Publisher's summary
We reviewed 60 out of 369 (16 percent) agricultural, veterans, disability and senior citizen exemptions totaling $2.5 million, on properties with a total assessed value of $16.4 million. We found that 27 exemptions (45 percent), totaling approximately $1.5 million, were not properly supported by adequate documentation to establish and/or maintain exemption eligibility. We reviewed 23 agricultural exemptions totaling $1.2 million on properties with a total assessed value of $11.1 million. Seventeen exemptions totaling $1 million lacked one or more pieces of supporting documentation necessary to verify exemption eligibility, and eight exemptions totaling $181,800 lacked required soil survey forms. We also reviewed 21 veteran exemptions totaling $750,000 on properties with assessed values totaling approximately $3.2 million. Ten exemptions totaling approximately $516,000 did not have completed applications on file or sufficient documentation to establish eligibility. We reviewed all six disability exemptions totaling $100,600 on properties with assessed values totaling approximately $528,000 and found that these exemptions were generally properly documented and supported. Finally, we reviewed 10 senior citizen exemptions totaling $491,000 on properties with assessed values totaling $1.5 million and found that all were properly documented and supported.
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Senior Citizen – We reviewed 10 senior citizen exemptions totaling $491,000
on properties with assessed values totaling $1.5 million and found that all were
properly documented and supported.
In conclusion, when the Assessor does not request and retain sufficient
documentation to support exemptions or periodically review existing exemptions
for continued eligibility, there is an increased risk of illegitimate exemptions.
Exemptions reduce the taxable assessed value of a property and, therefore,
reduce the property owner’s tax payment and shift the tax burden to other
property owners.
What Do We Recommend?
The Assessor should:
1. Ensure all applicants provide adequate supporting documentation before
granting exemptions.
2. Retain sufficient supporting documentation to demonstrate eligibility for all
exemptions.
3. Periodically review all exemptions to ensure property owners and
properties remain eligible.
4. Periodically verify gross sales requirements as required for agricultural
exemptions granted.
5. Review and take appropriate action to ensure only eligible agricultural
woodlands exemptions are granted.
4 Of f ic e of t he New York State Comptroller