The purpose of this article is to set forth
and provide the terms by which certain delinquent real property taxes
may be paid in installments consistent with and pursuant to § 1184
of the Real Property Tax Law. All definitions, terms, and conditions
of such statute shall apply to this article.
This article shall hereafter be known and cited
as the "Delinquent Tax Installment Payment Law."
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CURRENT TAXES
The taxes, including interest, penalties, and other charges,
that have accrued against a parcel and that are not yet delinquent.
DELINQUENT TAXES
As used herein, the taxes, including interest, penalties
and other charges, that have accrued against a parcel and that remain
unpaid as of the 30th day of September of the year in which such taxes
were levied.
DUE DATE
The date upon which any payment pursuant to an installment
agreement shall be due, which payment shall not be considered made
unless and until such payment is received by the enforcing officer.
ELIGIBLE DELINQUENT TAXES
All delinquent taxes, including interest, penalties and other
charges, that have accrued against a parcel as of the date on which
an installment agreement is executed, regardless of whether such delinquent
taxes are subject to in rem foreclosure.
ENFORCING OFFICER
The Town of Greenburgh Receiver of Taxes or such person or
persons as the Receiver of Taxes may authorize to perform the duties
provided herein.
INSTALLMENT AGREEMENT
A written agreement between an eligible owner and the enforcing
officer providing for the payment of eligible delinquent taxes in
installments pursuant to the provisions of § 1184 of the
Real Property Tax Law and this article.
The enforcing officer is authorized to enter
into installment agreements providing for the payment of eligible
delinquent taxes in installments with property owners. An installment
agreement shall be made available to each eligible property owner
on a uniform basis pursuant to the provisions of the New York Real
Property Tax Law and this article. Installment agreements shall commence
upon execution by and between the enforcing officer and the eligible
owner. The installment agreement shall be kept on file in the offices
of the Town Tax Receiver, and copies of each installment agreement
shall be provided to the Town of Greenburgh Comptroller.
All installment agreements executed pursuant
to this article shall include the following terms in addition to such
other terms as the enforcing officer may deem just, reasonable and
necessary:
A. The term of the agreement shall be 24 months or less.
B. Payments shall be due monthly, bimonthly, quarterly
or semiannually.
C. An initial down payment shall be required, prior to
execution of an agreement, as follows:
(1) For property improved by a one-family, two-family
or three-family residence or residential property held in condominium
or cooperative form of ownership, where legal title to or beneficial
ownership of the property is held entirely by one or more individuals
for whom the property serves as the primary residence: a sum not less
than 20% of the eligible delinquent taxes.
(2) For property described in §
440-5C(1), above, of this article that is eligible for and has been approved by the Town Assessor for the senior citizens exemption authorized by § 467 of the Real Property Tax Law for the tax year in which the installment agreement is executed: a sum not less than 10% of the eligible delinquent taxes.
(3) For all property that is not described by §
440-5C(1) or
(2), above, of this article: a sum not less than 25% of the eligible delinquent taxes.
Property that may be the subject of an installment
agreement shall include all real properties within the Town of Greenburgh,
provided that all other provisions of this article are satisfied.
A property owner shall not be eligible to enter
into an installment agreement where:
A. There is a delinquent tax on the same property for
which the application for an installment agreement is made or on another
property owned by such person and such delinquent tax is not eligible
to be made part of the agreement pursuant to this article or pursuant
to the provisions of the New York Real Property Tax Law.
B. Such owner is the owner of another parcel within the
tax district on which there is a delinquent tax, unless such delinquent
tax is eligible to be and is made part of the agreement pursuant to
this article or pursuant to the provisions of the New York Real Property
Tax Law.
C. Such owner was the owner of property on which there
existed a delinquent tax lien and which tax lien was foreclosed within
three years of the date on which an application is made to execute
an installment agreement pursuant to this article or pursuant to the
provisions of the New York Real Property Tax Law.
D. Current taxes on the same property for which the application
is made remain outstanding as of the date the installment agreement
is presented to the enforcing officer for execution.
A property owner may be permitted to enter into an installment agreement pursuant to this article only for eligible delinquent taxes, as defined in §
440-3 above.
Interest on the total amount of eligible delinquent
taxes, less the amount of the down payment made by the eligible owner,
if any is required, shall be set in accordance with the Real Property
Tax Law, the Westchester County Tax Act and other law as applicable.
The provisions of this article shall not affect
any tax liens against the property except that such liens shall be
reduced by the payments received under an installment agreement and
that such liens shall not be foreclosed during the period of the installment
agreement, provided that such installment agreement is not in default.
Pursuant to New York Municipal Home Rule Law
§ 22, the provisions of this article are intended to supersede
the provisions of Real Property Tax Law § 1184 to the extent
that this article and Real Property Tax Law § 1184 are inconsistent.