Fill and Sign the Ptax 343 Application for the Homestead Exemption for Form

FINANCE NEW lYORK NEW YORK CITY DEPAR TMENT OF FINANCE PROPER TY DIVISION VETERANS PROPER TY TAX EXEMPTION APPLICATION B ____ B ________ L ____ BC: _________ TC: _______ APP #: ________ DIST: _____ OFFICE USE ONLY ABOUT THE VETERANS EXEMPTIONS There are two types of veterans exemptions in existence - the current Veterans Exemption and the old Eligible Funds Veterans Exemption. You may no longer apply for the old Eligible Funds Exemption but you may transfer from the old Eligible Funds Exemption to the current Veterans Exemption. To transfer to the current Veterans Exemption, you must file this application with all the applicable documentation. Please note that once you have transferred to the current Veterans Exemption, you may never return to the Eligible Funds Veterans Exemption. Both the current Veterans Exemption and the old Eligible Funds Veterans Exemption apply only to the general municipal portion of your taxes and not to the portion that is budgeted for school purposes. Unlike the Eligible Funds Exemption, the current Veterans Exemption is limited to the primary residence of a veteran and exemption levels based on type of service (war era and combat zone) and service related disability rating. (See "Eligibility Requirements" ) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS THE FOLLOWING IS INTENDED TO SERVE ONLY AS A GUIDE IN DETERMINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR AN EXEMPTION. ALL SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 458(a) OF THE NEW YORK STATE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW. In order for the exemption to be granted for the tax year beginning July 1, you must meet the following requirements: uThe property must be your primary residence unless you are absent from the property due to medical reasons or are institutionalized. uYou must be the owner of the property as of January 5 (the legal taxable status date for New York City) prior to the tax year in which benefits will begin.uYou must be either: 1. a qualified veteran (See "Service Requirements"), 2. the spouse of a qualified veteran, 3. the unremarried surviving spouse of a qualified veteran. uThe legal title to the property must be in the name of one of the above. (See Joint Ownership, below) uThe property must be a 1-, 2-, or 3-family home, condominium unit, or cooperative apartment. If the property is used in part for nonresidential or commercial purposes, the exemption applies only to the residential portion. uJOINT OWNERSHIP 1. A veteran (or surviving spouse) who owns a partial interest and would otherwise be eligible is entitled to a proportionate share of the exemption. 2. A husband and wife, both of whom are veterans, can each receive an exemption on the property they own and reside in based on their service. They must file two separate applications. uCo-op owners who have two or more adjoining units and have combined them into one legal entity, will be eligible to receive benefits on the combined unit. Please note that the Department of Finance records as well as the co-op records must reflect this arrangement. PROPERTIES WITH OTHER EXEMPTIONS If the property of a qualifying veteran has other partial exemptions, such as that granted to senior citizens or the clergy, the property can still be eligible for the veterans exemption. However, the law prohibits the Veterans Exemption if the property is a a tax subsidized cooperative development organized pursuant to articles II, IV, V, and XI of the NYS Private Housing Finance Law. Also, If the property has a 421a, 421b or 421g exemption, you are not eligible for this exemption unless you sign an official waiver of the 421a, 421b or 421g exemption. SERVICE REQUIREMENTS uYou must have served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services during one of the following periods of war or conflict: - Persian Gulf Conflict (beginning August 2, 1990) - Vietnam War (December 22, 1961 to May 7, 1975) - Korean War (June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955) - World War II (December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946) - World War I (April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918) - Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 to April 5, 1917) OR - served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II (December 7, 1941 to August 15, 1945) OR received the Armed Forces, Navy or Marine Corps expeditionary medals for participation in operations in: - Panama (December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990) - Lebanon (June 1, 1983 to December 1, 1987) or - Grenada (October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983). Dear Taxpayer: During the current fiscal year, some 75,000 veterans who own and reside in one-, two-, and three-family homes, residential condominium units and cooperative apartments qualified for reductions in their real estate taxes under the Veterans Property Tax Exemption Program. Eligible property owners and cooperative shareholders may apply for the exemption between July 15 and March 15 in order to qualify for benefits by the annual real estate tax billing period beginning the following July 1st. For more details on eligibility, please read the requirements and instructions in this application form. Sincerely yours, Rudolph W. Giuliani Mayor SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS Veterans Property Tax Exemption ApplicationPage 2 SECTION 1 - OWNERSHIP / PERSONAL INFORMATION QUESTION 3 - A copy of the deed to the property or the appropriate section of the proprietary lease is required for property owned by the veteran and/or spouse. QUESTION 4 - If you and your spouse are veterans, joint owners and both reside at the same property, you must file two separate applications. If you are a widow or widower of a veteran, you must check the box labeled ÒUnremarried Spouse of a Deceased Veteran.Ó SECTION 2 - SERVICE-RELATED INFORMATION QUESTIONS 1, 2 and 3 - The burden of proof as to the dates of service, combat zone action and disability rating is upon you. You must attach documentation so that the assessor can determine if you are eligible for this exemption. Form DD-214, which the veteran should have received upon separation from the service, contains most of the information the assessor needs to determine eligibility. Other written documentation also may help to prove eligibility, such as a copy of discharge orders, VA documentation for disability rating, etc. INFORMATION NEEDED TO PROVE ELIGIBILITY uWHERE TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTATION OF MILITARY SERVICE If you do not have the documentation needed to determine military service for this exemption, the local office of the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs can detail how you can obtain it. The DivisionÕs toll free number is 1-888-VETS-NYS. In addition, you can write to the Federal Records Center, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132. If you have discharge papers, you should photocopy the front and back and send the copy to the Federal Records Center requesting that they supply the necessary additional information to document your eligibility for this exemption. If you need to verify your percentage of disability compensation rating, you may call the US Department of Veterans Affairs, NY Regional Office toll free at 1-800-827-1000. CHECKLIST BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION A VOID A DELAY IN THE PROCESSING OF YOUR APPLICATION . C HECK (3) TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO THE FOLLOWING BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION TO THE PROPERTY DIVISION : qread the requirements to make sure you are eligible; qfile this application between July 15 and March 15; qcomplete all sections of the application; qhave all property owners and spouses of owners applying for the exemption sign the application on page 4; qhave a non-relative witness the signatures; qlist a work and home phone number where you can be reached or the name and phone of a relative or friend; qco-op apartment owners, have an officer of the co-op board complete the certification, Section 4, on page 4. A TTACH THE FOLLOWING : qcopy of most recent deed (recorded or unrecorded) or if a co-op owner, you must submit a copy of the page(s) of your proprietary lease, which shows the name(s) of the grantor and grantee and the number of shares in your unit; or if the proprietary lease is unavailable, then a copy of your stock certificate, both front and back sides, showing names of all owners; qcopy of DD-214, or separation papers; proof of honorable discharge; qcopy of proof of service in a combat zone; qletter within the last 12 months from the Veterans Administration documenting your disability rating, if applicable; or if deceased, a letter from the Veterans Administration detailing the disability rating prior to death; qcopy of death certificate; qcopy of marriage certificate. WHEN AND WHERE TO FILE You must file this application with all required documents between July 15 and March 15. If approved, benefits will begin on the next July 1 following application. Mail or bring your application to the Assessment Office in the borough in which the property is located. The addresses are listed below. MANHATTAN 1 Centre Street Rm. 910 New York, NY 10007 (212) 669-4896 BRONX 1932 Arthur Avenue Rm. 701 Bronx, NY 10457 (718) 579-6879 BROOKLYN 210 Joralemon St. Rm. 200 Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 802-3560 QUEENS 144-06 94th Ave., 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435 (718) 298-7099 STATEN ISLAND 350 St. Marks Place, Staten Island, NY 10301 (718) 390-5295 NEED HELP? IF YOU NEED HELP IN COMPLETING THIS FORM, VISIT OR CALL ANY OF THE BOROUGH OFFICES LISTED ABOVE. The Department of Finance is pleased to offer the following customer service initiative to provide an applicant with proof of filing. Upon receipt of an application, the department will time-stamp a copy of the application. Please note that the department can only provide this service when a copy is provided by the applicant. Where an application has been mailed, a self-addressed stamped envelope must also be provided in addition to the copy. All applicants are strongly encouraged to retain for their personal records a copy of all applications and documents. SECTION 3 - OTHER INFORMATION SECTION 2 - SERVICE-RELATED INFORMATION SECTION 1 - OWNERSHIP / PERSONAL INFORMATION Veterans Property Tax Exemption ApplicationPage 3 1.In which war or period of conflict did the veteran serve? (See "Service Requirements", page 1, for list) _______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2.Did the veteran serve in a combat zone or combat theatre? ............................................................. q YES q NO If " YES ", where did the veteran serve and when was such service performed? ( You must attach documentation.) (See "Information Needed to Prove Eligibility" and "Checklist") ________________________________________________________________________ 3.Has the veteran received or did the veteran receive, prior to his/her death, a compensation rating from the United States Veterans Administration as a result of a service-connected disability? ........................................................... q YES q NO If " YES ", attach a letter of disability rating, dated within the last 12 months, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, NY Regional Office, documenting the veteran's disability rating. (You may obtain this letter by calling toll free 1-800-827-1000.) 1a.Is the owner(s) now receiving a Veterans Exemption anywhere in New York City or New York State? ............................. q YES q NO b.If " YES ", complete the following: Street Address: ____________________________________________________________________ County: ____________________________ Block: ________________ Lot: ______________ 2a.Is the owner(s) now receiving benefits based on service as a Veteran anywhere other than in New York City or New York State? ............................................................................................................................. q YES q NO b.If " YES ", specify address: ______________________________________________ City and State __________________________ 1.Borough: __________________________ Block: ______________ Lot: ____________ Address of property: _______________________________________________________________ Zip Code: _________________ 2. Is this property used exclusively for residential purposes? ........................... q YES q NO If " NO ", State the percentage of nonresidential space: ______________________________________ 3. Type of residence (check one) : q 1-, 2-, 3-family home q condominium unit q cooperative apartment - unit number: _________ 4.Applicant is (check one) (attach proof of status) : q VETERAN q SPOUSE OF VETERAN q UNREMARRIED SPOUSE OF DECEASED VETERAN q OTHER (specify) _________________ 5.Name of applicant: __________________________________________________________________________________________ Work telephone number: ____________________________ Home telephone number: _____________________________ VeteranÕs Social Security Number ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Branch of active service: _____________________ Date of beginning of service: ________________ Date of honorable discharge or release from service: ______________________ (You must attach documentation.) (See "Information Needed to Prove Eligibility" and "Checklist") SpouseÕs Social Security Number ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ 6.Is the address the legal and primary residence of the applicant(s)? .......................................... q YES q NO 7.Is any owner now in a nursing home or institution? .................................................................. q YES q NO If " YES ", state owner's name: _________________________________________________ Date entered: ______________________ SECTION 4 - CERTIFICATION BY CO-OP BOARD OF MANAGERS t OFFICE USE ONLY t Veterans Property Tax Exemption ApplicationPage 4 GRANTED ____________ DENIED _____________ 41121 ________________ % OWNERSHIP _______________ REASON __________________________ 41131 ________________ % COMMERCIAL _____________ __________________________________ 41141 ________________ % DISABILITY _______________ REVIEWED BY ______________________ CRTÕd BY __________________________ DATE _____________________________ DEED DATED__________________________19________, EXHIBITED _________________________________________________ SHOWS TITLE VESTED IN _________________________________________________________________________________________ RECORDED IN __________________ COUNTY ON__________________19_______, IN LIBER _______________ OF CONVEYANCES AT PAGE _____________ SECTION _____________ VOLUME _____________ BLOCK _______________ LOT ___________ STREET ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________________________________ DEED CHECKED BY ________________________________________ I (we) certify that all statements made on this application are true and correct to the best of my (our) knowledge and belief. I (we) understand that any willful false statements made herein will subject me (us) to the penalties prescribed in the Penal Law. _______________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ __________________ Signatures of all applicants s Non-relative witness s Date s PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ç ç Veterans Exemption Application 07/99 CERTIFICATION and SIGNATURE FOR COOPERATIVE PROPERTIES ONLY The following information must be completed by an officer of the cooperative corporation: Applicant's unit number: ___________ Floor number of this unit: ___________ Number of shares in this unit owned by applicant: ____________ Date applicant purchased these shares: _______ / _______ / _______ Borough: ______________________ Block: ______________ Lot: ____________ of the building in which this unit is located. Total number of shares for this development: _________________________ I certify that the above information is true and correct. ( ) ____________________________________ ________________________________ ______________ ________________ Signature of Officer print name Title Telephone number