Last Call - STAR application for Suffolk County residents (Babylon: home, buy)

[Elke Mariotti]

The deadline is rapidly approaching - March 1st!

If you recently purchased a home in Suffolk County (or never filed), get in your application! You only have to apply once for Basic STAR (School Tax Relief Program) and it'll automatically renew each year, unless you buy a new primary residence.

If you're a Senior, you may be eligible for Enhanced STAR as long as you'll be 65 by Dec. 31st of this year and your 2010 income was less than $79,050.

[Crookhaven]

Thanks for the heads up

Do you need to re up if you got it last year Elke?

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Thanks for the heads up

Do you need to re up if you got it last year Elke?

No, only if you're eligible for Enhanced (and that can be avoided too).

Don't think you qualify yet, Crooks

[Crookhaven]

[quote=Elke Mariotti;17942397]No, only if you're eligible for Enhanced (and that can be avoided too).

Don't think you qualify yet, Crooks [/QUOTE

Rapidly approaching.

Thanks Elke.

[LongIslandEddie]

Originally Posted by Elke Mariotti

The deadline is rapidly approaching - March 1st!

If you recently purchased a home in Suffolk County (or never filed), get in your application! You only have to apply once for Basic STAR (School Tax Relief Program) and it'll automatically renew each year, unless you buy a new primary residence.

If you're a Senior, you may be eligible for Enhanced STAR as long as you'll be 65 by Dec. 31st of this year and your 2010 income was less than $79,050.

Thanks for the reminder, I qualify across the board! How sure are you of the capped income figure?
Last year, I could've sworn that the max income was around $32,000, here in Babylon township. Have
things changed? Seems to me that any senior citizen making $79,000 annually, really shouldn't need a
tax break. In 48 years of employment, I never passed 60k per year, now I'm trying to get along on our
social security. This would be a great help to me.

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by LongIslandEddie

Thanks for the reminder, I qualify across the board! How sure are you of the capped income figure?
Last year, I could've sworn that the max income was around $32,000, here in Babylon township. Have
things changed? Seems to me that any senior citizen making $79,000 annually, really shouldn't need a
tax break. In 48 years of employment, I never passed 60k per year, now I'm trying to get along on our
social security. This would be a great help to me.

Glad I can help you then
Yes, I'm absolutely certain. It's household income and only one has to be 65; the spouse can be younger.
You may be thinking of the amount the exemption is based on: Basic STAR exempts the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes ($50,000 for Enhanced).

You can see for yourself: STAR - NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services
If you scroll down, you'll see a link to STAR Applications for NY State residents (outside NYC); click on it and you'll get to PDF files - it's easy to follow along. You can also go to your local Town Assessor's office and pick up a form; once completed, that's where the form(s) should be submitted.

If you're applying for Enhanced, you must supply proof of income, i.e. a copy of your NYS income tax return (attachments aren't necessary). (Should be for tax year 2009 if I remember correctly). In order to continue to receive the Enhanced benefit, you either re-apply each year, or you give permission for them to automatically pull the pertinent information. Most people I know give permission.

P.S.: Please note: This is the first year they have a maximum household income for Basic STAR: $500,000

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by blueballs

i filed. how long and how do you find out what you saved ? thanks

It'll show on your next tax bill (it's NOT retroactive!). The amount depends on the SD - each SD has a different amount. Your local Tax assessor's office will have the applicable amount for your SD.