The purpose of this article is to grant Cold War veterans who
meet the requirements set forth in § 458-b of the New York
State Real Property Tax Law with a real property tax exemption.
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, was discharged or released therefrom
under honorable conditions and satisfies any other requirements set
forth in § 458-b(1)(a) of the New York State Real Property
Tax Law.
LATEST CLASS RATIO
The latest final class ratio established by the New York State Board of Real Property Tax Services pursuant to Title 1 of Article
12 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law for use in a special assessing unit as defined in § 1801 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law.
LATEST STATE EQUALIZATION RATE
State equalization rate or special equalization rate established by the New York State Board of Real Property Tax Services pursuant to Article
12 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. The New York State Board of Real Property Tax Services shall establish a special equalization if it finds that here has been a material change in the level of assessment since the establishment of the latest state equalization rate, but in no event shall such special equalization rate exceed 100. In the event that the state equalization rate exceeds 100, then the state equalization rate shall be 100 for the purposes of this section. Where a special equalization rate is established for purposes of this section, the Assessor is directed and authorized to recompute the Cold War veterans exemption on the assessment roll by applying special equalization rate instead of the latest state equalization rate applied in the previous year and to make the appropriate corrections on the assessment roll, notwithstanding the fact that such Assessor may receive the special equalization rate after the completion, verification and filing of such final assessment roll. In the event that the Assessor does not have custody of the roll when such recomputation is accomplished, the Assessor shall certify such recomputation to the local officers having custody and control of such roll, and such local officers are hereby directed and authorized to enter the recomputed Cold War veterans exemption certified by the Assessor on such roll.
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 section.
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 institutionalized subject to
such time limitations, if any, as are set forth in § 458-b(l)(f)
of the New York State Real Property Tax Law.
SERVICE CONNECTED
With respect to disability or death, 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 10-6-2021 by L.L. No. 12-2021; 1-19-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]
A. Qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation
to the extent of 15% of the assessed value of such property; provided,
however, that such exemption shall not exceed $75,000 or the product
of $75,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the
assessing unit, or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest
class ratio, whichever is less.
B. In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection
A of this section, where the Cold War veteran received a compensation rating from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs or from the United States Department of Defense because of a service-related disability, qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of the product of the assessed value of such property multiplied by 50% of the Cold War veteran disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed $250,000 or the product of $250,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.
C. If a Cold War veteran receives either an eligible funds veterans exemption authorized by § 458 of the Real Property Tax Law or an alternative veterans exemption under Article
II of this chapter, the Cold War veteran shall not be eligible to receive an exemption under this article.
The provisions of this article shall apply to any real property
held in trust solely for the benefit of a person or persons who would
otherwise be eligible for a real property tax exemption, pursuant
to this article, were such person or persons the owner or owners of
such real property.
The exemption provided by §
177-67A shall be granted for a period of 10 years. The commencement of such ten-year period shall be governed pursuant to this section. Where a qualified owner owns qualifying residential real property on the effective date of this article, or such other date as may be set forth in § 458-b(2)(c) of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, such ten-year period shall be measured from the assessment roll prepared pursuant to the first taxable status date occurring on or after the effective date of this article, or such other date as may be set forth in § 458-b(2)(c) of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. Where a qualified owner does not own qualifying residential real property on the effective date of this article, or such other date as may be set forth in § 458-b(2)(c) of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, such ten-year period shall be measured from the assessment roll prepared pursuant to the first taxable status date occurring at least 60 days after the date of purchase of qualifying residential real property; provided, however, that should the veteran apply for and be granted an exemption on the assessment roll prepared pursuant to a taxable status date occurring within 60 days after the date of purchase of residential real property, such ten-year period shall be measured from the first assessment roll in which the exemption occurs. If, before the expiration of such ten-year period, such exempt property is sold and replaced with other residential real property, such exemption may be granted pursuant to this section for the unexpired portion of the ten-year exemption period.
Application for the exemption set forth in this article shall
be made by the qualified owner, or all of the qualified owners, of
the property on the form prescribed by the New York State Board of
Real Property Tax Services. The owner or owners shall file the completed
form in the City of Rye Assessor's office on or before the first appropriate
taxable status date. The owner or owners of the property shall be
required to refile at such times and under such circumstances as may
be set forth in § 458-b(4) of the New York State Real Property
Tax Law. Any applicant convicted of willfully making any false statement
in the application for such exemption shall be subject to the penalties
prescribed in the New York State Penal Law.