Also, a lot of tax docs always come via certified mail. So if you get something like that and it's not sent with a signature required you should wonder.

Thank you. I googled them and essentially didn't find any proper association with government. It's so offensive how they can get away with such official documents. I found this:



Government Look Alike Mail

That brown envelope in your mail box looked so official you thought it was from a government agency. Even the name, the return address and seal looked official. Such mailings can be deceptive and confusing, and are sometimes illegal. They typically contain sweepstakes solicitations or requests for donations to political causes.

Official-looking mailings the Postal Inspection Service has seen in the past include one from the "FBI"--actually, Fountains Bureau of Invitations--which turned out to be an invitation to attend a high-pressure sales pitch for a real estate development. To make the mailing look even more authentic, messages such as "Important Notice," Official Business," or "Open Immediately" are often hand-stamped or printed on the envelopes.

The problems caused by these look-alike mailings led to the passage of the Deceptive Mailings Prevention Act of 1990. This law, Title 39, United States Code, Sections 3001(f) and (g), places certain restrictions on these look-alike mailings. Such mailings are no longer allowed, unless:

The entity actually has a government connection, approval or endorsement;
The mail matter and its outside wrapper bear a notice prescribed by the U.S. Postal Service which disclaims such connection, approval, or endorsement; or
The mail matter is contained in a publication purchased or requested by the addressee.
If you are uncertain about a mailing, carefully read the material inside the envelope. If the mailer is not being totally deceptive, it should become clear whether the mailing is a deceptive government look-alike mailing from a private organization not connected with any government agency or program.
If you have received an unsolicited government look-alike mailing from an entity with no governmental connection, approval, or endorsement, and the required disclaimer is not present, please send that mailing with a brief transmittal letter to a Postal Inspector, care of your local postmaster.

Your intuition is correct. It's a scam. Recent home buyers are targets for this sort of thing.

We got in the mail a very official looking government document - looks very much like how you pay your taxes. Bar codes, perforated areas etc. And it states it's the "Property Tax Assessment Service" and lists an address in Trenton with "Application for property tax audit in accordance to state law, title 54".

Then it says: "Dear Sir, Be advised the State of New Jersey gives the recent home buyer the opportunity to have property tax/assessments reviewed and corrected according to chapter 123, Laws of 1973, Title 54, Laws of Taxation. Report issued will reduce property taxes allowed by municipality if incorrect."

Then in small print it says "Property Tax assessment service incorporated is a private corporation having no government agency affiliation". In the area that stats NJ Taxpayer ID it has a report fee based on purchase price and it looks like a bill where you send in a fee up to $85.00.

It has an additional piece of paper that says "Recent homebuyers please complete form provided and return within 14 days to coincide with report due date".

It's so official it's intimidating. Has anyone heard of this? Is this a scam or an official thing I have to pay to get re-assessed?