Exemption applications must be filed with your local assessor's office. See our Municipal Profiles for your local assessor's mailing address.What is the homestead tax option? A. It is a local option to establish two separate property tax rates: a lower tax rate for residential property owners. Principal Residence Required: The Homestead Exemption in New York only applies to the debtor's primary residence. You can get information about your property tax benefits, including: Application status, Current benefit amounts, Proposed benefit for the upcoming tax year. If there are multiple properties, please complete and return the Additional Property Information and Certification, on page. 4. To apply for the credit, taxpayers must fill out NYS tax form IT 214, Claim for the Real Property Tax Credit, and attach it to their NYS income tax return. The following is a brief description of residential (Homestead) property tax exemptions available to property owners in the City of Rochester. The application packets linked below include all relevant forms and instructions needed to apply for each type of exemption.