McKevitt: Residents Need to Re-Register for STAR Exemption

After an audit discovered widespread abuse of the Basic STAR program, all residents must re-register for the exemptions by Dec. 31, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt said.

Nassau County comptroller George Maragos estimates as much as $13 million in fraud and abuse, according to the assemblyman.

“Long Islander’s property taxes are some of the highest in the country,” McKevitt said. “It is critical that qualified residents take full advantage of this program, which saved the average homeowner statewide $700 in 2012. I want to encourage anyone with questions to contact the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance via their website or local assessor for additional details.”

Homeowners will receive a letter instructing them to reapply for the Basic STAR program in the coming weeks. The new registration for Basic STAR will only be required once; homeowners will not have to re-register in future years.

The STAR program provides a partial exemption from school taxes for most homeowners with incomes less than $500,000 on their primary residences.

McKevitt noted that the new registration process will not affect this year’s tax bills, nor will it affect Enhanced STAR. (Seniors are required to register every year to receive the Enhanced STAR exemption.)

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