STAR Registration Deadline is December 31

Time is quickly running out for qualified homeowners to register for the STAR property tax exemption program. The deadline is December 31.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance said that as of December 10, more than two million qualified homeowners statewide have now registered for the program. In the Town of Huntington, 77 percent of eligible homeowners have registered. Another 10,250 eligible homeowners have still not done so as the clock continues to tick toward the deadline.

Officials in the Huntington School District are urging residents who have not already done so to file their STAR program registration as soon as possible. “No homeowner should miss out on registering for the exemption by the December 31 deadline,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “It takes little time to complete the registration process, whether online or by phone. Simply speaking, this will result in a tax reduction to which a resident is entitled.”

“STAR saves homeowners an average of $700 every year, but time is running out,” said Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox. “If you’re eligible and haven’t registered yet, take a little time from your busy holiday schedule and register today. It only takes between two and four minutes to complete the process online.”

The Tax Department, which has hosted more than 200 in-person registration events across the state, has directly mailed at least once all of the nearly 2.7 million New York homeowners who claimed the exemption last year. In November, the Department sent reminder postcards to 900,000 who had not yet registered.

The registration is a one-time process - assuring that homeowners will get the Basic STAR exemption in 2014, and beyond. Senior citizens receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption are not impacted by the new registration program.

The Basic STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of homeowners with incomes under $500,000. The registration stems from a Tax Department investigation that found thousands of taxpayers receiving STAR exemptions on more than one property.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo included the initiative in the 2013/14 state budget. He directed the Tax Department to develop a user-friendly system to eliminate inappropriate exemptions while making it simple for eligible homeowners to maintain their STAR benefits.

To register, visit www.tax.ny.gov or call 518-457-2036. Online information is available in six different languages and translators stand ready to assist via telephone. The Tax Department is offering extended STAR Hotline hours through December 31 - 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information access the following links:

·         STAR Registration Media Center includes graphics, fact sheets and other press-friendly links.

·         YouTube video

·         Online demo

·         Follow the Tax Department on Twitter for real-time STAR Registration updates.