In New York State, clergy who own property are eligible for a partial-tax exemption.
It works like this: whatever the assessed value of your home, the assessor will subtract $1,500 from the assessed value, and you will not be taxed on the $1,500.
There is a form due March 1 that clergy are required to complete annually. You’ll have to check to see if the assessor will send that automatically each year. The form does ask if you are also engaged in secular work, and if so, what percentage of time. You will have to find out whether that changes the equation. It may not be a big savings, but it’s worth pursuing!
Here’s a description from the Town of Niskayuna Assessor’s Office website:
Assists taxpayers with applications for partial tax exemptions for Veterans and Low-income Seniors and determines eligibility. Administers Clergy and STAR exemptions and processes renewals for Wholly Exempt Properties.
Here is a direct link to the Application for Partial Tax Exemption for Real Property for Members of the Clergy.
