(Queens, NY) New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens) today reminded New Yorkers that as part of an effort to prevent fraud and duplication, homeowners who currently receive the basic STAR exemption, must reapply before December 31, 2013, in order to receive the exemption for 2014 and subsequent years. Registration began on August 15, 2013 and will continue through November 30, 2013.
For the five counties of New York City, reminder letters/postcards will be mailed to constituents in Addabbo’s district beginning September 16-October 4, as part of a comprehensive outreach campaign to get the word out by NYS Commissioner of Taxation & Finance. Homeowners will have three registration options: online, telephone, and paper application. The Tax Department will mail all homeowners a STAR code, which they will need to register. Homeowners will also be able to look up their STAR code online (link below) or by calling the Tax Department.
The registration process will require homeowners to:
- provide the STAR code and confirm the property address and names of owners;
- provide Social Security numbers and contact information for each owner of the property and his or her spouse;
- confirm that the property is the owner’s primary residence;
- confirm that the owner does not receive a STAR exemption for another property, nor any residency-based exemption from another state.
The Tax Department will send homeowners who miss the November 2013 deadline additional letter reminders in December 2013 and January 2014. They will have one year to request an exemption. The Department is not requiring homeowners to re-register every year. Based on the information provided in the registration process, the Tax Department will monitor homeowners’ eligibility in future years.
“Since its inception in 1998, the STAR exemption has given needed financial relief to thousands of New Yorkers,” said Addabbo. “Homeowners must reapply before December 31 because many improvements and changes have been made to the STAR program to better protect against inappropriate or fraudulent abuses of the system.”
STAR Exemption Facts:
- Resident homeowners who currently receive the Basic STAR exemption must re-register before December 31, 2013;
- Homeowners do not need to re-register every year;
- Based on the information provided in the registration process, the state Tax Department will confirm homeowners’ eligibility in future years;
- Senior citizens already receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption are not affected by the new registration requirement. However, in order to receive Enhanced STAR at age 65, seniors must continue to:
o apply annually, or
o participate in the Income Verification Program
- Resident homeowners applying for STAR for the first time are not affected by this year’s registration procedure.
- To apply for STAR a new applicant must: use Form RP-425, Application for School Tax Relief (STAR) Exemption, available on the Tax Department’s website, and file the application with their local assessor.
- Homeowners who were found by the Tax Department to be ineligible for STAR will have the right to administrative review within the Tax Department, and review before the State Board of Real Property Tax Services.
“Lowering the property tax burden is a crucial way to grow the state economy and help people in need. I am proud to support the STAR exemption program and am pleased that the system will now run more efficiently,” concluded the Senator.
To find out more about the STAR Exemption program, please visit: http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/apply.htm.
