The Basic STAR exemption is available for owner-occupied, primary only residences regardless of the owners’ ages or incomes. Basic STAR works by exempting the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes.

The Enhanced STAR exemption is, as defined from the Office of Real Property Services "available for the primary residences of senior citizens (age 65 and older) with yearly household incomes not exceeding the statewide standard. (The definition of “income” for this purpose is provided later in this pamphlet.) For qualifying senior citizens, the Enhanced STAR program works by exempting the first $50,000 of the full value of their home from school property taxes. For property owned by a husband and wife, or by siblings, only one of them must be at least 65 years of age as of December 31 of the year in which the exemption will begin to qualify for the Enhanced exemption. Their combined annual income, however, must not exceed the STAR income standard."

You must file this application with your local assessor  Check for your  local assessor, or call 1-888-NYSTAR5 (1-888-697-8275) for your local assessor's telephone number and additional STAR info.  Property owners who are granted the Basic STAR exemption generally will not need to reapply in subsequent years however, basic STAR recipients will need to notify their assessor if their primary residence changes.  Also check with your assessor about time lines form application submission.

Application and Instructions (pdf format)     

Fairness Assessments (pdf format)