S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5553--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. V. LOPEZ, TOBACCO -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Real Property Taxation -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to exemption of
certain private homes from local taxation in cities with a population
of one million or more
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new
section 421-l to read as follows:
S 421-L. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PRIVATE HOMES FROM LOCAL TAXATION. 1.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOW-
ING MEANINGS:
(A) "COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION" SHALL MEAN THAT THE AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT
OF THE CITY HAVING JURISDICTION HAS ISSUED A PERMIT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
A PRIVATE HOME AND SUCH WORK HAS BEGUN IN GOOD FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SUCH PERMIT.
(B) "COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION" SHALL MEAN THAT THE AGENCY OR THE DEPART-
MENT OF THE CITY HAVING JURISDICTION HAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF THE PRIVATE HOME.
(C) "ELIGIBLE PROJECT" SHALL MEAN A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PRIVATE HOME,
INCLUDING BOTH LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS, TO BE OCCUPIED AS A RESIDENCE FOR
THE FIRST TIME, WHICH COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND NINE AND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TEEN AND COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION NO LATER THAN DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND FIFTEEN, AND WHICH IS DESIGNED AND OCCUPIED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
(D) "EXEMPTION COMMENCEMENT DATE" SHALL MEAN THE FIRST TAXABLE STATUS
DATE AFTER THE LATER TO OCCUR OF THE COMPLETION OF SUCH CONSTRUCTION OR
THE SALE TO THE INITIAL PURCHASER OR, IN THE CASE OF A PRIVATE HOME IN A
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07517-03-9
A. 5553--A 2
CONDOMINIUM FORM OF OWNERSHIP, THE FIRST TAXABLE STATUS DATE AFTER THE
LATER TO OCCUR OF THE COMPLETION OF SUCH CONSTRUCTION OR THE SALE TO THE
FIRST INITIAL PURCHASER OF A CONDOMINIUM DWELLING UNIT IN SUCH PRIVATE
HOME.
(E) "INITIAL PURCHASER" SHALL MEAN THE FIRST PURCHASER OF A NEWLY
CONSTRUCTED PRIVATE HOME OR, IN THE CASE OF A PRIVATE HOME IN A CONDO-
MINIUM FORM OF OWNERSHIP, THE FIRST PURCHASER OF EACH DWELLING UNIT IN
SUCH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PRIVATE HOME.
(F) "LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY" SHALL MEAN AN "AGENCY" AS DEFINED PURSUANT
TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED NINETY-TWO OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
(G) "PURCHASE PRICE" SHALL MEAN THE ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE TO BE PAID
FOR THE PRIVATE HOME BY THE INITIAL PURCHASER.
(H) "MAXIMUM PURCHASE PRICE" SHALL MEAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE
PRIVATE HOME WHICH, IF EXCEEDED, WILL MAKE ANY EXEMPTION HEREUNDER
UNAVAILABLE.
(I) "MAXIMUM EXEMPTION AMOUNT" SHALL MEAN THE PORTION OF THE PURCHASE
PRICE TO BE EXEMPTED FROM TAXATION OF: (I) SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE THOU-
SAND DOLLARS IN THE CASE OF A PRIVATE HOME CONTAINING ONE DWELLING UNIT,
(II) SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY DOLLARS IN THE
CASE OF A PRIVATE HOME CONTAINING TWO DWELLINGS UNITS, (III) NINE
HUNDRED FOURTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS IN THE CASE OF A
PRIVATE HOME CONTAINING THREE DWELLING UNITS, AND (IV) FOUR HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUM UNIT IN THE CASE OF
CONDOMINIUM FORM OF OWNERSHIP IN A PRIVATE HOME. THE MAXIMUM PURCHASE
PRICES PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (I), (II), (III) AND (IV) OF THIS PARA-
GRAPH SHALL BE THE LIMIT FOR THE APPLICATION OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM TAXA-
TION UNDER THIS SECTION. NO EXEMPTION SHALL BE AVAILABLE WHERE THE MAXI-
MUM PURCHASE PRICE EXEMPTION IS IN EXCESS OF NINE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR A ONE, TWO, OR THREE FAMILY PRIVATE HOME OR FOUR HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUM UNIT.
(J) "MULTIPLE DWELLING" SHALL MEAN A MULTIPLE DWELLING WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION FOUR OF THE MULTIPLE DWELLING LAW.
(K) "PRIVATE HOME" SHALL MEAN AN OWNER OCCUPIED PRIVATE OR MULTIPLE
DWELLING CONTAINING NOT MORE THAN THREE DWELLING UNITS, AS INDICATED ON
THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR SUCH STRUCTURE.
2. (A) WITHIN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, AN
ELIGIBLE PROJECT SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM ALL LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES,
OTHER THAN ASSESSMENTS FOR LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS, DURING THE TAX YEAR OR
YEARS NEXT FOLLOWING THE EXEMPTION COMMENCEMENT DATE AS FOLLOWS: WITH
RESPECT TO PRIVATE HOMES CONTAINING LESS THAN FOUR DWELLING UNITS, TWO
YEARS OF EXEMPTION FROM ALL SUCH TAXES; FOLLOWED BY ONE YEAR OF
EXEMPTION FROM SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF SUCH TAXES; FOLLOWED BY ONE YEAR
OF EXEMPTION FROM SIXTY-TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF SUCH TAXES; FOLLOWED
BY ONE YEAR OF EXEMPTION FROM FIFTY PERCENT OF SUCH TAXES; FOLLOWED BY
ONE YEAR OF EXEMPTION FROM THIRTY-SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF SUCH
TAXES; FOLLOWED BY ONE YEAR OF EXEMPTION FROM TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF
SUCH TAXES; AND FOLLOWED BY ONE YEAR OF EXEMPTION FROM TWELVE AND
ONE-HALF PERCENT OF SUCH TAXES.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION, EXEMPTION FROM LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL
NOT BE AVAILABLE TO THE TAX LOT (LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS) UPON WHICH A
PRIVATE HOME IS CONSTRUCTED IF ANY PORTION OF SUCH TAX LOT (LAND AND
IMPROVEMENTS): (I) IS EXEMPT FROM LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES UNDER ANY
OTHER LAW; (II) CONTAINS A PRIVATE HOME THAT EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM
PURCHASE PRICE OR AN INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUM UNIT THAT EXCEEDS A PURCHASE
PRICE OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS; OR (III) PREVIOUSLY CONTAINED A
A. 5553--A 3
PRIVATE OR MULTIPLE DWELLING THAT HAS BEEN FULLY DEMOLISHED AND REMOVED
AND LESS THAN THREE YEARS HAVE ELAPSED BETWEEN THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF
THE PERMIT AUTHORIZING SUCH DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL AND THE DATE THAT THE
NEW PRIVATE HOME COMMENCES CONSTRUCTION.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION, THE TAX LOT (LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS) UPON WHICH THE PRIVATE HOME IS
CONSTRUCTED SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES
IN AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES THAT
WOULD BE PAYABLE THEREON BASED UPON THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE LAND
APPEARING ON THE ASSESSMENT ROLL IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER COMPLETION OF
CONSTRUCTION.
3. (A) BASED ON THE CERTIFICATION OF THE LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION CERTIFYING ELIGIBILITY FOR EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL IMPLE-
MENT THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPTION FROM LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL TAXES.
(B) THE LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO
CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND MAY REQUIRE PAYMENT OF A
NON-REFUNDABLE FILING FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS PER
DWELLING UNIT FOR EACH APPLICATION FOR TAX EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION.
(C) UPON A FINDING BY THE LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY OR BY ANOTHER AGENCY
DESIGNATED BY SUCH LOCAL HOUSING AGENCY THAT A PRIVATE HOME IS NOT BEING
USED FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, IS THE SUBJECT OF A VIOLATION FOR AN
ILLEGAL OCCUPANCY, OR IS NOT OWNER OCCUPIED, EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE REVOKED AND SHALL TERMINATE PROSPECTIVELY;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN THE CASE OF AN ILLEGAL OCCUPANCY, THE OWNER
SHALL REPAY ALL TAXES, WITH INTEREST, FROM WHICH SUCH PRIVATE HOME WAS
EXEMPTED AND SUCH AMOUNT, IF UNPAID, SHALL BECOME A TAX LIEN AGAINST THE
PROPERTY.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.