Politics & Government

Basic STAR Tax Exemption Recipients Must Re-Register by Dec. 31

Over 54,000 Rockland County residents received Basic STAR property tax exemptions in 2013.

New legislation requires that they re-register with the New York State Tax Department by Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2014 in order to receive the STAR exemption in 2014 and following years, part of a plan to guard against inappropriate or fraudulent STAR exemptions.  

Regional Director of the Office of Real Property Tax Services, New York State Department of Tax and Finance John Wolham explained that this is a one-time requirement as part of a presentation on STAR tax exemptions to State Senator David Carlucci's Senior Advisory Committee Thursday at Nanuet Library.

He said residents should have received a letter from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in September with instructions for re-registration and a STAR code they will need for the process. While initial registration for STAR exemptions are done through the local tax assessor's offices, the re-registration must be completed either online or by phone with the New York State Tax Department. To do it online, go towww.tax.ny.gov. For help registering or to ask questions, call (518) 457-2036.

To qualify for a Basic STAR exemption, which provides relief on school taxex,  a resident must own property in New York State, use that property as a primary residence and the resident owners and their spouses must have a combined income bellow $500,000. Wolham said the average benefit statewide is $700, but that number is closer to $1,000 in Rockland County.Homeowners applying for STAR exemptions for the first time must complete Form RP-425, the Application School Tax Relief, which is available online and file it with their local tax assessor. 

"It is a very good benefit to have," Wolham said. "We want to make sure everyone who is eligible continues to get it."

Wolham said as of last week, approximately 11,000 recipients of STAR tax exemptions in 2013 had not re-registered. 

The re-registration requirement does not apply to senior citizens who receive the Enhanced STAR property tax exemption.  They must apply annually or participate in the income verification program. Enhanced STAR provides an average benefit twice that of Basic STAR. To be eligible, residents must own property that they use as their primary residence, they must be at least 65 years old and the combined income of all owners of record and their resident spouses must be no more than $81,900.

Carlucci said it was important to ensure that people do not receive improper STAR benefits. 

"The local assessor, how do they investigate?" Carlucci asked. "We can ehance the penalties for someobdy gaming the system, but how do you catch them? What is the incentive for a local enforcement agency to go after them."


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