Lanza Persuades Finance to Post Nyc Property Exemptions on Web

New initiative allows property owners to see their property exemptions

On November 19, 2009 the Department of Finance unveiled a new initiative that allows the public to view exemptions on New York City properties, which is an idea first suggested by Senator Andrew Lanza.

      In the Fall of 2007, Senator Lanza invited the New York City Department of Finance to attend a Homeowner's Fair held in his Staten Island office and expressed interest in seeing a system that would allow his constituents to itemize for taxpayers the exemptions and amounts they carry. Senator Lanza commends Finance for responding in such a positive and effective fashion by building  a program that can accomplish that task. Finance’s new benefit look-up program allows residents to access information on 421a, 421b, 421g, ICIP, J51, DAMP and UDAAP tax reduction programs.

Now, a property owner, or a staff member working on their behalf, can log onto the Finance website at www.nyc.gov/finance and see what exemptions they carry as well as the value of these exemptions. Additionally, a commercial property owner can use this site to look at the commercial exemptions awarded to their property.

       “Finance’s innovative new database increases transparency and allows owners to know exactly what exemptions are on their properties,” said Department of Finance Commissioner David Frankel. “I want to thank Senator Lanza, who worked with Finance to develop this program.”

      Senator Lanza said, “I thank Mayor Bloomberg and the NYC Department of Finance for instituting this program, creating greater access to information for taxpayers and thereby making government more transparent and efficient.”

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