New Legislation to Provide up to a 65% Exemption for Lowest-Income Senior Homeowners
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has signed into law a new bill increasing County property tax exemptions for eligible low-income senior citizens, designed to ease the financial burden on our aging residents and allow them to remain in the communities that they love. The measure will provide up to a 65% exemption for those seniors earning less than $47,000 a year, increasing the exemption to match recent changes in New York State Law. Before now, qualifying seniors were only eligible for a 50% exemption on the County portion of their property tax bill.
Jenkins said: “Increasing property tax exemptions for Westchester’s senior citizens is the least we can do to support the people who helped shape our County into the place it is today. Many of our seniors have spent their entire lifetime working here and raising their families here, and they deserve the opportunity to remain here if they choose to. These tax exemptions will provide meaningful financial relief to some of our County’s most vulnerable residents and allow them to age in place with dignity.”
Acting Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) Randolf Scott said: “For many seniors living on fixed incomes, property taxes can be a significant financial challenge. Increasing this exemption will help ease that burden, giving eligible seniors greater financial flexibility and helping them remain in the homes and communities they know and love. This change reflects the importance of supporting our senior residents and ensuring they can age in place with greater financial security and peace of mind.”
The new exemption levels will apply to the 2027 tax year and will begin on March 1, 2027. Seniors who think they may quality must apply through their local assessor and meet all applicable eligibility requirements. Seniors who have already received the previous tax exemption do not need to reapply.