Archive: News

The Tompkins County Department of Assessment has mailed renewal applications to all senior citizens who received an exemption on the 2011 Final Roll pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 467 – (Senior Citizens with a limited income).  Since the Senior Citizen Exemption eligibility is based upon income levels, the renewal application must be filed each and every year by March 1.

The renewal application MUST be returned to the Department of Assessment by March 1, 2012 to be applicable for the 2012 Final Assessment Roll.  In addition to the filing of the application at the Department of Assessment by March 1, 2012, all supporting documents must be filed by April 15th, including the 2011 State/Federal Income Tax Form. It is important to note that the application can be filed at the Department of Assessment by March 1, 2011 without any income information included.  Income information can then be accepted by the Department of Assessment up to April 15th as long as the application was filed by March 1, 2012.   

Also, the Enhanced Star Exemption renewal forms were also mailed for those senior citizens who opted NOT to have the Department of Assessment verify their income with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.  These renewal forms must to be returned to the Department of Assessment by March 1, 2012 to be applicable for the 2012 Final Assessment Roll along with a copy of the 2010 State/Federal Income Tax Return if not already on-file.  

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has completed their verification for the Enhanced Star exemption for those seniors who opted into the Income Verification Program.  For those that the state could verify that the property owner’s income was less than $79,050, a post card has been mailed stating “Approved for Enhanced STAR”.  Those individuals do not need to do anything else.  If the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance could not verify their income, the Department of Assessment has mailed a letter to those describing the next steps to be taken.   

Renewal applications for the Disability and Clergy were mailed earlier in November and must be returned to the Department of Assessment by March 1, 2012.  Also, any and all new exemption applications (including any new Agricultural Building Exemptions, Business Improvement Exemptions and Capital Improvements to Residential Properties – City of Ithaca only) must be filed by March 1, 2012 as well.  

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