NY S03128

Requires the Department of Taxation and Finance to handle annual income eligibility verification for senior citizen property tax exemptions instead of assessing authorities requesting documentation from applicants.

Mandates that applicants provide taxpayer identification numbers to facilitate income matching with department records.

Authorizes the commissioner to extend enrollment periods on an individual basis for property owners who failed to enroll timely and to remit direct payments equal to the difference between taxes owed and taxes that would have been owed with timely enrollment.

Establishes confidentiality protections for all income documentation and information submitted with exemption applications, prohibiting assessors and municipal officers from disclosing such information except as necessary for official duties.

Participation in the senior citizen property tax exemption income verification program is required for all applicants and assessing authorities.