Maureen Gallagher, Gardiner Tax Assessor, explained, “Many Gardiner home owners are eligible for exemptions on a portion of the real property taxes on their primary residence if they meet the following requirements and file for exemptions on or before March 1, 2015.”
Basic STAR: If your adjusted gross income for 2013 was below $500,000.
Enhanced STAR: If your 65th birthday is in 2015 and your 2013 adjusted gross income, less the amount on line 15B, was $83,300 or less.
If you have been receiving Enhanced STAR and your income has been reduced, you may also qualify for:
Senior Exemption: If you are 65+ and all income including Social Security for 2013 was $37,399 or less. This exemption is based on a sliding scale ranging from 5 to 50% depending on your income.
Veterans: Available if you or your spouse served during a war time period.
Cold War Veterans: Available if you served during the period 1945 to 1991 and you receive no other veteran’s exemption.
Those residents who qualify for an Enhanced STAR exemption may sign up for the state’s Income Verification Program (IVP). Each year, New York State will determine whether or not property owners in this program are still income-qualified for Enhanced STAR and advise our Assessor without divulging residents’ actual income. This saves a qualifying homeowner from having to reapply each year. If, however, your income drops to a level qualifying you for the Senior Exemption, you will have to notify our Assessor and bring in confirming tax information.
Maureen emphasized, “The rules are fairly complicated so I urge anyone with a concern or question to call the Assessor’s office at 255-9675, Extension 104 or 105. Forms for filing are available at both www.tax.ny.gov and at the Assessor’s office but must be filed on or before March 1, 2015.”