Niagara County Assessor's Association/Scholarship Press Release: Niagara County Residents who are graduating Seniors from one of the Niagara County High Schools and plans to attend college within New York State in the fall of 2020. Cash award is $1000 and may be used towards the recipient's bona fide costs of attending college. Applications are at the Assessor's offices have to be postmarked by April 1, 2020 addressed to Niagara County Assessor's Association: c/o Jill Lederhouse Assessor: Town of Lockport: 6200 Robinson Rd.: Lockport, N.Y. 14094
FEBRUARY 2020 COUNTY TAX RATE: $9.273391 COUNTY REFUSE: $.081706=$9.355097
NEW:NOTICE: NYS IS SENDING OUT "INCOME WORKSHEETS" USING THE 2017 INCOME (RP-5300-WS) TO HOMEOWNERS WHO DO NOT FILE AN INCOME TAX RETURN. THEY CAN'T VERIFY YOUR INCOME FOR THE TAX FREEZE CHECK AND THE ENHANCED STAR. USE THE 2017 INCOME FOR THIS YEARS 2019 TAX FREEZE CHECK. ENHANCED STAR, THE STATE NEEDS THE 2018 INCOME. IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE COME TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
LOW INCOME SENIOR'S BLUE APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWAL HAVE BEEN MAILED. IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR APPLICATION, THE FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE. INCOME $28,499 OR BELOW WILL BE ELIGIBLE.
PROCEED TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THERE IS AN ELEVATOR AND HANDICAP PARKING IN THE REAR OF CITY HALL.
7/1/2019: Final Assessment Roll is available at the Library, the Assessor's Office, www.northtonawanda.org and niagaracounty.com/realproperty
IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A HOME IN NORTH TONAWANDA, PLEASE CALL THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND CHECK TO SEE IF THE OWNER HAS EXEMPTIONS THAT WILL BE PRO-RATED; WHICH MEANS YOU AS THE PURCHASER HAVE TO PAY PART OF THE EXEMPTIONS BACK BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THE THEM. IF THE PROPERTY IS AN ESTATE, THE REMAINDERMEN ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY BACK PART OF THE PRO- RATAS UP TO THE CLOSING DATE. PLEASE ASK YOUR ATTORNEY AND REALTOR TO CHECK THE EXEMPTIONS.
SCAM: LETTERS ARE BEING MAILED (SAYING THEY ARE THE CENSUS BUREAU). THEY ASK FOR YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (NEVER GIVE YOUR S.SEC. NO. OUT), OR BANK NUMBERS, OR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS. THERE IS A CENSUS BEING DONE FOR 2020. IF YOU RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE 2020 CENSUS BUREAU, MAKE SURE YOU ARE FILLING OUT THE LEGIT FORMS. THE CENSUS BUREAU WILL NEVER ASK FOR S.S. NUMBERS. THEY WILL ALSO SEND A RETURN ENVELOPE.
CHANGES FROM N.Y.S. DEPT. of TAX & FINANCE: RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT ON THE INCOME VERIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THE ENHANCED STAR, WILL BE FILLING OUT (2) NEW FORMS: RP-425-E OR RP-425 RNWL. AND A RP-425 IVP. THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST TIME SIGNING UP FOR ENHANCED STAR, UNLESS YOU HAVE BASIC STAR WITH US AND WILL BE TURNING 65 BY DECEMBER 31, 2020 YOU WILL SIGN UP WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM N.Y.S. REGARDING THE STAR CREDIT OR TAX FREEZE CREDIT, PLEASE BRING THE LETTER TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE SO WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS CORRECTLY.
WILL YOU BE 65 BY DECEMBER 31, 2020? IF SO; YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO THE ENHANCED STAR EXEMPTION. (INCOME CAP $88,050) USING 2018 INCOME. CALL US FOR DETAILS. APPLY BY TAXABLE STATUS DATE (MARCH 2, 2020), DUE TO MARCH 1ST IS ON A SUNDAY.
2020 ENHANCED STAR SENIORS ON THE "INCOME VERIFICATION PROGRAM" (IVP) WITH NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; N.Y.STATE WILL CONTACT YOU IF THERE IS A PROBLEM VERIFYING YOUR INCOME FROM YOUR 2018 TAX RETURN. IF YOU DO NOT FILE A TAX RETURN,THEY WILL CONTACT YOU WITH A LETTER THAT YOU SHOULD REPLY TO WITHIN 5 DAYS. EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY TAXABLE STATUS DATE WHICH IS (MARCH 2ND, 2020).
IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING BASIC & ENHANCED STAR
AS OF MARCH 2nd, 2015 NEW HOMEOWNERS WILL NO LONGER APPLY TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR THE BASIC & ENHANCED STAR.YOU NEED TO APPLY WITH NEW YORK STATE. IF YOU ARE LOW INCOME SENIOR (65) INCOME CAPS AT ($28,499.99) OR ON DISABILITY (CAPS AT 26,899.99) OR A VETERAN; YOU NEED TO APPLY IN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A CHECK FOR STAR FROM NYS, REGISTER ONLINE www.tax.ny.gov/star If you are having trouble, put the website in the URL (address box) OR CALL: 1-518-457-2036 PLEASE REGISTER by July 1, 2019 to receive a Check from N.Y.S. by September, but you still have until December 31, 2019 to apply. The check can be used as a third party check to pay the school tax bill in the Treasurer's Office unless you have an escrow account with your bank. SOME BANKS ARE EXCEPTING THE CHECKS FOR YOUR ESCROW ACCOUNT.