New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox today announced that experts will be available to help homeowners register for their Basic STAR property tax exemptions at the Taste NY Harvest Festival.  

The event takes place from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, November 2 and from 12 pm to 5 pm Sunday, November 3 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. 

Since late August, more than 1.5 million Basic STAR recipients have registered for their exemptions - more than half of the 2.6 million homeowners saving an average of $700 each year.

In Onondaga County alone, more than 63,000 out of 91,000 Basic STAR recipients have registered.  The deadline is December 31.   Senior citizens receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption are not impacted by the new registration.

The registration was initiated by Governor Cuomo to eliminate fraud and waste from the program.

“Governor Cuomo and the Department of Agriculture and Markets have pulled together a spectacular array of high quality New York foods and beverages at Harvest Fest,” said Commissioner Mattox.   “And now STAR Registration provides one more reason to visit the Fairgrounds this weekend.   If you haven’t registered for STAR yet, take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy New York’s bounty and receive hands-on assistance from our experts.”

For more information on Harvest Fest, visit: www.tastenyharvestfest.com

To register for STAR online, visit: www.tax.ny.gov

Homeowners without Internet access can register at Harvest Fest or local events sponsored by the Tax Department, or by calling 518-457-2036.