Establishes an active service exemption

Military homeowners get a limited tax break

The law lets New York counties, cities, towns, and villages adopt a property tax break for qualifying active-duty military homeowners. Relief is available only where the local government adopts it. The homeowner's permanent military duty station must place their residence in New York. They must document active-duty service in a presidentially designated combat zone during the taxable year. Proof must be military orders or a certified letter from their commanding officer. Covered service includes the military branches, Army and Air National Guard, and New York Naval Militia. The exemption covers up to 25% of the home's assessed value, subject to the locally adopted limit. The cap is the lesser of $20,000 or $20,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate. In a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio replaces that rate. This reduces taxable assessed value, not the tax bill by the same dollar amount. School taxes are not covered, and any nonresidential portion of the property remains taxable. Owners cannot claim this exemption while receiving an exemption under Real Property Tax Law sections 458, 458-a, or 458-b that year. The owner or all owners must file the state-prescribed application with the assessor by the applicable taxable status date. They must reapply each year. In cities with at least 1 million residents, applications filed by March 15 are timely. Knowingly making a false statement on the application carries Penal Law penalties. A locality can repeal the exemption at least 90 days before the taxable status date. The law takes effect January 2 of the year following its enactment. It applies to property with a taxable status date on or after that date.