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Happy upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Look for our next edition on Tuesday, January 16.
Easier access to the RPTL and Rules
We've added direct links to the RPTL and Rules for Real Property Tax Administration in your left menu. Visit your Assessment Community landing page — Property tax and assessment administration — and click on Legal information on the left side of the page. The links for the RPTL and Rules are at the top of the dropdown.
In addition, thanks to a suggestion from one of you, we’ve updated the link to the Rules to make them easier to find.
Coming soon to your email
We’re in the process of doing our annual gathering of contact information for new local officials. If there are new local officials in your jurisdiction, keep your eyes out for an email from Colleen Sheehan.
New alt vets exemption option regarding Operation Graphic Hand
Recently, an applicant for the alternative veterans exemption told his assessor that reservists who were activated for short periods of time may now receive the exemption. The applicant further advised the assessor that DTF “rescinded” the Opinion of Counsel that stated otherwise. The assessor asked us if this information is correct.
The Opinion that concerns the eligibility of reservists for the eligible funds veterans exemption is Volume 8, Number 37. It has not been rescinded. However, a new subdivision (10) was recently added to RPTL §458-a to give local governments the option of granting alternative veterans exemptions to a specific class of reservists. This option only applies to those reservists who were called to active duty to assist the Postmaster General in restoring and maintaining postal service during the 1970 postal strike. That activation was later designated “Operation Graphic Hand.” Such reservists must also be honorably discharged and must meet all other qualifications set forth in RPTL §458-a in order to receive the exemption.
Due to this new legislation, Opinion 8-37 no longer applies to reservists who served in Operation Graphic Hand, at least not in a county, city, town, village or school district that has opted to allow them to receive the alternative veterans exemption. However, we stand by that Opinion insofar as other reservists are concerned.
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Questions, comments or suggestions? Email geoffrey.gloak@tax.ny.gov.
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