Repeals the provision of law that volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who receive a real property tax exemption for service may not receive the income tax credit for such service.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6274A
SPONSOR: Barrett TITLE OF BILL:
An act to repeal paragraph 2 of subsection (e-1) of section 606 of the
tax law relating to the effect of the volunteer firefighters' and ambu-
lance workers' property tax credit on the volunteer firefighters' and
ambulance workers' income tax credit
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
Current NYS Tax Law prohibits the ability for volunteer firefighters and
ambulance workers to receive both the volunteer firefighters and ambu-
lance workers tax credit and a locally enacted real property tax
exemption. This bill would allow for volunteer firefighters and ambu-
lance workers to receive both.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
§ 1-Repeals paragraph 2 of subsection (e-1) of section 606 of the Tax
Law.
§ 2-Effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION:
Change in effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 670 of the Laws of 2022 allows for any county to adopt a local
law to provide an exemption on real property owned by an enrolled member
of an incorporated volunteer fire company, department, or voluntary
ambulance service. However, current New York State Tax Law does not
allow a volunteer to receive both a local property tax exemption and an
existing state tax credit. This bill would allow volunteer firefighters
and ambulance workers to receive both the state tax credit and up to a
10% exemption of assessed value local property tax exemption, if author-
ized by their municipality.
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers provide a significant bene-
fit to residents through their countless hours of service and ultimately
save taxpayers and governments far more in replacement paid services
that the income to credit and local property tax exemption. These small
financial incentives are a substantial recruitment and retention tools
that are vital to preventing our volunteer departments from disintegrat-
ing.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable years
beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
