Nassau County property taxes are among the highest in the nation, but there is good news – there are many exemptions that help you reduce this tax bite, often by a considerable margin. To take advantage of these exemptions, you’ll need to be a member of a class of individuals for whom these exemptions were designed, for example, a veteran, senior citizen, a volunteer firefighter/ambulance worker, or a person with limited income and disabilities.
Here are some of the important tax exemptions you should know about if you own a home in Nassau County.
A complete list of Exemption Brochures is available at the official Nassau County website at: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/1502/Exemption-Brochures
Exemptions for Veterans
U.S. Veterans residing in Nassau County who have been honorably discharged from service may be eligible for a real property tax exemption; also covered are the veterans’ surviving un-remarried spouses, dependent parents, and dependent children.
Qualifying veterans may see a reduction in the County, Town, Village, and Highway components of their property tax bills of up to 15 percent, with an additional 10 percent reduction for service in a combat area or for receiving an Expeditionary Medal. A disabled veteran’s exemption due to an injury while in service will depend on the degree of the disability.
As far as School taxes are concerned, exemptions will only be honored in districts that have opted to offer this reduction.
Exemptions for Senior Citizens
Senior citizens in Nassau County who occupy the homes which they own may also be eligible for a property tax exemption. There are two programs available: the Enhanced STAR (School Tax Assessment Relief) program, and the Senior Citizens Property Tax Exemption.
Enhanced STAR provides seniors aged 65 and older, whose annual household income does not exceed $86,300 in the year 2017, a partial exemption from School taxes. The income requirement can change annually.
The Senior Citizens Property Tax Exemption offers a further reduction for those homeowners over the age of 65, but is limited to those whose household income does not exceed $37,399. For more information regarding this Senior Citizens exemption, go to:
Please take note that unlike in the past, seniors who qualify for the Senior Citizens Exemption will no longer automatically be granted the Enhanced STAR Exemption. Due to changes in New York State law, beginning with applications submitted in calendar year 2018 for the 2019/2020 tax year, you must separately apply for the Senior Citizens Exemption and the Enhanced STAR Exemption.
Exemptions for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers
Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers living in Nassau County can take advantage of a Real Property Tax Exemption provided they have volunteered for at least five years. This exemption equals 10 percent of the assessed value of their properties for General tax purposes, and may also apply to School taxes if one’s local school district has adopted a resolution allowing it.
Exemptions for People with Limited Income and Disabilities
Those living in Nassau County who suffer from disabilities and are on limited incomes may be eligible for a property tax exemption. Provided the homeowner has met the criteria set by the locality in which he/she resides, this exemption may be sizeable: a 50 percent reduction in the assessed value of the residence.
Savings Beyond Exemptions
While it’s important to identify and utilize all the property tax exemptions to which you are entitled, it’s also important to utilize the services of an experienced tax reduction company like Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC to challenge your tax assessment. Maidenbaum’s team leverages its nearly 30 years of experience and analyzes each individual case with state-of-the-art technology to obtain the best results.
Maidenbaum will only charge you for the savings that it achieves and will not take credit for any property tax exemptions – such as the Basic or Enhanced STAR, Senior or Veteran’s exemptions – which you may have filed on your own. Maidenbaum’s work starts after your exemptions kick in.
Authorize Maidenbaum to grieve your Nassau County property tax assessment today.