(Long Island, NY) “The Basic STAR (School Tax Reduction) program has saved property owners millions of dollars since it was introduced in the late 1990s,” said Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau). “Yet, many eligible folks are still not taking advantage of a program that saves them hundreds of dollars a year in school taxes.”
Senator Hannon is hosting a “Basic STAR Forum” at Levittown Hall (located on Levittown Parkway, Hicksville) on Monday, December 9th from 7 to 9 pm. The forum will explain the Basic STAR program and eligibility requirements, and answer questions. Applications for the Basic STAR, as well as other school and property tax exemptions, will be available. Residents who are currently in the Basic STAR program but have not re-registered will also receive assistance in so doing.
“If you are currently receiving the Basic STAR exemption, you need to re-register this year,” explains Hannon. “Anyone in the program should have received a letter from the Tax Department with a code – it’s very important that you re-register this year because you do not want to lose out on this money-saving benefit.”
Hannon notes that many residents have still not re-registered for the program, and the deadline is December 31st. There are also a number of eligible property owners who are not currently enrolled in the program. Many factors, such as new homeowners, those who have moved within the state, or those who simply never registered, contribute.
“The Basic STAR benefit is available to almost every property owner whose primary residence is in New York and whose income is below $500,000,” says Hannon. “If you’re not in the program, come to the forum and we’ll make sure you have the application and answer any questions you have. If you haven’t re-registered and have your code, we’ll help you with that as well.”
Please call Senator Hannon’s Office at 516-739-1700 if you have any questions or need directions.
