Homestead Act Eligibility In Suffolk
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To qualify, seniors generally must be 65 years of age or older and meet certain income limitations and other requirements. For the 50% exemption, the law allows each county, city, town, village, or school district to set the maximum income limit at any figure between $3,000 and $50,000.
The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to live on and “improve” their plot by cultivating the land.
As of 2024, the federal homestead exemption is $27,900 for an individual and $55,800 for married couples filing jointly. In contrast, New York's exemption amounts are: $179,950 for the counties of Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam.
To be eligible for SCHE, you must be 65 or older, earn no more than $58,399 for the last calendar year, and the property must be your primary residence. The exemption must be renewed every two years. Learn more and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Some properties, such as those owned by religious organizations or governments are completely exempt from paying property taxes. Others are partially exempt, such as veterans who qualify for an exemption on part of their homes, and homeowners who are eligible for the School Tax Relief (STAR) program.
A homestead is a dwelling that a person uses as their primary residence, whether it is a single-family home, farm home, condo, or mobile home. Your vacation home, condo, or apartment, where you spend weekends or other shorter periods, would not qualify as a homestead.
Property tax benefits Cooperative and Condominium Tax Abatement. Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) ... Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) for landlords. Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) for tenants. School Tax Relief (STAR) Program. Non-profit exemptions.
Exemption applications must be filed with your local assessor's office. See our Municipal Profiles for your local assessor's mailing address. Do not file any exemption applications with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance or with the Office of Real Property Tax Services.
Under New York's homestead protection law, the amount property owners may declare exempt varies based on county location and range from $75,000 to $150,000. The exemption amount is doubled for married couples, which can be as much as $300,000 for a couple in Suffolk County, for example.
