This article is authorized by Real Property Tax Law § 458-b.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ACTIVE DUTY
Full-time duty in the United States Armed Forces, other than
active duty for training.
ARMED FORCES
The United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and
Coast Guard.
COLD WAR VETERAN
A person, male or female, who served on active duty in the
United States Armed Forces during the time period from September 2,
1945 to December 26, 1991, and was discharged or released therefrom
under honorable conditions.
[Amended 5-12-2008 by L.L. No. 3-2008]
QUALIFIED OWNER
A Cold War veteran, the spouse of a Cold War veteran, or
the unremarried surviving spouse of a deceased Cold War veteran. Where
property is owned by more than one qualified owner, the exemption
to which each is entitled may be combined. Where a veteran is also
the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran, such person may also
receive any exemption to which the deceased spouse was entitled.
QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY
Property owned by a qualified owner which is used exclusively
for residential purposes; provided, however, that in the event that
any portion of such property is not used exclusively for residential
purposes, but is used for other purposes, such portion shall be subject
to taxation and only the remaining portion used exclusively for residential
purposes shall be subject to the exemption provided by this article.
Such property shall be the primary residence of the Cold War veteran
or the unremarried surviving spouse of a Cold War veteran, unless
the Cold War veteran or unremarried surviving spouse is absent from
the property due to medical reasons or institutionalization.
[Amended 5-12-2008 by L.L. No. 3-2008]
SERVICE-CONNECTED
With respect to disability or death, means that such disability
was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability
incurred or aggravated, in the line of duty on active military, naval
or air service.
[Amended 5-12-2008 by L.L. No. 3-2008]
Application for exemption shall be made by the owner, or all
of the owners, of the property on a form prescribed by the Commissioner
of Finance and Taxation. The owner or owners shall file the completed
form in the Assessor's office on or before the first appropriate taxable
status date. The exemption shall continue in full force and effect
for all appropriate subsequent tax years, and the owner or owners
of the property shall not be required to refile each year. Applicants
shall be required to refile on or before the appropriate taxable status
date if the percentage of disability percentage increases or decreases
or may refile if other changes have occurred which affect qualification
for an increased or decreased amount of exemption. Any applicant convicted
of willfully making any false statement in the application for such
exemption shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in the Penal
Law.