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Ogdensburg assessor says changes are coming to STAR tax exemption program

Posted 7/29/16

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- Echoing warnings made at the county level in May, Ogdensburg Assessor Bruce Green says major changes will take place to the state’s STAR tax exemption. Green shared …

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Ogdensburg assessor says changes are coming to STAR tax exemption program

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Echoing warnings made at the county level in May, Ogdensburg Assessor Bruce Green says major changes will take place to the state’s STAR tax exemption.

Green shared the news with City Manager Sarah Purdy after attending training in Ithaca recently. The news was included in a recent public update.

The report said the STAR exemption will be based on income tax rather than property tax.

New enrollees will no longer see a tax break on their school taxes, but instead will receive a check from the state.

That change could have a negative impact on seniors, who may be required to pay taxes up front before receiving a refund, according to earlier reports from the county director of real property.

For now, the changes will only affect new STAR property owners. For those already enrolled in the STAR program, there will be no change.

People who move and have to reapply for the exemption will be placed under the new program. Under the new law homeowners will receive a STAR check directly from New York State instead of receiving a school property tax exemption. According to reports, the amount of an individual’s benefit will be the same as it was prior to the change.

The major change under the new system is how the STAR payments will function. Currently the exemption is included in the tax bill, meaning it’s deducted prior to payment. However since the new system will be a payout from the Department of Tax and Finance, it is unclear if the payouts will be made before taxes are due.

This has the potential to create financial problems for people who live paycheck to paycheck or are on a fixed income.

Current Enhanced STAR exemption recipients who are not enrolled in the Income Verification Program must continue to file a renewal application with their local assessor each year.

New property owners can register at www.tax.ny.gov or call (518) 457-2036. Owners should have the date they bought their house and their social security numbers available as they may be asked for the social security numbers of all property owners.