State income tax rebate applications in the mail
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

BATH - Applications for school tax rebates for eligible property owners are in the mail, according to Steuben

County Real Property Tax Service Agency Director Donna Hatch .

But the application process for taxpayers qualifying for the Basic STAR rebates has changed, she said.

Property owners qualifying for the basic exemption must now apply for the rebate, Hatch told the county Legislature Monday.

The Basic STAR exemption provides a reduced school tax on a primary residence, regardless of age or income. Taxpayers 65 and older may qualify for a larger school tax reduction on their primary residence with an enhanced exemption.

Last year, the state added rebates to the STAR exemptions, automatically sending out a total of $875 million in rebate checks to property owners. This year, $1.3 billion has been budgeted for the rebates.

Under the plan, the basic tax rebate for th e average taxpayer in Steuben County would rise from last year's $168 to $504 this year, and for seniors from $281 to $843. Similar rebate increases would be realized in other area counties.

"But this year, if you don't apply, you won't get the rebate," Hatch said.

The change will not affect seniors who qualify for Enhanced STAR exemptions and rebates, Hatch said. Eligible seniors still will automatically receive their rebates, she said.

This year, the Basic STAR rebates feature a sliding scale, with lower-income taxpayers receiving larger rebates, according to state officials.

Property owners qualifying for the basic tax relief and earning less than $90,000 annually will qualify for the largest rebate, while qualified owners earning more than $250,000 will not receive any rebate.

Hatch said property owners must wait until they receive their notices in the mail to apply.

The notices include a code that must be included in the application, she said.

In a press release, state Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, said the rebate will provide significant savings to many local property taxpayers.

"It remains a Senate priority to keep whittling away, in whatever way we can, at what's become an unfair and unreasonable property tax burden," Winner said.

"These rebates are a necessary short-term action."

Hatch said property owners may mail their applications back to the state, or apply on line.

The deadline for the applications is Nov. 30.