What's happening
This bill creates a new property tax class for most condominiums and cooperatives in New York City, changing their assessment, exemptions, and tax treatment.
Why it matters
Shifts most NYC co-ops and condos into a new "Class One-A" for property tax purposes. , separating them from small homes and from large rental buildings. This change could lead to significant differences in how these properties are assessed and taxed, impacting both property owners’ tax bills and the city’s tax base.
Establishes new rules for property tax exemptions and abatements for co-ops and condos based on market value,. replacing older formulas. This means tax relief will be more closely tied to the value of individual units, potentially making benefits more targeted but also reducing exemptions for higher-value properties.
Limits annual assessment increases for Class One-A properties to 6% per year and 20% over five years,. similar to protections currently in place for small homes. This cap could provide greater predictability and protection against rapid tax hikes for co-op and condo owners.
Requires NYC’s Department of Finance to set detailed rules and reclassify properties based on their use (owner-occupancy vs. rental),. giving the city flexibility to move income-generating (rental) co-ops/condos into a higher-taxed class. This could affect investors and landlords, while ensuring owner-occupied units receive the intended treatment.
Repeals current law (Section 581) that often resulted in lower assessments for condos and co-ops by comparing them to rental buildings,. potentially leading to higher assessments (and thus higher taxes) for many units, especially in more expensive buildings. This aims to address long-standing equity complaints but could increase costs for some owners.
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Who cares
Condominium owners and cooperative shareholders
Properties outside class one would move into class one-a, with a six percent assessment ratio and assessment increases capped at six percent annually and twenty percent over five years.
Owners of eligible condo and co-op units
Tax abatements would depend on average unit market value, with enhanced abatements for properties averaging less than $650,000 per unit and no partial abatement for those averaging $5 million or more.
Owners of rental-generating condos and co-ops
Properties used primarily to generate rental income would be reclassified from class one-a to class two based on a five-year review period.
New York City Department of Finance
The department would implement the new class, calculate market values using comparable sales and administer revised abatements and rental-use reclassifications.
Headline styles
Reclassify Condo and Co-op Taxes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Reclassify Condos and Co-ops
In Assembly Committee · Real Property Taxation · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
19 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5749
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LIU -- 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, the administrative code of the city of New York and the real property law, in relation to classifying properties held in condominium and cooperative form for assessment purposes as class one-a properties; and to repeal certain provisions of the real property tax law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 1802 of the real property tax law, as separately amended by chapters 123 and 529 of the laws of 1990, paragraph class one as amended by chapter 332 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
1. All real property, for the purposes of this article, in a special assessing unit shall be classified as follows:
Class one: (a) all one, two and three family residential real proper-
ty, including such dwellings used in part for nonresidential
purposes but which are used primarily for residential purposes,
except such property held in cooperative or condominium forms of
ownership other than (i) property defined in subparagraphs (b)
and (c) of this paragraph and (ii) property which contains no
more than three dwelling units held in condominium form of
ownership and which was classified within this class on a previ-
ous assessment roll; and provided that, notwithstanding the
provisions of paragraph (g) of subdivision twelve of section one
hundred two of this chapter, a mobile home or a trailer shall
not be classified within this class unless it is owner-occupied
and separately assessed; and (b) residential real property not
more than three stories in height held in condominium form of
ownership, provided that no dwelling unit therein previously was
on an assessment roll as a dwelling unit in other than condomin-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07848-02-9
S. 5749 2
ium form of ownership; and (c) residential real property
consisting of one family house structures owned by the occupant,
situated on land held in cooperative ownership by owner occupi-
ers, provided that; (i) such house structures and land consti-
tuted bungalow colonies in existence prior to nineteen hundred
forty; and (ii) the land is held in cooperative ownership for
the sole purpose of maintaining one family residences for
members own use; and (d) all vacant land located within a
special assessing unit which is a city (i) other than such land
in the borough of Manhattan, provided that any such vacant land
which is not zoned residential must be situated immediately
adjacent to property improved with a residential structure as
defined in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph, be owned
by the same owner as such immediately adjacent residential prop-
erty immediately prior to and since January 1, 1989, and have a
total area not exceeding 10,000 square feet; and (ii) located in
the borough of Manhattan north of or adjacent to the north side
of 110th street provided such vacant land was classified within
this class on the assessment roll with a taxable status date of
January 5, 2008 and the owner of such land has entered into a
recorded agreement with a governmental entity on or before
December 31, 2008 requiring construction of housing affordable
to persons or families of low income in accordance with the
provisions of the private housing finance law. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, such vacant land shall be classified according to
its use on the assessment roll with a taxable status date imme-
diately following commencement of construction, provided
further, that construction pursuant to an approved plan for
affordable housing shall commence no later than December 31,
2010; and (e) all vacant land located within a special assessing
unit which is not a city, provided that such vacant land which
is not zoned residential must be situated immediately adjacent
to real property defined in subparagraph (a), (b) or (c) of this
paragraph and be owned by the same person or persons who own the
real property defined in such subparagraph immediately prior to
and since January 1, 2003;
Class one-a: all other residential real property held in condominium
or cooperative form of ownership which is not designated as
class one; the department of finance of any city enacting a
local law pursuant to this section shall reclassify class one-a
properties used primarily to generate rental income to class
two. The department of finance of any city enacting a local law
pursuant to this section shall have, in addition to any other
functions, powers and duties which have been or may be conferred
on it by law, the power to make and promulgate rules to carry
out the purposes of this section including, but not limited to,
rules defining the class one-a properties primarily used to
generate rental income, and relating to the timing, form and
manner of any certification required to be submitted under this
section. If a property previously reclassified from class one-a
to class two ceases to be used primarily to generate rental
income, the department shall reclassify such property to class
one-a. The department shall use a five-year period when deter-
mining whether a property is used primarily to generate rental
income;
S. 5749 3
Class two: all other residential real property which is not designated
as class one or class one-a, except hotels and motels and other
similar commercial property;
Class three: utility real property and property subject to former
section four hundred seventy of this chapter;
Class four: all other real property which is not designated as class
one, class one-a, class two, or class three.
§ 1-a. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new section 1803-c to read as follows:
§ 1803-c. Calculation of shares. 1. For the calendar year two thousand eighteen, notwithstanding the provisions of sections eighteen hundred three, eighteen hundred three-a, and eighteen hundred three-b of this article to the contrary, the New York city commissioner of finance shall establish a new class one-a pursuant to subdivision one of section eighteen hundred two of this article and shall calculate shares for class one, class one-a, class two, class three and class four where the base year used in the calculation of the current base proportion shall be the 2017 assessment roll and the sum of class one-a and class two shall not exceed the prior year adjusted base proportion for such classes.
2. After two thousand nineteen, assessment rolls prepared according to January 1, 2021, the adjusted base proportions for class one and class one-a, shall not exceed each class' prior adjusted base proportion by more than five percent.
3. In a city having a population of one million or more, such city's tax fixing resolution shall set a tax rate for class one-a in the same manner as all class shares are calculated pursuant to sections eighteen hundred three, eighteen hundred three-a and eighteen hundred three-b of this article.
4. The assessment ratio for class one-a shall be six percent.
§ 2. Subdivision 1, paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 and subdivision 4 of section 307-a of the real property tax law, as added by section 1 of part G of chapter 63 of the laws of 2003, are amended to read as follows:
1. Generally. Notwithstanding any provision of any general, special or local law to the contrary, any city with a population of one million or more is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt and amend local laws in accordance with this section imposing an additional tax on certain class one and class one-a properties, as such properties are defined in section eighteen hundred two of this chapter, excluding vacant land.
(c) "Net real property tax" means the real property tax assessed on a class one or class one-a property after deduction for any exemption or abatement received pursuant to this chapter.
4. Property subject to additional tax. Such surcharge shall be imposed on class one and class one-a property, excluding vacant land, that provides rental income and is not the primary residence of the owner or owners of such class one or class one-a property, or the primary residence of the parent or child of such owner or owners.
§ 3. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 467-a of the real property tax law, as added by chapter 273 of the laws of 1996, is amended and a new paragraph (i) is added to read as follows:
(f) "Property" means real property designated as class [two] one-a, pursuant to section eighteen hundred two of this chapter, held in the cooperative or condominium form of ownership.
(i) "Market value" shall be calculated by the New York city department of finance based upon comparable sales.
S. 5749 4
§ 4. Paragraphs (d-1), (d-2), (d-3) and (d-4) of subdivision 2 of section 467-a of the real property tax law, as amended by section 62 of part A of chapter 20 of the laws of 2015, are amended and seven new paragraphs (d-7), (d-8), (d-9), (d-10), (d-11), (d-12) and (d-13) are added to read as follows:
(d-1) In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand twelve, two thousand thirteen and two thousand fourteen, eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is less than or equal to fifty thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twenty-five percent, twenty-six and one-half percent and twenty-eight and one-tenth percent respectively. In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand fifteen[,] and two thousand sixteen[, two thousand seventeen and two thousand eighteen] eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is less than or equal to fifty thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twentyeight and one-tenth percent.
(d-2) In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand twelve, two thousand thirteen and two thousand fourteen, eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is more than fifty thousand dollars, but less than or equal to fifty-five thousand dollars, shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twenty-two and one-half percent, twenty-three and eight-tenths percent and twenty-five and twotenths percent respectively. In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand fifteen[,] and two thousand sixteen[, two thousand seventeen and two thousand eighteen] eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is more than fifty thousand dollars, but less than or equal to fifty-five thousand dollars, shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twenty-five and two-tenths percent.
(d-3) In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand twelve, two thousand thirteen and two thousand fourteen, eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is more than fifty-five thousand dollars, but less than or equal to sixty thousand dollars, shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twenty percent, twenty-one and two-tenths percent, and twenty-two and five-tenths percent respectively. In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand fifteen[,] and two thousand sixteen[, two thousand seventeen and two thousand eighteen] eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is more than fifty-five thousand dollars, but less than or equal to sixty thousand dollars, shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of twenty-two and five-tenths percent.
(d-4) In the fiscal years commencing in calendar years two thousand twelve, two thousand thirteen, two thousand fourteen, two thousand fifteen[,] and two thousand sixteen[, two thousand seventeen and two thousand eighteen,] eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit assessed value is more than sixty thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units of seventeen and one-half percent.
(d-7) Eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit market value is less than or equal to six hundred fifty thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of real property taxes attributable to or
S. 5749 5
due on such dwelling units, not to exceed thirty-three percent in the fiscal year commencing in calendar year two thousand twenty and thereafter.
(d-8) Eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit market value is between six hundred fifty thousand one dollars to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units, not to exceed twenty-two and five-tenths percent in the fiscal year commencing in calendar year two thousand twenty and thereafter.
(d-9) Eligible dwelling units in property whose average unit market value is between seven hundred fifty thousand one and one million five hundred thousand dollars shall receive a partial abatement of the real property taxes attributable to or due on such dwelling units, not to exceed seventeen and five-tenths percent in the fiscal year commencing in calendar year two thousand twenty and thereafter.
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, the admin- istrative code of the city of New York and the real property law, in relation to classifying properties held in condominium and cooperative form for assessment purposes as class one-a properties; and to repeal certain provisions of the real property tax law relating thereto
Purpose or general idea of bill
The legislation will create a new residential property tax class for coops and condos in the city of New York to bring these properties more in line with the way in which residential one, two and three family homes are assessed.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1 of section 1802 of the real property tax law by creating class one-a to include all other residen- tial real property held in condominium or cooperative form of ownership which is not designated as class one as well as other technical amend- ments to conform the section to the addition of the new class one-a. This section also specifically sets forth that the Department of Finance of any city enacting a local law pursuant to this section shall reclas- sify class one-a properties used primarily to generate rental income to class two. The Department of finance of any city enacting a local law pursuant to this section shall have, in addition to any other functions, powers and duties which have been or may be conferred on it by law, the power to make and promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this section including, but not limited to, rules defining the class one-a properties primarily used to generate rental income, and relating to the timing, form and manner of any certification required to be submitted under this section. If a property previously reclassified from class one-a to class two ceases to be used primarily to generate rental income, the Department shall reclassify such property to class one-a. The Department shall use a five-year period when determining whether a property is used primarily to generate rental income."
Read the full memo (1,535 words)
This section also adds a new section 1803-c directing the New York City Commission of finance to establish a new tax class one-a and to calcu- late shares for class one, class one-a, class two, class three and class four where the base year used in the calculation of the current base proportion shall be the 2017 assessment roll and the sum of class one-a and class two shall not exceed the prior year adjusted base proportion for such classes. After 2019 assessment rolls prepared according to January 1, 2021, the adjusted base proportions for class one and class one-a shall not exceed each class' prior adjusted base proportion by more than five percent. And finally this section requires the city of New York to set a tax rate for class one-a in the same manner as all class shares are calculated pursuant to sections eighteen hundred three, eighteen hundred three-a and eighteen hundred three-b of this article and further requires that the assessment ration for class one-a shall be six percent.
Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision I. paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 and subdivision 4 of section 307-a of the real property tax law to include the new class one-a.
Section 3 of the bill amends paragraph (1) of subdivision 1 of section 467-a of the real property tax lax is amended and a new paragraph (i) is added to state that "market value" shall be calculated based on compara- ble sales
Section 4 of the bill amends subdivision 2 of section 467-a of the real property tax law by adding seven new paragraphs relating to partial property tax abatements.
Section 4-a of the bill amends the real property tax law by adding a new section 467-a-I creating an enhanced partial abatement for certain condominiums and cooperative residences such that in the fiscal year commencing in two thousand and seventeen eligible units in property whose average unit market value is less than six hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars shall receive and enhanced abatement equal to the excess above two percent of the difference between the prior year's property tax and the current year's property tax; in the fiscal year commencing in two thousand and eighteen eligible units in property whose average unit market value is less than six hundred and fifty thousand dollars shall receive and enhanced abatement equal to the excess above four percent of the difference between the prior year's property tax and the current year's property tax; and in the fiscal year commencing in two thousand and nineteen and thereafter eligible units in property whose average unit market value is less than six hundred and fifty thousand dollars shall receive and enhanced abatement equal to the excess above six percent of the difference between the prior year's property tax and the current year's property tax. This section also states that the enhanced abatement shall not be eligible for units where the commission- er determines that renovation or construction within the unit or build- ing has produced a substantial yearly increase in the unit's assessed value.
Section 5 through 20 amend various sections of the real property tax law and the administrative code of the city of New York to add tax class\ one-a to each of these sections. In addition, Section 11 creates new sections 1-a and 1-b. Section 1-a states that assessment rolls compute for class one-a shall include any outstanding phased-in increases accrued prior to the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand fifteen which added this subdivision pursuant to subdivision three of this section. Section 1-b states that class one-a parcels shall be assessed in a method comparable to class one parcels.
Section 21 repeals section 581 of the real property tax law.
Section 22 amends portions of the "separate taxation" provisions under the "condominium act" set forth in subdivision 1 of section 339-y of the real property law by repealing sections (b), (d) and (f) and renumbering the remaining provisions.
Section 23 provides for this act to take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to assessment rolls prepared pursuant to a taxable status date occurring on or after such date; provided, however, that effective imme- diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Justification
This bill will create a new property tax class for coops and condos in order bring the property tax assessments in line with how taxes a reas- sessed on class one properties which include one, two and three family homes. Currently coops and condos are classified as class two properties which include commercial residential properties. The manner in which they are currently assessed involves a comparison to "comparable" resi- dential rental properties (excluding one, two or three family homes) which is inherently flawed. In fact, a more appropriate comparison for coops and condos is to residential one, two and three family homes or as discussed below certainly to other coops and condos and not residential rental properties. While coops and condos belong in a class one type of category they cannot be brought completely within the current class one because doing so would cause a significant increase in the current tax levies associated with class one properties. Furthermore, to bring coops and condos into the current class one category without carrying over their existing tax levies would result in a massive loss of revenue to the city of New York. Therefore the most reasonable and responsible change is to create a new class one-a category for coops and condos which will carry with it the current tax levies that are attached to such properties from class two to class one-a. The creation of this new class will result in coops and condos being assessed based on comparable sales prices to other coops and condos which will be a much more equita- ble evaluation process. In addition, properties in the new class one-a will also be covered by the current property tax caps that exists for Class 1 properties which cap any single yearly property tax increase at 6% and 20% over a five year period. The bill will also require that the annual percentage changes in real property taxes, including school taxes, for class one-a properties will not exceed the annual percentage changes for class one properties.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined
Effective date
The act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to assessment rolls prepared pursuant to a taxable status date occurring on or after such date; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.