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Important tax exemption and assessment information

Q. How will STAR exemptions affect school taxes?
A. All New Yorkers who own their own homes can significantly reduce their school taxes through a School TAx Relief (STAR) exemption on their primary residences, regardless of age or income. STAR exemptions must be applied for through the town assessor’s office.

The Basic STAR exemption is available for owner-occupied, primary residencies regardless of the owners’ ages or incomes. The Enhanced STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of residents age 65 and up with yearly household incomes below the state standard.

The annual deadline to apply is March 1 of any given year. Residents applying for the Basic STAR exemption have to only apply one time, but must reapply if they move. Senior citizens who are eligible for Enhanced STAR, must reapply with their town assessor’s office by March 1 each year.

Call your town assessor if you have questions about this program, about income limitations, or wish to apply for STAR. For a direct link to exemption application forms and deadlines, go to the ORPS Web site at www.orps.state.ny.us/ref/forms/subjects/exempt.htm.


Q. What other exemptions can Mohonasen residents receive?
A. In an effort to respond to the concerns of fixed-income senior citizens and people with disabilities, the Mohonasen Board of Education passed maximum Real Property Tax Exemptions in February 2007.

Residents over the age of 65 and qualifying residents of any age with disabilities who have an annual income of $35,400 or less can be exempted from paying 5-50 percent of their home’s assessed value, translating to a reduction in school taxes. These exemptions are in addition to the basic STAR exemption. Applications for either exemption must be filed with the town assessor’s office and must be renewed annually. 

In the towns of Rotterdam and Colonie, the deadline for the above exemptions is March 1 of any given year. In the town of Guilderland, senior citizen renewals are due on Grievance Day (May 27, 2008). All other exemptions in the town of Guilderland are due March 1.

Go to www.orps.state.ny.us/home/tpe_index.cfm for more information, and to find out what exemptions you may be eligible for.


Q. I would like to grieve my reassessment. Where do I start?
A. There are a number of steps and procedures built into the reassessment system to ensure that the tax burden is shared as fairly as possible. One of these steps is a reassessment grievance.

Administrative review of an assessment is a necessary prerequisite to judicial review. Residents must file a grievance complaint with the assessing jurisdiction (i.e.,Town of Rotterdam, Town of Colonie or Town of Guilderland). The grievance complaint is then reviewed by a Board of Assessment Review (“BAR”).

The grievance complaint and any supporting papers must be mailed or delivered to the municipality so that the BAR receives them on or before Grievance Day, which is Tuesday, May 27, 2008. A grievance complaint, even if it is postmarked on or before Grievance Day, is deemed to be late if it does not arrive by Grievance Day.

For more information about reassessment grievances, go to www.orps.state.ny.us/pamphlet/certbook/adminreview.htm.

For questions about tax exemptions or your reassessment, please call your town assessor.