Letter from attorney to opposing counsel requesting documentation concerning homestead exemption for change of venue motion.
Under New York's homestead protection law, the amount property owners may declare exempt varies based on county location and range from $75,000 to $150,000. The exemption amount is doubled for married couples, which can be as much as $300,000 for a couple in Suffolk County, for example.
To reduce your property taxes, you have to file a Property Tax Grievance. You can do this yourself (if you love doing paperwork and dealing with Town Hall) or you can hire a firm on your behalf. All Island Tax Grievance specializes in representing homeowners in Suffolk County.
Exemption applications must be filed with your local assessor's office. See our Municipal Profiles for your local assessor's mailing address. Do not file any exemption applications with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance or with the Office of Real Property Tax Services.
As of 2024, the federal homestead exemption is $27,900 for an individual and $55,800 for married couples filing jointly. In contrast, New York's exemption amounts are: $179,950 for the counties of Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam.
You must own the property and have an equity interest in it. This includes houses, condominiums, co-ops, and mobile homes. Your home equity must fall within the exemption limits for your county: $179,950 for the counties of Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam.
To be eligible for SCHE, you must be 65 or older, earn no more than $58,399 for the last calendar year, and the property must be your primary residence. The exemption must be renewed every two years. Learn more and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Homestead tax exemptions usually offer a fixed discount on taxes, such as exempting the first $50,000 of the assessed value with the remainder taxed at the normal rate. With a $50,000 homestead exemption, a home valued at $150,000 would be taxed on only $100,000 of assessed value.
