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Cash & Expenses
Property tax break for senior homeowners
Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) | NYC Department of Finance (DOF)
1. How it Works
SCHE lowers the property taxes of seniors who own one to three homes, condos, or coop apartments and meet the income requirements.
- Apply by March 15th for benefits to begin on July 1st of that year. If March 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.
- Requires proof of age, income, and tax deduction.
- If your property qualifies for SCHE and the Disabled Homeowners Exemption (DHE), you will only be granted SCHE. You cannot get both.
- All owners of the property must be 65 or older unless the owners are spouses or siblings. If you own the property with a spouse or sibling, only one of you must be 65 or older.
- Renew every two years by March 15. The Department of Finance will send you a renewal application when it is time to renew. If you do not renew, your property taxes could increase significantly.
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More ways to get help with this program
Contact DOF
Send a message at nyc,gov/contactdof
Visit the website
Visit the SCHE website to learn more.
Call 311
Ask for Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption program.
Call SCHE
Call 212-NEW-YORK. For TTY or Text Telephone, call 212-639-9675
2. Determine your eligibility
To be eligible for SCHE, you should be able to answer yes to all of these questions:
- Are all owners of the property 65 or older? Or, if you own the property with a spouse or sibling, is one of you 65 or older?
- Is the property your primary residence?
- Is the combined income for all owners less than or equal to $58,399?
- Income does NOT include SSI or Cash Assistance benefits.
- Have you owned your property for at least 12 continuous months?
Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.
Am I Eligible?Next section:
3. What you need to include
It’s important to include the right documents when you apply. Your documents show whether the program is right for you.
This page can help you choose the right documents for your application.
Proof of who you are
For each person applying, any one document:
- Driver’s license
- Government-issued photo identification card
- Other federal, state or local document with your date of birth
Proof of income
A copy of the following for all owners and their spouses for the last calendar year:
- Federal or state income tax returns with all schedules and 1099s
Owners or spouses who did not file a federal or state tax return should submit copies of all sources of income, including these:
- Wages
- Unemployment benefits
- Social Security benefits
- SSI payments
- SSDI payments
- Pension payments
- IRA Earnings
- Annuity Earnings
- Capital gains
- Business income
- Workers’ compensation
- Rental income
- Interest
Proof that may help to reduce your income
For the household, any one document:
- Copies of receipts of your paid, unreimbursed medical bills from the year for which you are submitting income documentation.
- A copy of your Schedule A
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4. How to apply
Here are your options.
Apply online
Apply online by March 15th for benefits to begin on July 1st. If March 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.
If you live in a co-op, apply using the SCHE co-ops application.
When applying, you will need the borough, block, and lot (BBL) for your home. Use the Property Address Search to get this information.
Apply by mail
Applications must be postmarked by March 15th for your benefit to begin on July 1st of the same year.
- Download and print the initial exemption application and fill it in. You can also call 311 to get one mailed to you.
- When applying, you will need the borough, block, and lot (BBL) for your home. Use the Property Address Search to get this information.
- Gather your required documents and include copies of them with your application. Your application will not be processed without them.
- Mail your completed application and required documents to:
New York City Department of Finance
Homeowner Tax Benefits
P.O. Box 311
Maplewood, NJ 07040-0311
Apply in person
Apple in person at a Department of Finance Business Center.
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More ways to get help with this program
Contact DOF
Send a message at nyc,gov/contactdof
Visit the website
Visit the SCHE website to learn more.
Call 311
Ask for Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption program.
Call SCHE
Call 212-NEW-YORK. For TTY or Text Telephone, call 212-639-9675
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