Getting help on taxes and exemptions

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Getting residents help to learn more about tax exemptions, including for volunteer firefighters, ambulance workers, veterans, senior citizens and people with limited-incomes became more accessible after work by the County Legislature.

The Legislature, led by the Democratic Minority Caucus, increased the maximum income eligibility cap for individuals applying to receive senior citizens and people with limited incomes and disabilities tax exemptions to $58,400 from $37,400 earlier this year.

A series of workshops are taking this place across Nassau throughout October, including the one at Oceanside Public Library on Sept. 23, where staff from the county’s assessment department assists residents with filing for veteran, senior citizen, Cold War veteran, volunteers firefighter and ambulance worker, limited income disability and/or home improvement exemptions,.

The workshops will be conducted on weekdays through Oct. 31, at libraries across the county. All workshops take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

According to community services representative Randolph Yunker, the county executive’s office the workshops in conjunction with county legislators   

“(We came) to find out more about available exemptions,” said Jazmine Cartwright. “We’re gonna go and make a phone call … and get signed up immediately.”

Cartwright, along with her mother, Regina, discovered that they were eligible for the STAR program, which offers property tax exemptions to homeowners who make less than $500,000 on income, or, under their enhanced program, homeowners who are at least 65 years old and had an adjusted gross income of $93,200 last year.

“I’m hoping (participating in the program) will help reduce my taxes,” said Dennis McCauley, another attendee, who said he learned about the event through a flyer he received in the mail. This particular workshop in Oceanside drew a total of 48 participants, and was described as a positive experience.

“It’s very good,” said Denise Petrulak who attended to receive advice. “They (the representatives) were all very nice, and helpful.”

Customer service representative Peter Panzarino, who checked in participants when they arrived, said that he rarely, if ever, saw someone who wasn’t satisfied by what they learned from the workshops. According to Peter, “Everybody leaves happy!”

For more information, call the assessment department at (516) 571-1500. For information on what is required, go to nassaucounty.ny.gov.