Sen. Foley Acts to Protect Home Owners Who Apply For STAR Tax Relief

Legislation will prevent bureaucratic mixups and imporve STAR application processState Senator Brian X. Foley (D – Blue Point) announced the passage of important legislation that will improve the STAR Tax Relief process, giving homeowners the peace of mind in knowing they will receive the property tax breaks they are entitled to.

The legislation (S. 3087) requires that taxpayers be given a receipt confirming they in face applied for a STAR exemption and that the tax assessor received the application. Sen. Foley helped pass this legislation after learning some homeowners did not receive their STAR exemption because their assessor claimed the application was never submitted.

“Homeowners need relief and this measure is a small but important step forward in my efforts to provide substantive property tax relief,” Sen. Foley said. “It protects property owners from getting stuck in a bureaucratic mix-up, ensuring they receive the tax breaks they are entitled to.”

The legislation requires tax assessors to provide a receipt when a homeowner submits an application for a STAR exemption.  The receipt will serve as formal proof if any dispute arises over whether or not the homeowner had applied.  Homeowners must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the receipt if they apply by mail.