Assessor: Kimberly Smith

Hours:

Monday afternoon by appointment
Wednesday 8:00AM – 12:00 PM Assessor

Location: Downstairs on right, Town Hall

Address:
PO Box 459
Canaan, NY 12029

E-mail: assessor@canaannewyork.org

Phone: (518) 781-3433 

TAXES – The Assessor does not determine tax rates or collect taxes. For information regarding TAXES please call the TAX COLLECTOR. You can view or print your tax bill by following this LINK.

Canaan Town and County Tax Collector (January Bills) – 518-781-3144
Town and County Bills – http://egov.basny.com/Canaan/
New Lebanon School Tax Collector (September Bills) – 518-794-9016
New Lebanon School Tax Bills – http://tax.neric.org/Search.aspx?district=104801
Chatham School Tax Bills (September Bills) – (518) 392-1508
Chatham School Tax Bills – http://infotaxonline.com/FindProperty.aspx

LINKS

Town of Canaan Assessment Rolls

NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS)

Columbia County NY Real Property

Assessment & Inventory data

Deeds and Public Records

Tax Bills

Tax Foreclosure Sales  

GRIEVANCE DAY INFORMATION

 JUNE 3rd 2025

Between 4pm – 8 pm. 

Grievance will be held in person in the meeting room at the Town Hall.

You may appear in person before the Board of Assessment Review.
However, you do not need to be present, a written summary of your complaint is always suggested.

No appointment is needed. First come first serve. 

Grievance forms should be submitted at least 3 days prior to Grievance Day to allow the Assessor time to review and avoid an adjournment. However, all forms MUST be received (NOT POSTMARKED) by 8pm on Grievance Day.

A physical copy of your forms may be dropped off at the Town Hall or mailed. NO EMAILED FORMS.

Grievances are heard based on VALUE complaints. TAX complaints are not heard. If you are filing a grievance you must state your estimate of Full Value. You can and should supply additional information that supports your determination of value. This is usually done by providing recent sales up to the valuation date.

What is market value?

Market value is how much a home would sell for under normal conditions.  This excludes sales where the buyer or seller is under pressure to act, perhaps due to career relocation, death of a family member, or divorce.

HELPFUL HINTS WHEN FILING A GRIEVANCE
Only one parcel per form
Answer all pertinent questions on the form
Provide a complete description of the property: Style, lot size, bathrooms, condition, barns, garages, etc.
Furnish photos of the subject property interior and exterior
You must state your estimate of Full Value on line 7
You can and should supply additional information that supports your determination of value.

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EXEMPTIONS

RENEWALS are sent the first week in December.

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN MARCH 1.  

STAR PROGRAM

STAR &Low Income Senior FLOW CHART

Enhanced Star Renewals- The Tax Department will determine income eligibility using the Social Security numbers. If additional information is needed, the department will contact the property owner directly.

REGISTER FOR STAR

Property owners without access to a computer can register by phone weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm (518-457-2036) or www.tax.ny.gov.

Exemption Forms

  • Agricultural Assessment Exemption: RP-305 (new Ag exemptions),  RP-305-R (renewals) –
  • Low Income Disabled Exemption:RP-459-c (new applicants),  RP-459-C-Rnw (renewals)
    • This provides for an exemption in the amount of between 5% and 50% depending on Income.
    • The current Income Limit for the Town and County is between $34,000 for a 50% exemption and $42,399 for a 5% exemption.
    • Income also includes non taxable Social Security. We must include income from all owners and their Spouses.
  • Low Income Senior Exemption: RP-467 (new applicants), RP-467-Rnw (for renewals)
    • This provides for an exemption in the amount of between 5% and 50% depending on Income.
    • The current Income Limit for the Town and County is between $34,000 for a 50% exemption and $42,399 for a 5% exemption.
      • Income also includes non taxable Social Security. We must include income from all owners and their Spouses.
      • You MUST include a copy of your prior year Federal Tax Return. If you do not file a return you MUST fill out an Income Worksheet.
  •  Alternative Veteran’s Exemption: (RP-458-a)
  • Cold War Veteran’s Exemption (RP-458-b)
  • Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance workers – (RP-466-a)
  • Non Profit Exemptions: See this Page of the Assessor’s Manual for details and a list of necessary forms for new applicants and for renewals.
  • Forest exemptions

For exemption renewals, applicants will be mailed or a renewal form around December 1st. If you do not receive a form by the end of December, please contact the Assessor’s office to check the status of your exemption.

What Is the Property Tax?

The real property tax is a tax based on the value of real property. Counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and special districts each raise money through the real property tax. The money funds schools, pays for police and fire protection, maintains roads, and funds other municipal services enjoyed by residents.

What Determines the Amount of a Property Tax Bill?

The amount of a particular property’s tax bill is determined by two things: the property’s taxable assessment and the tax rates of the taxing jurisdictions in which the property is located. The tax rate is determined by the amount of the tax levy to be raised from all, or part, of an assessing unit, and the unit’s taxable assessed value. The assessment is determined by the assessor and is based on the value of the property less any applicable property tax exemptions.

What Determines the Tax Rate?

The tax rate is determined by the amount of the tax levy. There are several steps involved in determining the tax levy. First, the taxing jurisdiction ( a school district, town, county, etc.) develops and adopts a budget. Revenue from all sources other than the property tax (State aid, sales tax revenue, user fees, etc.) is determined. These revenues are subtracted from the original budget and the remainder becomes the tax levy. It is the amount of the tax levy that is raised through the property tax.