Check what you owe
Your town's tax collector
Each of the 33 municipalities in Ocean County bills and collects its own property taxes and holds its own tax sale. Your tax collector's contact details are on your tax bill and your town's website.
Jersey Shore · County seat: Toms River
Behind on property taxes in Ocean County?
New Jersey Tax Relief helps Ocean County homeowners who have fallen behind on property taxes. Depending on your situation, we can pay the delinquent taxes or buy the property as-is, so you can avoid losing it to tax foreclosure.
Talk to a real person: 813-344-1184
Who handles property taxes in Ocean County
In New Jersey, your town collects your property taxes, not the county. Start with your town's tax collector for a current balance. The county tax board and the courts come in for appeals and foreclosures.
Assessments and appeals
Ocean County Board of Taxation
Oversees property assessments in Ocean County and hears tax appeals. If your assessment looks too high, an appeal here can lower future bills, but it doesn't erase taxes already owed.
Tax foreclosure
Ocean Vicinage
Tax foreclosures are lawsuits in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division. If you're served with foreclosure papers for a Ocean County property, act right away. Deadlines in the notice matter.
- The Ocean County Board of Taxation's website offers an online tax list search and property sales search, and posts printable tax appeal forms. Source
Links go to official government websites. New Jersey Tax Relief is a private company, not a government agency, and isn't affiliated with any municipality, county, or court.
How unpaid taxes lead to foreclosure in Ocean County
Every New Jersey town follows the same state law, the Tax Sale Law (N.J.S.A. 54:5). The process takes time, so the sooner you act, the more options you usually have.
Not sure where you are in the process? Call us at 813-344-1184 and we'll help you look it up.
Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, Nov 1
Quarterly taxes come due
Your town's tax collector bills property taxes in four quarterly installments. Some towns allow a grace period of up to 10 days.
Once a payment is late
Interest starts adding up
Towns can charge up to 8% a year on the first $1,500 owed and up to 18% on the rest, plus a year-end penalty of up to 6% if more than $10,000 is delinquent.
At the town's tax sale
A tax sale certificate is sold
Each town holds a tax sale at least once a year, after four weeks of public notice. An investor, or the town itself, buys a certificate for what's owed. It's a lien, not ownership, but the amount to pay it off keeps growing.
2 years later, or 6 months if the town holds it
A tax foreclosure can be filed
The certificate holder can sue in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, to end your right to redeem. Cases for Ocean County properties fall under the Ocean Vicinage.
Before final judgment
Your last chance to act
Until the court enters final judgment, you can generally still pay off the certificate through your tax collector, or demand in writing a sheriff's sale so you can claim your leftover equity. After final judgment, the certificate holder can take the property.
Towns we serve in Ocean County
We work with owners of homes, condos, rentals, inherited properties, and land in every Ocean County municipality:
- Barnegat Light
- Barnegat Township
- Bay Head
- Beach Haven
- Beachwood
- Berkeley Township
- Brick Township
- Eagleswood Township
- Harvey Cedars
- Island Heights
- Jackson Township
- Lacey Township
- Lakehurst
- Lakewood Township
- Lavallette
- Little Egg Harbor Township
- Long Beach Township
- Manchester Township
- Mantoloking
- Ocean Gate
- Ocean Township
- Pine Beach
- Plumsted Township
- Point Pleasant
- Point Pleasant Beach
- Seaside Heights
- Seaside Park
- Ship Bottom
- South Toms River
- Stafford Township
- Surf City
- Toms River
- Tuckerton
- Bayville
- Forked River
- Lanoka Harbor
- Ocean Acres
- Holiday City-Berkeley
- Beach Haven West
Other Jersey Shore counties
Get help with your Ocean County property
Tell us a little about your property, and someone from New Jersey Tax Relief will reach out to talk through what can be done. Or call us now.
- Phone
- 813-344-1184
Talking with us doesn't commit you to anything. Help depends on your situation and isn't guaranteed, and any agreement is put in writing before anything happens.