Welcome new assessors and county property tax directors—Start here

This quick reference guide will help new assessors and county directors get started. Congratulations and welcome aboard!

ORPTS Resources

The Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) offers assistance to assessors and county directors through its headquarters in Albany and regional offices in Batavia, White Plains, Syracuse, and Albany. ORPTS also has a satellite office in Ray Brook.

The ORPTS customer service teams are your first line of assistance with all aspects of assessment administration.

ORPTS’s Hotline for Assessors and County Property Tax Directors is available to provide you with assistance relating to STAR credits and property tax relief credits. You can reach the Hotline weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The telephone number is for your use only, and published each week in our Assessment Community Weekly e-newsletter.

Basic certification

Assessors (elected and appointed) and county directors are required to complete a basic certification training program.

Assessors must complete the Basic Certification Training Program within three years of beginning an initial term of office. Visit: Certification requirements.

Training

The Educational Services unit at the Office of Real Property Tax Services administers the New York State Assessment Certification Program for assessors and county directors. Assessment training is also available and encouraged for county and local assessment staff. Visit: Training.

Online Assessment Community: Secure access for assessors, county directors and staff

The Online Assessment Community is a secure web application that contains important data and reports pertaining to your municipality, including:

• sales reports
• STAR reports
• taxable State owned-land reports

Before requesting access to the Online Assessment Community, you must submit a copy of your official appointment notice to any of the following:

Mail:

NYS TAX DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF REAL PROPERTY TAX SERVICES
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES UNIT
ATT: COLLEEN SHEEHAN, BLDG. 8A
WA HARRIMAN STATE CAMPUS
ALBANY, NY 12227-0801

Email: orpts.edservices@tax.ny.gov

Fax: 518-435-8628

After submitting your appointment notice, visit the Online Assessment Community landing page for information on how to access the secure site or how to request a new account.

Stay informed on our website

We are continually updating the property tax content on our website to keep you informed.

Bookmark Property tax and assessment administration for your one-stop-shop to content for assessors and directors.

We have a separate area on our website for Property owners, which includes:

• information about assessments and property taxes
• property tax exemptions
• property tax credits
• grievance process