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S1244Senate2019-2020 Session

Expand Property Tax Relief

Official title

“Increases the income thresholds for eligibility for the senior citizen and disabled person property tax exemptions”

Sponsor David CarlucciSD-38Affects Local Government
Status
In Senate Committee
Local Government
Impact
7/10
Significant
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Local Government

What's happening

This bill raises income eligibility levels for senior citizen and disabled property tax exemptions and provides state reimbursement to municipalities.

Why it matters

  1. Significantly increases the income limits. for both senior citizens and people with disabilities to qualify for property tax exemptions, which means more individuals on fixed incomes could get tax relief and remain in their homes.

  2. Raises the maximum exemption brackets. substantially (for example, raising thresholds from a few thousand dollars above the base amount to up to $35,000 above), allowing partial exemptions to phase out more gradually for those with higher—but still modest—annual incomes.

  3. Mandates state reimbursement to municipalities. for the additional property tax revenue lost due to the expanded exemptions, which is critical for local budgets and helps avoid shifting the tax burden onto other property owners or leading to service cuts.

  4. Broadens the impact beyond large cities. by removing special higher income limits that previously only applied to New York City, making higher exemption thresholds available statewide and thus benefiting seniors and disabled residents in smaller towns and suburbs as well.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Expand Property Tax Relief

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
David Carlucci

Senator · Senate District 38

Chair, Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to local government
  2. Referred to local government

Full text

4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

1244

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 11, 2019

Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government

AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the senior citizen and disabled property owner exemption

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 467 of the real property tax law, as amended by chapter 261 of the laws of 1994, subparagraph 3 as added by chapter 402 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:

(b) (1) Any local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be amended, or a local law, ordinance or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to increase the maximum income eligibility level of such municipal corporation as provided in subdivision three of this section (represented in the hereinbelow schedule as M), to the extent provided in the following schedule:

ANNUAL INCOME PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION

EXEMPT FROM TAXATION More than (M) but

[less than (M+ $1,000) 45 per centum (M+ $1,000 or more) but

less than (M+ $2,000) 40 per centum (M+ $2,000 or more) but]

less than (M+ [$3,000] $10,000) 35 per centum [(M+ $3,000 or more) but

less than (M+ $3,900) 30 per centum (M+ $3,900 or more) but

less than (M+ $4,800) 25 per centum (M+ $4,800 or more) but

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06541-01-9

S. 1244 2

less than (M+ $5,700) 20 per centum]

(2) Any local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subparagraph one of this paragraph may be amended, or a local law, ordinance or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to increase the maximum income eligibility level of such municipal corporation as provided in subdivision three of this section (represented in the hereinbelow schedule as M), and as increased as provided for in such subparagraph one to the extent provided in the following schedule:

ANNUAL INCOME PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION

EXEMPT FROM TAXATION (M+ [$5,700] $10,000 or more) but

less than (M+ [$6,600] $25,000) 15 per centum [(M+ $6,600 or more) but

less than (M+ $7,500 10 per centum]

(3) Any local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subparagraphs one and two of this paragraph may be amended, or a local law, ordinance or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to increase the maximum income eligibility level of such municipal corporation as provided in subdivision three of this section (represented in the hereinbelow schedule as M), and as increased as provided for in such subparagraph one to the extent provided in the following schedule: ANNUAL INCOME PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION

EXEMPT FROM TAXATION (M+ [$7,500] $25,000 or more) but

less than (M+ [$8,400] $35,000) 5 per centum

§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 467 of the real property tax law, as separately amended by chapters 131 and 279 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:

(a) if the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of the property for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application for exemption exceeds the sum of three thousand dollars, or such other sum not less than three thousand dollars nor more than twenty-six thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand six, twenty-seven thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seven, twenty-eight thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand eight, twenty-nine thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand nine, and [in a city with a population of one million or more] fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seventeen, as may be provided by the local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section. Income tax year shall mean the twelve month period for which the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return, or if no such return is filed, the calendar year. Where title is vested in either the husband or the wife, their combined income may not exceed such sum, except where the husband or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife is absent from the property as provided in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (d) of this subdivision, then only the income of the spouse or ex-spouse residing on the property shall be considered and may not exceed such sum. Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits, interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset which may be offset by a loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the same income tax year, net rental income, salary or earnings, and net income from self-employment, but shall not include a return of capital, gifts, inheritances, payments made to individuals because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution, as defined in

S. 1244 3

P.L. 103-286 or monies earned through employment in the federal foster grandparent program and any such income shall be offset by all medical and prescription drug expenses actually paid which were not reimbursed or paid for by insurance, if the governing board of a municipality, after a public hearing, adopts a local law, ordinance or resolution providing therefor. In addition, an exchange of an annuity for an annuity contract, which resulted in non-taxable gain, as determined in section one thousand thirty-five of the internal revenue code, shall be excluded from such income. Provided that such exclusion shall be based on satisfactory proof that such an exchange was solely an exchange of an annuity for an annuity contract that resulted in a non-taxable transfer determined by such section of the internal revenue code. Furthermore, such income shall not include the proceeds of a reverse mortgage, as authorized by section six-h of the banking law, and sections two hundred eighty and two hundred eighty-a of the real property law; provided, however, that monies used to repay a reverse mortgage may not be deducted from income, and provided additionally that any interest or dividends realized from the investment of reverse mortgage proceeds shall be considered income. The provisions of this paragraph notwithstanding, such income shall not include veterans disability compensation, as defined in Title 38 of the United States Code provided the governing board of such municipality, after public hearing, adopts a local law, ordinance or resolution providing therefor. In computing net rental income and net income from self-employment no depreciation deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion, wear and tear of real or personal property held for the production of income;

§ 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 459-c of the real property tax law, as added by chapter 315 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:

(b) Any local law or resolution adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be amended, or a local law or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to increase the maximum income eligibility level of such municipal corporation as provided in subdivision five of this section (represented in the hereinbelow schedule as M), to the extent provided in the following schedule:

ANNUAL INCOME PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION

EXEMPT FROM TAXATION More than (M) but

[less than (M+ $1,000) 45 per centum (M+ $1,000 or more) but

less than (M+ $2,000) 40 per centum (M+ $2,000 or more) but]

less than (M+ [$3,000] $10,000) 35 per centum [(M+ $3,000 or more) but

less than (M+ $3,900) 30 per centum (M+ $3,900 or more) but

less than (M+ $4,800) 25 per centum (M+ $4,800 or more) but

less than (M+ $5,700) 20 per centum] (M+ [$5,700] $10,000 or more) but

less than (M+ [$6,600] $25,000) 15 per centum [(M+ $6,600 or more) but

less than (M+ $7,500) 10 per centum] (M + [$7,500] $25,000 or more) but

less than (M+ [$8,400] $35,000) 5 per centum

S. 1244 4

§ 4. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 459-c of the real property tax law, as amended by chapter 131 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:

(a) if the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of the property for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application for exemption exceeds the sum of three thousand dollars, or such other sum not less than three thousand dollars nor more than twenty-six thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand six, twenty-seven thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seven, twenty-eight thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand eight, twenty-nine thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand nine, and [in a city with a population of one million or more] fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seventeen, as may be provided by the local law or resolution adopted pursuant to this section. Income tax year shall mean the twelve month period for which the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return, or if no such return is filed, the calendar year. Where title is vested in either the husband or the wife, their combined income may not exceed such sum, except where the husband or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife is absent from the property due to divorce, legal separation or abandonment, then only the income of the spouse or ex-spouse residing on the property shall be considered and may not exceed such sum. Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits, interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset which may be offset by a loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the same income tax year, net rental income, salary or earnings, and net income from self-employment, but shall not include a return of capital, gifts, inheritances or monies earned through employment in the federal foster grandparent program and any such income shall be offset by all medical and prescription drug expenses actually paid which were not reimbursed or paid for by insurance, if the governing board of a municipality, after a public hearing, adopts a local law or resolution providing therefor. In computing net rental income and net income from self-employment no depreciation deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion, wear and tear of real or personal property held for the production of income;

§ 5. The state shall, within an appropriation made available therefor, reimburse municipal corporations for the difference between the amount of real property tax revenue abated for the fiscal year of such municipality that occurs after April 1, 2019 pursuant to the income thresholds established pursuant to the provisions of this act, and the amount of real property tax revenue that would have been abated for such period pursuant to the income thresholds that were in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this act.

§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the senior citizen and disabled property owner exemption

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill increases the income thresholds for eligibility for the senior citizen and disabled person property tax exemptions.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 467 of the real property tax law.

Section 2: Amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 467 of the real property tax law.

Section 3: Amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 459-C of the real property tax law.

Section 4: Amends Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 459 -C of the real property tax law.

Section 5: Provides that the state will reimburse municipalities for the difference between real property tax revenue abated after the new tax thresholds take effect and the real property tax revenue that would have been abated prior to the new thresholds.

Section 6: Sets the effective date.

Justification

The Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) and the Disabled Home- owners' Exemption (DHE) are statewide programs that help seniors and disabled individuals remain in their homes/communities by providing critical tax exemptions.

This bill would provide much needed property tax relief by raising the income eligibility thresholds and corresponding abatement levels for the SCHE/DHE program. Strengthening this important tax abatement would help ensure that seniors and disabled homeowners can continue to afford to remain in New York, a high property tax state. An estimated 400,000 New Yorkers would benefit from this expansion to the program.

Prior legislative history

2017-18: S7803 - LOCAL GOV'T

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.