TOH enacts new tax exemptions; deadline to apply is this Monday

After standalone public hearings on Wednesday, February 25, Huntington town board members moved to enact new tax exemptions into the town code, effective March 1, 2026. The exemptions benefit low-income seniors, surviving spouses of fallen first responders, and active-duty military in combat zones. The existing senior citizens tax exemption increased from 50% to 65% maximum allowed. Applications for the new exemptions are available now, with a filing deadline of March 1, 2026. (Since March 1 falls on a weekend, all exemptions must be filed by Monday, March 2.) 

Recently enacted by the NYS Legislature, the amendments to the Real Estate Property Tax Law allow municipalities the option to provide property tax exemptions for qualifying members of four specific groups of constituents: low income senior citizens; surviving spouses of firefighter/ambulance workers killed in the line of duty; surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty; and active-duty military stationed in a combat zone. 

“These tax exemptions can make the difference between allowing people in vulnerable situations to keep their house, or be forced to give up the only home they have ever had”, said Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth. “Sometimes just a little boost can mean a world of difference. Our low-income seniors, families of fallen first responders and military personnel who are in areas of conflict, deserve our extra support, and I am proud to say, we delivered that today.”

At a February 10 town board meeting at which the public hearings were scheduled, Huntington resident Lisa Tuozzolo spoke in support of the tax exemption to benefit the spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty. Her husband, NYPD Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo, was killed in the line of duty in November 2016. 

“I am deeply grateful to the Town of Huntington, the supervisor and members of the town board for adopting the New York State law providing a property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty,” Tuozzolo said after the exemptions were enacted. “This action reflects true compassion and meaningful support for families who have already sacrificed so much.” 

Of the tax exemptions enacted by the state, three are new to the Town of Huntington; the town already participates in the real property senior citizens tax exemption, for qualified seniors over 65, though the allowable exemption was raised from 50% to 65% maximum allowed. TOH seniors who are already enrolled in the exemption do not have to reapply; no new applications will be needed as the town assessor’s office ais reprocessing the original applications to scale them with the new exemption. The assessor’s office will also adjust new applications that are received by March.

With the opt-in by the Huntington town board, applications, instructions and qualifications for all three new partial tax exemptions are now available on the town website. All four tax exemptions will be applicable for the 2026-2027 tax season.

If you are previously registered and have questions about an existing exemption, contact the assessor’s office directly at 631-351-3226. New tax exemption information plus links to applications can be found here.