Metro

Deadline could cost NYC homeowners $75M in rebates

New York City homeowners could miss out on nearly $75 million in state property-tax rebates because they still haven’t filed for the benefit and the deadline is just three weeks away.

For the first time since the state enacted the STAR tax abatement 15 years ago, homeowners are required to re-register to receive the break next year and in following years.

Co-op and condo owners have to file again as well. The deadline is Dec. 31.

But more than 250,000 city households — nearly half of those eligible — have not yet registered, says a study released by the Independent Budget Office Monday.

Citywide, the response rate was 53 percent, compared with the statewide average of 66 percent.

The highest response rate was on Staten Island, where 64 percent of owners registered.

The lowest rate was in The Bronx, the city’s poorest borough, where 47 percent signed up.

Brooklyn had a 50 percent sign-up rate; Queens 52 percent and Manhattan 53 percent.

More than 3 million properties currently receive the Basic or Enhanced STAR exemption statewide.

The cost to the state exceeds $3.2 billion and is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2015.

The average rebate is $300.

In the past, the rebate was automatic, but this year, owners were required to register so Tax Department assessors could root out fraud and improper claims.

Homeowners are supposed to receive the benefit for only a single property.

There are about 100,000 senior citizens receiving the enhanced benefit, and they are exempt from re-registering.

Registration is available online at http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star13/default.htm or by calling (518) 457-2036.