October is here — the season for glorious Fall foliage in the Northeast but also the nerve-racking season when Nassau County homeowners receive their 1st Half School Tax bills.
Here we provide a reminder that these bills are coming, along with news about other important developments that may affect your property tax bill for better or worse.
Nassau County School Tax Bills Are on the Way (Make Sure to Pay On Time)
Nassau County has begun sending out 1st Half School Tax bills. Receiving these bills can produce sticker shock on the part of the recipient, especially at a time when the future of the economy remains uncertain while inflation continues to pose a huge concern. School taxes in Nassau County — which constitute about 60 percent of a homeowner’s overall property tax bill — have traditionally risen each year.
Nobody likes to receive these bills. But it’s important that they be paid on time, because penalties rapidly accumulate for late payment if your payment is not made or post-marked by the November 10, 2022 deadline.
Some Property Tax Relief for Seniors and the Disabled
Here’s some positive news: new legislation — proposed by the Governor in August, approved by the Nassau County Legislature, and signed by the Nassau County Executive — grants Nassau County lower-income senior and disabled homeowners a significant measure of property tax relief.
The age qualifier of 65 has remained the same, but the income threshold to qualify for the senior citizen exemption is now $58,399 as opposed to the previous threshold of $37,400. Meaning, in the past, a homeowner had to prove an income of $37,400 or less to qualify for this exemption, and now that income has increased to $58,399, allowing for more homeowners to take advantage of this exemption. For more information and details of the income limits and corresponding exemption percentage, visit https://hempsteadny.gov/395/Senior-Citizen.
While some have remarked that this change in income requirements will shift a significant chunk of the property tax burden onto homeowners who are neither senior citizens nor disabled (currently, about 9,000 homeowners benefit from this exemption), the legislation has received strong bipartisan support and is welcome news for many seniors and disabled individuals struggling with the high cost of home ownership in Nassau County.
The Property Tax Phase-In May Begin to Bite Some This Tax Season
Maidenbaum wrote about the Reassessment Phase-In Act of 2020 (RPIA) shortly after it was passed in 2020; for those interested in the rationale and mechanics of RPIA, it’s recommended reading.
In a nutshell, RPIA provided a five-year phase-in period for property value increases caused by the 2020/21 reassessment, thus easing the burden for those receiving revised — and generally higher — tax bills for the first time. During the first year of the reassessment, RPIA called for 80 percent of a homeowner’s exemption base to be exempt from the homeowners’ assessment, for the second year, 60 percent. For this tax year, only 40 percent will be exempt.
What this all means is that your property tax bill may be noticeably steeper this year as the benefits of RPIA wind down and begin to disappear.
Maidenbaum is Here to Help
Rising School Tax Bills and decreased benefits from RPIA may make this a difficult property tax year for many. Fortunately, there’s no better way to reduce the assessed value of your property to a fair and reasonable value than by letting Maidenbaum handle your property tax grievance. Filing a grievance in Nassau County is a savvy maneuver for any homeowner, and Maidenbaum has a long history of representing taxpayers in your situation.
We hope that you’ll choose Maidenbaum to represent you for the 2024/25 tax year. Remember, there’s absolutely no risk to you: even if your property is accurately assessed, and no reduction is warranted, there’s no fee to you (if your matter happens to go to SCAR (Small Claims Assessment Review), the court-imposed filing fee is just $30).
If you’d like to sign up or simply learn more about how the process works, please contact us today via our website or by phone at 516-336-8622.