is not required to hire an attorney; the County’s FAQ describes the same process. If ARC leaves your assessment unchanged and you go on to Small Claims Assessment Review, the County lists a $30 filing fee for that petition.

Everything beyond those two figures is a private arrangement between you and a representative. The County neither sets nor collects those fees, so the amount depends entirely on what you sign.

The three ways representatives charge

Firms that file grievances on homeowners’ behalf generally use one of three structures. The names vary; the mechanics do not.

• A percentage of first-year savings. You pay a share of the reduction in your first year’s tax bill. Many such agreements charge nothing if there is no reduction, but that is a term to confirm rather than assume. The fee grows with the savings, so the larger your reduction, the more you pay.
• A flat fee. You pay one fixed amount regardless of the result. The fee is known in advance and does not change with the size of the reduction, which also means it is owed even if the savings are small.
• A hybrid. A smaller fixed charge plus a smaller percentage, or a percentage with a minimum or a cap. These need the most careful reading, because the effective cost depends on which part applies to your outcome.

None of these is automatically the right choice. Which one costs less depends on the reduction you actually receive, which nobody knows before ARC decides.

Flat fee and percentage fee, side by side

Move the first slider to your annual tax bill and the second to a hypothetical percentage. The comparison holds the reduction fixed at 10% for both columns so that only the fee changes. Percentage fees vary between firms; the slider’s range is an illustration, not a survey of the market.

Questions to ask before you sign any agreement

Whatever the structure, the agreement decides what you owe. Before signing, find the answers to these questions in the document itself, and ask the representative to point to the clause if you cannot find it:

• How is the fee calculated? A percentage of what, exactly? The first year’s savings, the reduction in assessed value, or something else? Does “savings” include or exclude exemptions such as STAR?
• When is it owed? At signing, when ARC decides, or when the lower bill arrives? What happens if the reduction is later reversed?
• Does it apply if the reduction comes from SCAR? If ARC leaves the assessment unchanged and the reduction comes only after a court petition, is that step included, billed separately, or not covered?
• Does it renew each year? Some agreements authorize the representative to file again in future years unless you cancel. Check whether the fee applies to every year they file.
• How do you cancel? Is notice required, by when, and in what form? Is there a charge for cancelling after a filing has been made?

These are questions to put to any representative, including us. This page is general information, not legal advice; if an agreement is unclear, ask a lawyer to read it.

Already signed with a firm?

Some agreements cover a single year; others continue from year to year until you cancel. Before you file yourself or sign with someone else, read your agreement for how long it lasts and how to end it, and ask the firm which assessment years it covers and whether it has already filed for this one. Two applications for the same year cause confusion, and a fee can still be owed under the old agreement. Keep the firm’s answer in writing.

What Good Grieves charges

Good Grieves charges a flat $200 service fee and takes no percentage of your tax savings. If there is no reduction, you pay nothing. Savings are not guaranteed: ARC may leave your assessment unchanged, and a lower assessment does not fix your bill on its own, because tax rates can change. If you would rather file on your own, the County’s instructions are linked above and our process guide walks through each step.