Town of Kent, NY Veterans Tax Exemption

Veterans exemption.

If the total assessed value of the real property for which a veteran's exemption has been granted increases or decreases as the result of a revaluation or update of assessments, and a material change in level of assessment, as provided in Title 2 of Article 4, § 458, of the Real Property Tax Law, is certified for the assessment roll pursuant to the rules of the State Board, the Assessor shall increase or decrease the amount of such exemption by multiplying the amount of such exemption by such change in level of assessment. If the Assessor receives the certification after the completion, verification and filing of the final assessment roll, the Assessor shall certify the amount of exemption as recomputed pursuant to this subsection to the local officers having custody and control of the roll, and such local officers are hereby directed and authorized to enter the recomputed exemption certified by the Assessor on the roll.

(2)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (b) of Subdivision 6 of § 458 of the Real Property Tax Law, the Town of Kent authorizes owners of property who previously received an exemption pursuant to § 458 of the Real Property Tax Law, but who opted instead to receive an exemption pursuant to § 458-a, to again receive an exemption pursuant to § 458 upon application by the owner within one year of the adoption of this Article IV of the Town Code, and the Assessor shall recompute all exemptions granted pursuant to this provision by multiplying the amount of each such exemption by the cumulative change in level of assessment certified by the State Board measured from the assessment roll immediately preceding the assessment roll on which exemptions were first granted pursuant to § 458-a; provided, however, that if an exemption pursuant to this section was initially granted to a parcel on a later assessment roll, the cumulative change in level factor to be used in recomputing that exemption shall be measured from the assessment roll immediately preceding the assessment roll on which that exemption was initially granted. No refunds or retroactive entitlements shall be granted.

(3)

The provisions of Subsection A(1) above may be applied retroactively to an assessment roll prepared on the basis of a taxable status date occurring on or after March 1, 1994.

(4)

If any of the foregoing is at variance with or different from any provision contained in Chapter 410 of the Laws of 1994 of the State of New York, the provisions thereof shall supersede any and all of the foregoing.

(5)

Maximum exemption established.

[Added 1-27-1997 by L.L. No. 1-1997; amended 2-24-1997 by L.L. No. 2-1997; 11-24-1997 by L.L. No. 7-1997; 6-21-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022]

(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 the lesser of $54,000 or the product of $54,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the Town of Kent.

(b)

In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection A(5)(a) of this section, where the veteran served in a combat theater or combat zone of operations, as documented by the award of a United States campaign ribbon or service medal, qualifying residential real property also shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of 10% of the assessed value of such property; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed the lesser of $36,000 or the product of $36,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the Town of Kent.

(c)

In addition to the exemptions provided by Subsection A(5)(a) and (b) of this section, where a veteran received a compensation rating from the United States Veterans Administration because of service-connected 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 veteran's disability rating; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed the lesser of $180,000 or the product of $180,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the Town of Kent.

Cold War veterans exemption.

[Added 1-28-2008 by L.L. No. 5-2008; amended 1-25-2010 by L.L. No. 4-2010; 6-21-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022]

(1)

In accordance with the provisions of § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, residential real property owned by veterans who rendered military service to the United States of America during the Cold War shall be exempt from real property taxation in accordance herewith. The maximum exemption allowable from Town of Kent real property taxation pursuant to § 458-b of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York shall be 15% of the assessed value of such property, not to exceed $54,000 or the product of $54,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate of the assessing unit, or, in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less.

(a)

The exemption authorized herein and pursuant to New York Real Property Tax Law shall apply to qualifying owners of qualifying real property for as long as they remain qualifying owners, without regard to the ten-year limitation period for said exemption set forth in New York Real property Tax Law § 458-b, Subdivision 2(c)(iii).

(2)

In addition to the exemption provided by Subsection B(1) of this section, where the Cold War veteran received a compensation rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or from the United States Department of Defense because of a service-connected 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 $180,000, or the product of $180,000 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.