15 days until STAR registration deadline

More than 2 million have registered, 86 percent using online system

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded homeowners to register for the Basic STAR property tax exemption by the Dec. 31 deadline.

With 15 days remaining to register, more than 2 million homeowners have registered for their Basic STAR exemptions. The state Tax Department said the registration facilitates Gov. Cuomo's 2013-14 budget initiative to save New York taxpayers millions by eliminating inappropriate exemptions.

The Basic STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of homeowners with incomes under $500,000. The registration stems from a Tax Department investigation that found thousands of taxpayers receiving STAR exemptions on more than one property.

The Tax Department has directly mailed all of the 2.7 million homeowners who claimed the exemption last year, participated in 225 local meetings, fielded more than a half million phone calls, and registered thousands of people at local events including the New York State Fair.

Senior citizens receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption are not impacted by the new registration program.

To register, visit www.tax.ny.gov or call 518-457-2036. Online information is available in six languages, and translators stand ready to assist speakers of all languages via telephone. The Tax Department is offering extended STAR hotline hours - 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.