Written by Joseph Spector, Gannett
ALBANY– The state tax department is holding weeklong registration events across the state starting Monday to get people to register for STAR.
The state is requiring homeowners who receive the tax break to re-register, and they’ll have the events in Binghamton, Rochester and Buffalo and three other cities, as well as on Long Island.
The deadline to re-register for STAR is Dec. 31.
“To ensure that every eligible homeowner continues to receive the savings they deserve, we’re mobilizing staff to directly assist homeowners with their registration,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “Don’t miss out on hundreds of dollars in tax savings each year — register at one of these sites, online or by phone as soon as possible.”
The School Tax Relief property tax exemption, or STAR, is offered to homeowners whose income is under $500,000 and only for their primary residence.
The state began a re-registration process this year after the state Taxation and Finance Department found some homeowners were committing fraud by claiming the STAR exemption on more than one residence.
Nearly 2 million of the 2.7 million Basic STAR recipients have re-registered. In Binghamton, 77 percent of eligible homeowners have re-registered; 63 percent in Buffalo; 81 percent in the Albany area; 69 percent on Long Island; and 61 percent in Rochester.
Tax department staff will assist homeowners at the seven STAR registration locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, through Friday, Dec. 6.
Senior citizens who receive Enhanced STAR exemption are not effected by the registration process. They have to re-register every year.
Homeowners can call (518) 457-2036 to re-register for Basic STAR or visit www.tax.ny.gov.
Here are the locations for the events:
Binghamton: State Office Building, 44 Hawley St.
Buffalo: Sen. Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building, 65 Court St.
Albany: Empire State Plaza Concourse, Albany (in front of McDonald’s).
Long Island: Perry B. Duryea State Office Building, 250 Veteran’s Memorial Highway, Hauppauge.
New York City: Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn.
Rochester: City Hall, 30 Church St.
Syracuse: Senator John J. Hughes State Office Building, 333 East Washington Street
