Homeowners 65 and older who are experiencing hardship may be eligible for the Low-Income Senior (LIS) plan. Under the plan, you may be able to defer a portion of or all of your property tax payments.

Eligibility

You're eligible for the plan if:

• You are 65 or older
• You have owned a 1-, 2-, or 3-family home or a condominium unit for at least one year
• You have lived on the property for at least one year
• The combined income of all owners is $58,399 or less (federal adjusted gross income)

Plan Duration

You can choose a plan with a fixed period of time or without a fixed period of time.

• Fixed period of time agreement will end after a certain number of years
• A plan without a fixed period of time will end when you opt out or no longer qualify

If you no longer quality, your unpaid taxes will be due in full.

Amount of Deferred Payments

If you qualify, your payments for delinquent and future property taxes will be limited to 0% (full deferral), 25%, 50%, or 75% for a fixed period or long-term.

You should choose a payment percentage that best fits your budget. The more that tax payments are deferred, the higher the amount you will eventually have to repay.

To estimate the amount of each installment payment on the plan, use the LIS Plan Calculator.  After you finish calculating the payments, submit and print the payment plan calculator form to use in your application.

Low-income homeowners experiencing hardship may be eligible for the Fixed-Term, Income-Based (FTI) plan.

Eligibility

You're eligible for the plan if:

• You have owned a 1-, 2-, or 3-family home or a condominium unit for at least one year
• You have lived on the property for at least one year
• The combined income of all owners is $58,399 or less (federal adjusted gross income)

Plan Duration

The term of the plan is calculated by dividing the total amount of income (2%, 4%, 6%, or 8% of AGI) by the monthly or quarterly payment amount.

After your plan expires, you must:

• Pay current charges in full, and
• Pay delinquent taxes in full or enter into a standard DOF payment agreement within six months

Amount of Deferred Payments

While you are on the plan, your monthly or quarterly payments for delinquent and projected taxes and charges due will be limited to 2%, 4%, 6%, or 8% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

You should choose a payment percentage that best fits your budget. The more tax payments that are deferred, the higher the amount you will eventually have to repay.

To estimate the amount of each installment payment on the plan, use the FTI Plan Calculator. After you finish calculating the payments, submit and print the payment plan calculator form to use in your application.

Homeowners experiencing extenuating circumstances may be eligible the Extenuating Circumstances Income-Based (ECI) plan.

Eligibility

You're eligible for the plan if:

• You have owned a 1-, 2-, or 3-family home or a condominium unit for at least one year
• You have lived on the property for at least one year
• The combined income of all owners is $58,399 or less (federal adjusted gross income)
• You meet the definition of having extenuating circumstances

Extenuating circumstances involves the loss of income due to death, serious illness, or unemployment of owner or immediate family member, or enrollment in DEP’s Water Debt Assistance Program. You must submit documentation to prove your extenuating circumstance, such as a death certificate, income tax return, or medical document.

Plan Duration

The term of the plan is for a minimum of one year, but it may be extended if situation persists.

After your plan expires, you must:

• Pay current charges in full and
• Pay delinquent taxes in full or enter into a standard DOF payment agreement within six months

Amount of Deferred Payments

While you are on the plan, your monthly or quarterly payments for delinquent and projected taxes and charges due will be limited to 2%, 4%, 6%, or 8% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

You should choose a payment percentage that best fits your budget. The more tax payments that are deferred, the higher the amount you will eventually have to repay.

To estimate the amount of each installment payment on the plan, use the ECI Plan Calculator. After you finish calculating the payments, submit and print the payment plan calculator form to use in your application.

To apply, you must choose which plan you want to apply for and submit a completed PT AID application and the required documents online, in person, or by mail.

Online

Apply for the PT AID program.

Documents may be sent as photos or scanned.

In Person

Bring your completed application and the required documents to a DOF Business Center. Paper applications are available at all DOF Business Centers.

By Mail

Initial Application

Online

Download the:

• PT AID Application
• Income Worksheet for owners who didn't file a federal or NY State tax return last year

By Mail

To apply for PT AID, you must provide:

• A completed and signed application
• A government-issued ID, such as a valid driver's license or non-driver ID
• Your most recent federal or NY State tax return or the Income Worksheet
• Your property's deed or title
• A bank mortgage or insurance policy statement or a utility or credit card bill that's at least one year old
• A completed and signed payment plan calculator form
• If enrolled in the Department of Environmental Protection's Water Debt Assistance Program, include a document or statement from the program
• For the ECI plan, you must include documentation of your extenuating circumstances, such as:
  • Death certificate
  • Income tax return for the past year
  • Unemployment compensation documents
  • Hospital documents
  • Military documents
  • Court documents

If DOF determines that you are eligible, you will be asked to pay for a title search report to identify mortgages and liens that affect your property's value.

If the Department of Finance confirms your eligibility, a title search report will be required of your property.

DOF will notify you by mail within 15 days whether your application has been approved or disapproved, or if more information is needed to be able to process your application.

Properties with incomplete applications will be placed in the next tax lien sale cycle if the application is not completed within 45 days or if DOF rejects the application.

Low-Income Seniors (LIS) Plan

You will leave the program if:

• The fixed term expires
• You don’t recertify or file a renewal application
• You don’t address a missed payment within six months
• You pass away
• You move (unless you are hospitalized or relocate temporarily to a nursing home for three years or less)

When you leave the program, you or your beneficiary will have nine months to arrange for payment of deferred amounts. Failure to do so may cause the City to sell the tax lien.

If the owner is deceased, the surviving spouse will have 18 months to arrange for payment of deferred amounts. They may apply for deferral separately.

Fixed-Term, Income-Based (FTI) or Extenuating Circumstances (ECI) Plan

You will leave the program if:

• The fixed term expires
• You decide to finish your agreement before the term ends
• You don’t recertify or file a renewal application
• You don’t address a missed payment within six months
• You move (unless you are hospitalized or relocate temporarily to a nursing home for three years or less)

When you leave the program, you will have nine months to arrange for payment of deferred amounts. Failure to do so may cause the City to sell the tax lien.

You can get answers to questions about PT AID and help applying or making payments on the program.

Online

Learn more about the PT AID program.

Contact the Department of Finance.

By Mail

Send a brief description of your request and include your phone number and address.