New law requires seniors to verify income to keep Enhanced STAR tax rebate

Senior citizens eligible for the state’s Enhanced STAR tax rebate program must now verify their income  to remain in the program, officials said Thursday.

Enhanced STAR gives back a portion of the school property taxes on seniors' primary residences if they are age 65 or older and fall under the income cap. For the 2019-2020 school year, they must earn $86,300 or less.

Previously, eligible seniors had the option of enrolling in the Income Verification Program, or IVP, which was begun several years ago to combat fraud. However, enrollment is now mandatory under a state law that took effect Tuesday, said James Gazzale, a spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance, which administers STAR rebates. 

He said about 640,000 seniors  across the state  receive Enhanced STAR and about half are already enrolled in IVP. Enrolling is a one-time process.

“This change applies only to seniors 65 and older applying for the Enhanced STAR exemption or those who have the exemption included in their property tax bills,” said Nonie Manion, the acting tax commissioner. This doesn’t affect those already enrolled in IVP,  "who receive a check for this exemption because we already verify their income eligibility.”

To enroll in IVP, seniors must renew their Enhanced STAR application and complete an IVP form. Both can be found on the tax department’s website, on.ny.gov/2BXwcNu. The forms should be submitted to the resident’s local tax assessor.

The enrollment deadline for Nassau County residents is Jan. 2, 2020, and requires the completion of a county form as well as the state form. More information is available by telephoning the county’s Department of Assessment at 516-571-1500.

Suffolk County residents should contact their respective town assessor as soon as possible, Gazzale said. 

Homeowners and spouses must provide their Social Security numbers, along with proof of income such as income tax forms.

Beginning this year, seniors receiving a separate property tax exemption from local governments are no longer automatically enrolled for Enhanced STAR because of the state law. They now must apply separately for both tax breaks.  

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.