What's happening
This bill raises the income eligibility limits for senior and disabled property tax exemptions annually based on regional inflation.
Why it matters
Protects Seniors and Disabled Homeowners/Renters from Being Priced Out. By tying income eligibility for property tax and rent exemptions to regional inflation, the bill helps ensure that seniors and people with disabilities won’t lose crucial tax relief just because their fixed or modest incomes rise slightly with cost-of-living adjustments.
Automatic, Predictable Adjustments. The annual adjustment, based on the Consumer Price Index for the New York City/Northeast NJ area, makes the process more predictable and less subject to political delays, helping local governments and eligible residents plan their finances more reliably.
Reduces Administrative Burden and Confusion. Regular, automatic updates eliminate the need for frequent legislative changes or advocacy campaigns to raise income thresholds, reducing gaps in coverage and making it easier for eligible individuals to understand the rules.
Helps Preserve Affordable Housing and Community Stability. By keeping more seniors and disabled individuals eligible for exemption programs, the bill aims to help them remain in their homes, reducing displacement, homelessness risk, and the associated social service costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Income Limits Annually
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2363
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to increasing the combined household income limit for eligibility for a senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE), disability rent increase exemption (DRIE), senior citizen homeowners' exemption (SCHE), and disabled homeowners' exemption (DHE) on the basis of the consumer price index
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax law, paragraph a as amended by section 1 of part U of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014 and paragraph b as amended by chapter 129 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
a. for a dwelling unit where the head of the household is a person sixty-two years of age or older, no tax abatement shall be granted if the combined income of all members of the household for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application exceeds four thousand dollars, or such other sum not more than twenty-five thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand five, 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 fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand fourteen, as may be provided by the local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section, provided that when the head of the household retires before the commencement of such income tax year and the date of filing the application, the income for such year may be adjusted by excluding salary or earnings and projecting his or her retirement income over the entire period of such year. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner of the state division of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02211-01-9
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housing and community renewal on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period.
b. for a dwelling unit where the head of the household qualifies as a person with a disability pursuant to subdivision five of this section, no tax abatement shall be granted if the combined income for all members of the household for the current income tax year exceeds fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand fourteen, as may be provided by the local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner of the state division of housing and community renewal on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period.
§ 2. Paragraphs d and m of subdivision 1 of section 467-c of the real property tax law, paragraph d as separately amended by chapters 188 and 205 of the laws of 2005, subparagraph 1 of paragraph d as amended by section 2 of part U of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014 and paragraph m as amended by chapter 129 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
d. "Eligible head of the household" means (1) a person or his or her spouse who is sixty-two years of age or older and is entitled to the possession or to the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit, provided, however, with respect to a dwelling which was subject to a mortgage insured or initially insured by the federal government pursuant to section two hundred thirteen of the National Housing Act, as amended "eligible head of the household" shall be limited to that person or his or her spouse who was entitled to possession or the use and occupancy of such dwelling unit at the time of termination of such mortgage, and whose income when combined with the income of all other members of the household, does not exceed six thousand five hundred dollars for the taxable period, or such other sum not less than sixty-five hundred dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand five, 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 fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand fourteen, as may be provided by local law; or (2) a person with a disability as defined in this subdivision. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner of the state division of housing and community renewal on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period.
m. "Person with a disability" means an individual who is currently receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the federal social security act or disability pension or disability compensation benefits provided by the United States department of veterans affairs or those previously eligible by virtue of receiving disability benefits under the supplemental security income program or the social security disability program and currently receiving medical assistance benefits based on determination
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of disability as provided in section three hundred sixty-six of the social services law and whose income for the current income tax year, together with the income of all members of such individual's household, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand fourteen, as may be provided by local law. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner of the state division of housing and community renewal on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period.
§ 3. 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. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period. 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 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 deter-
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mined 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;
§ 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. The maximum income threshold provided for herein shall be increased by order of the commissioner on January first of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index for the N.Y., N.Y.-Northeastern, N.J. area, based upon the index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) during the preceding twelve month period. 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. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that:
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(a) the amendments to paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such paragraph pursuant to section 4 of part U of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, as amended, or the expiration of such section pursuant to section 17 of chapter 576 of the laws of 1974, as amended, and shall be deemed to expire therewith;
(b) the amendments to paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such section pursuant to section 17 of chapter 576 of the laws of 1974 and section 4 of chapter 129 of the laws of 2014, as amended, and shall be deemed to expire therewith;
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 increasing the combined household income limit for eligibility for a senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE), disability rent increase exemption (DRIE), senior citizen homeowners' exemption (SCHE), and disabled home- owners' exemption (DHE) on the basis of the consumer price index
Purpose
Increases the maximum income allowable for the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE), disability rent increase exemption (DRIE), senior citizen homeowners' exemption (SCHE), and disabled home-owners' exemption (DHE) on the basis of the consumer price index annually to reflect increases in the regional Consumer Price index.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this legislation amends paragraphs a and b of subdivision 3 of 461-b of the real property tax law by providing that the maximum income threshold provided for in SCRIE and DRIE be increased by the commissioner of the state division of housing and community renewal on January 1 of each year to reflect any increase in the regional consumer price index (CPI).
Section two amends paragraphs d and m of subdivision 1 of section 467-c of the real property tax law, changing the "eligible head of household" and "person with a disability" definitions to reflect the annual CPI increase.
Section three amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of 467 of the real property tax law by providing that the maximum income threshold provided for in SCHE be increased annually by the CPI.
Section four amends subdivision 5 of section 459-c of the real property tax law by providing that the maximum income threshold provided for in DRIE be increased annually by the CPI.
Section five: effective date.
Justification
The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption program (SCRIE) and the Disa- bility Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) grant certain exemptions from rent increases to tenants who are senior citizens and disabled, respectively. Similarly, Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) and Disabled Homeowners Exemption (DHE) provide tax breaks to senior and disabled homeowners. This legislation will ensure that senior citizens and disa- bled persons are not displaced from their homes due to increased housing costs. As costs increase, these programs stabilize the amount that eligible persons pay so they can afford to remain in their homes. Annu- ally increasing the income level for eligible persons would allow many more people to benefit from these programs.
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Legislative history
2018: S7069A - PASSED SENATE/ referred to codes 2017: S4493 - REFERRED TO AGING 2016: S3865 - REFERRED TO AGING 2015: S3865 - REFERRED TO AGING
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
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