To keep Basic STAR, homeowners will need to reapply by 12/31/13
If you have Basic STAR, you will be receiving a notice to reapply by December 31, 2013. The reapplications will be mailed out this September and homeowners can register by telephone or online. Recipients of Basic STAR will need to verify their salaries, Social Security numbers, and primary residence. Enhanced STAR will not be affected. Senior citizens who receive Enhanced STAR are already required to register each year; unless they have authorized income verification for automatic verification and registration, therefore, verification under this program is not necessary.
STAR is the New York State Tax Relief Program which provides qualified New York homeowners with partial exemption from New York Property Taxes. Basic STAR is available on owner-occupied primary residences where the combined income of the owners is less than $500,000. Basis STAR will exempt the first $30,000.00 of the value of a home from school taxes Enhanced STAR is available to seniors, age 65 and older whose combined earnings were less than $81,900.00. Those who are eligible for Enhanced Star will receive a benefit equal to the first $60,100.00 of the full value of their home being exempted from school taxes, a potentially considerable savings. Where a property is owned by spouses or siblings only one owner need satisfy the age requirement. Both Basic and Enhanced STAR are available for all owner occupied residences, including condominiums, co ops.
Like recipients of Enhanced STAR, after this year’s reapplication, homeowners will not have to re-register each year. The re-application process is to ensure that homeowners are only claiming this tax break on their primary residence and not at multiple residences, as has been the case for some. The registration requirement will not affect this year’s tax bills, but will apply to tax bills for 2014 and beyond.
You can register for the STAR exemption online. You’ll need to:
1. Provide a STAR code (you can use the STAR code lookup)
2. Provide the names and social security numbers for all owners of the property and spouses
3. Confirm that the property is the primary residence of one of its owners (married couples with multiple residences may only claim one STAR exemption)4. Confirm that the combined income of the owners and their spouses who reside at the property does not exceed $500,000
5. Confirm that no resident owner received a residency-based tax benefit from another state.
You can also register by calling (518) 457-2036
Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
