Deadline for STAR Filing is Friday

Have you filed this year for your STAR exemption yet?

The deadline to apply for New York State’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program and other property tax exemptions in the Town of Babylon is March 1, 2013.

According to New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo (R, Merrick), the NYS STAR program works in two parts:

• Basic STAR is available to all New Yorkers who own and live in their own home, condominium or cooperative apartment whose combined total adjusted gross income does not exceed $500,000, regardless of age.
• Enhanced STAR is available to senior citizen property owners whose combined total adjusted gross income (less any IRA distributions) is less than $79,050 and who'll be age 65 or older by December 31, 2013. If the property is owned by a husband and wife, or by siblings, only one of them must be at least 65 years old to qualify for this exemption.

Residents who already receive the Basic STAR exemption or who participate in the Enhanced STAR Income Verification Program don't need to re-file.

Residents who moved to a new house and had the STAR exemption at their previous address need to file a new application. The STAR exemption isn't automatically transferred to a new address.

In addition, the Town of Babylon also offers other property tax exemptions, noted Fuschillo, including:

• Senior citizens.
• Veterans.
• Cold War veterans.
• First-time homebuyer of newly constructed homes.
• Volunteer firefighters or ambulance service workers.
• Persons with disabilities and limited incomes.
• Capital improvements.

STAR applications and information about other tax exemptions in Babylon Town can be obtained by visiting the Town of Babylon’s website, www.townofbabylon.com.

Click on the Forms Center link on the upper-left corner of the home page. There residents will find Assessor's Office Forms, including:

• Alternative Veterans Exemption Application and Instructions
• Do you qualify for a real property tax exemption?
• Capital Improvement Exemption Application and Instructions
• Cold War Veterans Exemption Application and Instructions
• Disability First Time Exemption Application and Instructions
• First Time Homeowners Exemption Application and Instructions
• First Time STAR Exemption Application and Instructions
• First Time Volunteer Firefighters or Ambulance Workers Exemption Application and Instructions
• Senior Citizen First Time Exemption Application and Instructions

Residents could also contact the Town of Babylon’s Department of Assessment - open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - at 631-957-3014. And more information could be found under the FAQs link on the home page, under the Assessor section.

"The first-time application for Basic and Enhanced Star is available online or can be obtained from the Assessor's Office in Town Hall. Please keep in mind that the deadline for filing applications is March 1," the Assesor FAQs section read under the question, How do I apply for the STAR exemption?

"Residents of the Town of Babylon, including those living in one of the three incorporated villages (Amityville, Lindenhurst and Babylon) all apply for STAR exemption at the Town's Department of Assessment."

Information could also be obtained by visiting Senator Fuschillo’s website, fuschillo.nysenate.gov, and clicking on the Are you entitled to a property tax exemption? link on the left side of the page.

(See also the links in this article and the accompanying PDF files.)

The application filing deadline is March 1, Fuschillo reiterated.

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