The School Tax Relief “STAR” program offers property tax relief to eligible homeowners in one of two ways:

1. STAR credit check – you receive a check each year instead of a reduction in your taxes
2. STAR tax exemption – you receive a reduction in the school tax portion of your real estate taxes

Basic Versus Enhanced

There are also two types of “STAR” benefits: basic and enhanced. The enhanced benefit is for homeowners who are age 65 or older and have limited income.

For the basic STAR, you should register as soon as possible, but you only have to register once. Since the enhanced STAR is also based on income, you must apply/verify your income each year. The application must be submitted to your local tax assessor on or before the applicable taxable status date, which is generally March 1. However, there are a few exceptions to this date, notably in Nassau County it is January 2 and in Westchester towns it is either May 1 or June 1 (check with your town).

Other Property Tax Exemptions

In addition to the “STAR” program, there are many other property tax exemptions. Some of the most common are:

• Senior citizens exemption
• Veterans’ exemption
• Exemption for persons with disabilities

For more information on these and other exemptions, including eligibility and application deadlines, go to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website.