Here’s How You Can Save Money On Your Property Tax Bill In New York State

Thanks to some major conversations that have been happening in New York State's second-largest city, there has been a lot of activity on the property tax front. With Buffalo on the verge of massively historic tax increase, there are people in every neighborhood speaking out about how much the taxes are in the Empire State.

Whether you love it or hate it, New York has pretty high taxes. From income taxes and sales taxes to property taxes and other use and activity taxes, we're famous for what we pay to Albany. No matter what the Empire State does, dreams, suggests, or even thinks about, you can feel pretty confident that there is a tax attached to it.

READ MORE: How Does Buffalo’s Property Taxes Compare To Other Cities In New York State?

Now, while we do have pretty high taxes generally in New York, that isn't actually the case in Buffalo, which is one of the lowest taxes municapalities in the Empire State. That, of course, is part of the problem; with Buffalo's taxes being so historically low, the city has not been collecting enough cash to keep up with its bills, and with a more than $100 million deficit, there needs to be a huge tax increase to get the city's bank account out of the negative.

New York's STAR Program Can Help You Save Money On Your Tax Bill

With Buffalo's taxes going up in the near future, the people must find ways to save money where they can. In case you didn't know, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance allows some New Yorkers to get a nice refund on some of the property taxes we pay.

There are two levels of the STAR Program you may be able to qualify for:

1. Basic STAR,
2. Enhanced STAR,

The STAR Program, which can potentially save you hundreds of dollars every year on your taxes, has some pretty straightforward qualifications.

To qualify for the Basic STAR program, you must own residential property in New York State, live in it as your primary residence, and earn less than $500,000 annually. You can qualify for the Enhanced STAR program if you own residential property in New York State, live in it as your primary residence, are 65 or older, and earn less than $107,300 per year.

In the age of rising taxes in Buffalo, saving every dollar you can get is important. You can find more information about the deadline and application process here on the STAR website.

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