Senator Nozzolio Fights For Property Tax Relief

Albany - In an effort to provide additional property tax relief for senior citizens, New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio and his colleagues in the State Senate have passed legislation (S.6417) to double the size of direct property tax rebate checks for senior citizen homeowners this year, returning about $200 million to New York’s senior citizens. In addition, the legislation would eliminate, starting next year, the means test that requires homeowners to apply for the rebate this year.

The bill would also triple the size of property tax rebate checks for all homeowners in 2008 and quadruple the size in 2009, providing $2.6 billion in relief next year, growing to $3.4 billion in 2009, as originally proposed by the Senate in their budget this year.

"Property tax relief is an issue that truly matters to New Yorkers, particularly senior citizens that are living on fixed incomes and seeing their property tax bills rise every year," Senator Nozzolio said. "This legislation would double the size of property tax rebate checks for seniors to help them pay their school property taxes so they can afford to stay in their homes. In addition, this legislation will fix the program going forward to triple the size of checks for all homeowners next year and eliminate the burdensome application process to ensure that homeowners automatically receive their rebate checks."

Because Governor Spitzer added income requirements to this year’s property tax plan, taxpayers will be required to fill out applications and send them to the state Tax Department in order to receive their rebates.

The bill was sent to the Assembly.


To learn how much your 2007 tax rebate check will be this fall, please click here.