Assessor

Staff

Your Tax Bill

Hillsborough Township mails out third-quarter estimated tax bills each July. This estimated bill reflects the current year's assessed value of your property. When calculating your total tax obligation, do not simply multiply the third-quarter amount by four, as this will not give an accurate estimate of your annual taxes. Any adjustments to your total yearly taxes are reflected in the third and fourth quarter bills. Please keep in mind that assessed property values may increase, decrease or remain the same from year to year based on changes in the real estate market. Since 2018, property market values have steadily increased which has significantly increased assessed values. The tax rate per $100 of assessed value has declined from $2.419 in 2018 to $2.143 in 2024 due to market trends and budgets increasing slightly resulting in minimal increases. The overall tax rate typically does not increase while on an annual reassessment program unless budgets have increased.

Tax Allocation Note: It is important for property owners to understand how their tax dollars are distributed. For the 2025 tax year, only 14% of your tax bill funds municipal services provided by the Township. An additional 16% supports Somerset County services, 3% funds the local Fire District, and 1% is allocated to Open Space. The largest portion - a significant 66% - is directed to the Board of Education. As such, any substantial increases in your property tax bill are primarily driven by Board of Education budgetary needs and decisions, not by the municipal government.

Hillsborough Township participates in an annual Reassessment Program to ensure that all properties are assessed fairly and equitably in relation to their "true market value." A common misconception is that a property's value only changes after an inspection; in reality, property assessments are adjusted each year based on overall market trends and will be reflected in the following year's assessment.

There are several tax deductions and State rebate programs available. We encourage you to visit the Assessor's webpage or contact the office to learn whether you may qualify.

The Assessor’s office is committed to distributing the tax burden fairly and equitably for the property owners of Hillsborough Township. The Assessor and staff strive to provide excellence in public service in a courteous, timely, and professional manner, while educating the public of the overall assessment process, the annual reassessment program, and property tax relief programs. 

The Tax Assessor is responsible to the property owners of Hillsborough Township for the fair assessment of all property which results in the overall goal of distributing the tax burden equitably throughout the district. The primary duty is to “determine the full and fair value of each parcel of real property situated within the taxing district as such prices as, in her/his judgment, it will sell for at a fair and bona fide sale by contract” (N.J.S.A. 54:4‐23). The Assessor works on behalf of Hillsborough Township under the direction and supervision of the New Jersey Division of Taxation and the Somerset County Board of Taxation. The Assessor is not involved with the total amount of tax collected or the municipal budget. The tax rate for each municipality is calculated by the Somerset County Board of Taxation. The sum of the budget requirements needed each year, by all government entities (Municipal, County, and the Board of Education) divided by the total ratables for the district determines what is called the tax rate. With changes in the budget, tax rates, and assessments all affecting the tax you pay, the key to your total yearly taxes due is based upon the amount to be raised by taxation to cover the cost of services from all government entities.