Am I eligible for Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption?

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

How do I Apply to Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption?

Apply online by March 15th for benefits to begin on July 1st. If March 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. If you live in a co-op, you can apply online using the SCHE co-ops application . Use your address or borough, block and lot (BBL), or property address to find your property and start filing the form. 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 15th for your benefit to begin on July 1 in the same year. Apply in person at a Department of Finance Business Center.

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 15th for benefits to begin on July 1. If March 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.
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
The SCHE benefit must be renewed every two years. The Department of Finance will send you a renewal application when it is time to renew your benefit. You must renew your exemption by March 15, or your property taxes could increase significantly

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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:

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.

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.

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)

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply online by March 15th for benefits to begin on July 1st. If March 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.
If you live in a co-op, you can apply online using the SCHE co-ops application.
Use your address or borough, block and lot (BBL), or property address to find your property and start filing the form.

Apply online

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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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