Make sure you call your local tax assessor office to get your STAR application and get the tax break applied as soon as possible. I am moving into the new place on 1/24, but the office will send out the application now so I can have it all ready to mail on 1/24. Just a little tip for those buying a house.
NovemberSue
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
Yes,it will save you a lot of $$$$
dgtlsunshine
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
Oh what is this about? Is this a federal thing or just in Long Island? We are in the process of buying a house in Virginia.
michele31
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
It's a LI thing, not sure. Call your local tax assessor where you are buying your home and ask them if there are any tax-saving programs for people your age. Very often there are programs for 65+
Cira
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
We found this website helpful. But I thought the application date was early January? Hmmm ... oh well, we have to file a grievance next. Apparently, our taxes are so much higher then our neighbors, so we are going to fight them! Ugh .... I think we need to do that by April? Not sure on that date though! Thanks for the info Michele!
http://www.co.nassau.ny.us/assessor/html/star.htm
michele31
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
Your neighbor could have STAR and that is why their taxes are less. Also, do you have more square footage or a pool or shed or even a fence will add up quickly. This guy does grievances no charge, unless he wins. I am considering calling when we move in just to see what we can do about ours. In Town of Brookhaven the grievance date is May 1. Mark Lewis Tax Grievance Svc 1685 Middle Country Rd, Centereach, NY 11720 Phone: (631) 696-2222
STAR women at Town of Brookhaven told me I need to take occupancy by 3/1 to get STAR. Not sure if that is all towns or not.
dgtlsunshine
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
Well I will be calling down here and asking if we have anything. I hope so b/c I see how taxes add up real quick already just from the estimate they gave us.
Diane
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We are saving about $950.
Karen H
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
I'm pretty sure that STAR is a NY State program - when I was looking into it, I recall something about Gov. Pataki renewing the program.
You can apply any time after you take ownership, it just won't take affect immediately. We applied and got the approval immediately when hubby went up to the town hall in May last year after we moved in, but it doesn't take affect until this year. If you take your deed with you, you can fill out the paperwork and have it approved right away - at least at the Islip town hall that's what we did.
For those of you still househunting - be sure to ask about the taxes without STAR, because in addition to the regular discount, some people are eligible for age-related and veteran's discounts so you want a true picture of what your taxes will be.
chmlengr
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
We got our STAR tax exemption?/refund? when we got our house. We saved close to $850!!
Thanks for the info Michele ... we need to call the lawyer! We do have a bigger size lot then our neighbors, but our taxes shouldn't be as high as they are. We have nothing to lose by fighting ... . The thing is before we bought, we verified with the town and village what our taxes would be without star discounts, veteran discounts ... so we should have gotten the correct number. But now it's about $500 more than the number we originally got, and that's not even with the new assessment. We'll see what happens! Thanks for your help though!
michele31
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Re: Home Owners- STAR PROGRAM
Cira if the previous homeowner had to get a CO for anything, the paperwork takes almost 1 year to process and tax. That could be the reason for your jump. But I say FIGHT. I am even considering doing it.
And yes, ALWAYS call the town to verify taxes and get the name of who you spoke too. And if there has been an extention or anything new make sure you ask about that too.
