Senior Citizen Homeownersʼ Exemption

1. How it Works

SCHE gives property tax help to senior homeowners. It lowers the taxes of seniors who own one to three homes, condos, or coop apartments.

Apply online by March 16 for benefits to begin on July 1
If you live in a co-op, you can apply online using the SCHE co-ops application
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 meet this age requirement.
You must have owned your property for at least 12 continuous months before you file your application
Determine the borough, block, and lot (BBL) for your property

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

To be eligible for SCHE, you should be able to answer yes to all of these questions:

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 meet this age requirement.
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.

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

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3. What You Need to Include

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.

For each person applying, any one document:

Driver license or official photo I.D.
Passport
Birth certificate (original or certified copy)

For each income source of each income earner, any one document:

Wages & Salary

Income tax return
W-2 form

Unemployment Income

1099-G

Social Security Benefits (SSI, Dependent, Disability, Survivor’s, or Retirement)

Correspondence from Social Security Administration
Current award letter or certificate
Current benefit check

Pensions, Annuities, or IRA

1099-R

Interest, Dividends, or Royalties

1099-DIV
1099-INT

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Click here to begin filing an online application. If you live in a co-op, use this form.
Create an account and begin filing the form.
Search for your property using your address or borough, block and lot (BBL).
Attach supporting documents to confirm your eligibility and process your application.
Once you have confirmed that your information is correct, print a draft for you records and press “Submit.”

Apply online

Download the initial exemption application and fill it in.
You will be asked provide the borough, block, and lot (BBL) for your home. You can use the Property Address Search to determine this.
Gather your required documents and include 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
P.O. Box 311
Maplewood, NJ 07040-0311
Applications must be postmarked by March 16 for your benefit to begin on July 1 in the same year.

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Tax benefit for senior homeowners

Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE) | NYC Department of Finance

1. How it Works

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More ways to get help with this program

2. Determine your eligibility

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3. What you need to include

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4. How to apply

Here are your options.

More ways to get help with this program

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