Authorizes the South End Children's Cafe to file an application for a retroactive real property tax exemption with the city of Albany assessor

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Fahy

Authorizes retroactive Real Property Tax exemption for 33 Rensselaer Street, Albany, if eligibility would have been met, with refunds or cancellations of taxes as needed.

PRINT NUMBER 10223A

Summary of Bill S 10223 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

Authorizes the City of Albany assessor to accept and review a retroactive real property tax exemption application from the South End Children’s Cafe Inc. for the 2025-2026 assessment rolls.

If the organization would have qualified for the exemption had it acquired the property earlier and filed by the appropriate taxable status date, the bill allows the assessor (with common council approval) to grant the exemption retroactively starting from the date the parcel was conveyed to the organization.

Provides authority to correct tax rolls and, if applicable, provide refunds and cancel any outstanding taxes, fines, penalties, interest, or tax liens.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1 establishes that the Albany assessor may accept an exemption application under Real Property Tax Law § 420-a for the property at:

33 Rensselaer Street, Albany, NY (Albany County tax map: section 76.66, block 1, lot 2.1) for the 2025-2026 assessment rolls.

The application will be treated as timely for purposes of the taxable status dates if the owner would have qualified had they acquired the property and filed by the proper date.

If eligibility is satisfied, the assessor (with common council approval) may:

grant an exemption from all taxation beginning on the date of conveyance of the property to the organization,
and make necessary corrections to the tax rolls.

Potential financial remedies if taxes were paid:

the governing body or tax department may refund taxes already paid,
cancel any taxes, fines, penalties, interest, or tax liens still unpaid.

Parties affected

Primary entity: South End Children's Cafe Inc.

Property: 33 Rensselaer Street, Albany (Albany County tax map: section 76.66, block 1, lot 2.1).

City of Albany assessor and the common council (for processing and approval).

The broader taxpayer community could indirectly be affected due to retroactive tax relief on this parcel.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (bill takes effect immediately).

Process: The Albany assessor is authorized to accept and review a retroactive exemption application for the 2025-2026 rolls; if eligibility is established, exemption granted retroactively starting from the conveyance date, subject to common council approval.

Post-approval actions: Corrections to tax rolls and potential refunds or cancellations of related tax amounts and liens.

Notes

The bill explicitly authorizes retroactive treatment and provides a mechanism for potential refunds, aligning the exemption with what would have occurred if timely filed.

It is focused on a single property and organization, with a streamlined pathway for retroactive exemption eligibility and implementation.