Long Island Property Taxes: Star Tax Relief
Star Tax Relief
The Star Tax Relief program is essential to tax relief for Long Island homeowners. It is my goal that Long Islanders apply for tax relief and receive the benefits that are available to them. For additional tips, click the following link to obtain information on grieving your Long Island property taxes.
What is the Star Tax Relief Program
The New York State School Tax Relief Program (known as STAR) is available in New York State, not solely Long Island. The Star Tax Relief program is essential to tax relief for Long Island homeowners. Additionally, it is aimed at reducing school district property taxes of New York residents. The two types of Star include the Basic Star and the Enhanced Star. The Basic Star is available for primary residences where the income is less than $500,000. Also, it is based on the first $30,000 of the full value of a home. The Enhanced Star provides an increased benefit for the primary residences of senior citizens (age 65 and older) with incomes $86,000 or less and is based on the first $65,500 of the full value of a home.
How to Apply
Applicants will register with New York state. STAR includes houses, condominiums, cooperative apartments, manufactured homes, and farm houses. Also, note that you must own your own home and it must be your primary residence.
How to Receive Benefits
Your STAR credit will be in the form of a check. If you have already been receiving Star benefits, you do not need to reapply and your savings will continue as a reduction on your school tax bill AS LONG AS you received the STAR exemption on your 2015 school tax bill, and you applied for that exemption in your own name, based on your eligibility, and you still own the property, and it is still your primary residence. Fortunately, you do not need to register every year!
Good to Know
You do not need to register separately to receive the Enhanced benefit if you’ve already registered to receive the Basic benefit. When you register for the STAR credit, the Tax Department will automatically review your application to determine whether you are eligible for the Basic or Enhanced STAR benefit amount. The STAR benefit applies only to school district taxes and does not apply to property taxes for other purposes, such as county, town or city.
If you have not registered yet and need to do so, click to register for STAR credit. Please note that you need to register for the STAR credit if you purchased your home after August 1, 2015; or you purchased your home between May 1, 2014, and August 1, 2015, AND you bought your home after the 2015 STAR application deadline, or you did not apply for the STAR exemption on your home by the 2015 application deadline. Otherwise, no action is necessary—you will continue to receive the STAR exemption on your school tax bill.
You should register as soon as possible after you purchase or move into your home. If you are registered by July 1, a check will be mailed by September 30. New York state accepts registrations for three years from the income tax filing deadline for the year that the credit covers. (For example, to claim the 2016 STAR credit, you must register by April 15, 2020). However, note that the sooner you register, the sooner you will receive your STAR check.
All things considered, sometimes the process can be confusing. Anyone is always welcome to contact me at (516) 652-8678 for guidance on the STAR process or view additional tips here. `
