New Property Tax Rules Causing Confusion For New Homeowners

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Recent changes to New York State's STAR property tax relief system are creating headaches for some local homeowners.

Under new state rules, anybody who bought a home after 2015 will no longer see their school property tax bills reduced. Instead, they have to wait for the state tax department to issue a rebate check.

Checks were supposed to be mailed out in September, but as WLNY TV 10/55's Richard Rose reports, lawmakers in Long Island say they're getting dozens of calls from homeowners wondering where their money is.

Sean Acosta from Property Tax Reduction Consultants said that people have been calling his office, complaining that their October school tax bill was already due.

State bureaucrats say the change to rebate checks was made to prevent fraud, but some homeowners resent that their tax bills have already come due.

"It's just not right," said Kevin Slattery of Oceanside. "They should be able to get their deduction immediately, they shouldn't have to wait for a rebate check."

Additionally, lawmakers add that beginning this year, homeowners over the age of 65 must continually meet the income guidelines to gain an additional STAR tax rebate.

Joe Jeffers of Baldwin, Nassau County thought the renewal was automatic until he received an application for 2017 noting that he will have to now apply every year.

Local legislators claim they will be holding public workshops about the changes to the STAR program, but homeowners like Slattery just wish they would go back to the old system.

The state tax department is vowing that all rebate checks will be mailed out by December 31st.