[Adopted 5-27-2008 by L.L. No. 2-2008]
The purpose of this article is to grant Cold
War veterans who meet the requirements set forth in § 458-b
of the New York State Real Property Tax Law a real property tax exemption.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Full-time duty in the United States Armed Forces, other than
active duty for training.
The United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and
Coast Guard.
A person, male or female, who served on active duty in the
United States Armed Forces, during the time period from September
2, 1945, to December 26, 1991, was discharged or released therefrom
under honorable conditions and satisfies any other requirements set
forth in Subdivision 1(a) of § 458-b of the New York State
Real Property Tax Law.
The latest final class ratio established by the New York
State Board of Real Property Tax Services pursuant to Title 1 of Article
12 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law for use in a special
assessing unit as defined in § 1801 of the New York State
Real Property Tax Law.
The latest final equalization rate established by the New
York State Board of Property Tax Services pursuant to Article 12 of
the New York State Real Property Tax Law.
A Cold War veteran, the spouse of a Cold War veteran, or
the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran. Where
property is owned by more than one qualified owner, the exemption
to which each is entitled may be combined. Where a veteran is also
the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran, such person may also
receive any exemption to which the deceased spouse was entitled.
Property owned by a qualified owner which is used exclusively
for residential purposes; provided, however, that in the event that
any portion of such property is not used exclusively for residential
purposes, but is used for other purposes, such portion shall be subject
to taxation and only the remaining portion used exclusively for residential
purposes shall be subject to the exemption provided by this section.
Such property shall be the primary residence of the Cold War veteran
or the unremarried surviving spouse of a Cold War veteran, unless
the Cold War veteran or unremarried surviving spouse is absent from
the property due to medical reasons or institutionalization subject
to such time limitations, if any, as are set forth in Subdivision
1(f) of § 458-b of the New York State Real Property Tax
Law.
With respect to disability or death, that such disability
was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability
incurred or aggravated, in the line of duty on active military, naval
or air service.
A.
Qualifying residential real property shall be exempt
from taxation to the extent of 15% of the assessed value of such property;
provided however, that such exemption shall not exceed $12,000 or
the product of $12,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization
rate of the assessing unit or, in the case of a special assessing
unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.
B.
In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection A of this section, where the Cold War veteran received a compensation rating from the United States Veterans Affairs or from the United States Department of Defense because of a service-related disability, qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of the product of the assessed value of such property multiplied by 50% of the Cold War veteran disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $40,000 or the product of $40,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate of the assessing unit or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.
C.
If a Cold War veteran receives either a veterans exemption under Article II, § 208-2, of this chapter, authorized by § 458 of the Real Property Tax Law, or an alternative veterans exemption under Article II, § 208-2.1, of this chapter, authorized by § 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law, the Cold War veteran shall not be eligible to receive an exemption under this article.
[Amended 1-23-2018 by L.L. No. 1-2018]
The exemption provided by Subsection A of § 208-20 of this article shall apply to qualifying owners of qualifying real property for as long as they remain qualifying owners without regard to the ten-year limitation and shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Real Property Tax Law as amended by Chapter 290 of the Laws of 2017.
Application for the exemption set forth in this
article shall be made by the qualified owner, or all of the qualified
owners, of the property, on a form prescribed by the New York State
Board of Real Property Tax Services. The owner or owners shall file
the completed form in their local Assessor's office on or before the
first appropriate taxable status date. The owner or owners of the
property shall be required to refile at such times and under such
circumstances as may be set forth in Subdivision 4 of § 458-b
of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. Any applicant convicted
of willfully making any false statement in the application for such
exemption shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in the New
York State Penal Law.