Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

All property tax exemption walk-in centers, rent freeze walk-in centers, and temporary assistance walk-in centers are closed.

The Crime Victim or Good Samaritan Exemption provides property tax relief to crime victims who have a disability because they were victims of a crime or were trying to prevent a crime.

To be eligible, the home must have been modified to accommodate the owner's special needs due to the disability.

This exemption doesn't need to be renewed.

For exemption benefits to begin on July 1 of the year you apply, your application must be postmarked on or before March 15. If the due date falls on a weekend or national holiday, the deadline will be the next business day.

Applications that are received after the filing deadline will be processed for July of the following year.

2020/2021 Tax Year

The deadline to apply for the 2020/2021 tax year was March 16, 2020.

  • If you’re eligible for an exemption and your 2020/2021 application was postmarked or submitted on or before the deadline, you’ll start receiving benefits on July 1, 2020.
  • If you’re eligible for an exemption and your 2020/2021 application was postmarked or submitted after the deadline, you’ll start receiving benefits on July 1, 2021.

2019/2020 Tax Year

The deadline to submit an application for the 2019/2020 tax year was March 15, 2019.

  • If you’re eligible for an exemption and your 2019/2020 application was postmarked on or before the deadline, you’ll start receiving benefits on July 1, 2019.
  • If you’re eligible for an exemption and your 2019/2020 application was postmarked after the deadline, you’ll start receiving benefits on July 1, 2020.

To be eligible for the benefit:

  • The property must be a 1-, 2-, or 3-family home
  • The crime victim or Good Samaritan must be the property’s owner, a member of the owner’s household, or a resident of the property
  • The physical disability caused by the crime must include a permanent physical impairment which greatly limits one or more major life activities
  • Improvements made to the property must have resulted in an increase in the property’s assessed value

Law enforcement officers aren't eligible for this exemption.

To apply for the exemption, you must complete the Crime Victim/Good Samaritan Exemption Application and provide all required documents.

Mail to:

NYC Department of Finance
Personal Exemptions
59 Maiden Lane, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10038

If you send your application by certified mail, your certified mail receipt will be signed, dated, and returned to you. Once an exemption application is received by the Department of Finance (DOF), they will send you an acknowledgment letter. They will review it and send you a decision letter or a letter requesting additional information within 90 days.

Online

Tax year 2021-22 applications will be available soon. Until then, please use the 2020-21 applications provided below to apply for property tax exemptions.

Download the Crime Victim/Good Samaritan Exemption Application.

By Mail

Call 311 to request a paper copy.

You must provide a police report, a report from the Office of Victim Services, or other documentation showing that you have a physical disability as a result of a crime.

Enrollment Events

At an outreach event, Department of Finance staff will work with you one-on-one to help you complete a property tax exemption application.

To apply for or renew an exemption at the event, all owners must be present to sign the application. Make sure to bring the required documents, along with a government-issued photo ID, application, and any related letters or notices you received from DOF before going.

For a list of upcoming events, visit the Department of Finance Public Events page.

Department of Finance Business Centers

Manhattan DOF Business Center
66 John Street (between Dutch and William Streets)
New York, NY 10038
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Learn more about the Manhattan Business Center.

Staten Island DOF Business Center
350 St. Marks Place, 1st Floor (between Hyatt Street and Victory Boulevard)
Staten Island, NY 10301
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Learn more about the Staten Island Business Center.

Once an exemption application is received by the Department of Finance, they will review it and send you a decision letter or a letter requesting additional information within 90 days.

You can check the status of a property tax exemption application online or by phone.

Online

Look up the status of a property tax exemption application.

By Phone

Call 311 for status.

Call 311 for assistance.

 Was this information helpful?   Yes    No