With Cuomo Assist, Homeowners Rush to Soften Tax Bill’s Impact
Under guidance issued to the Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County by the New York State Comptroller’s office in 1985 — the last time state
and local tax deductions were at risk — New York residents are allowed to prepay property taxes if the municipal tax collection agency has been issued a warrant to collect the tax levy.
“Practically all the officials in Westchester are being swamped with calls.”
The messages were prompted by the passage of the Republican tax plan
that caps the federal deduction for state and local taxes such as income taxes and property taxes at $10,000 for 2018.
Westchester County collects taxes in April, which means, absent the governor’s action, tax warrants
probably would not have been ready in time for residents to prepay 2018 property taxes.
“I’m getting swamped with many, many calls, usually one an hour, from people who want to prepay their taxes,” said the supervisor,
Paul J. Feiner, who manages the Westchester County town of 92,000 people about 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan.
Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order suspending provisions in state law
that might have blocked some residents from prepaying next year’s property taxes.
Each client is different depending on their income and other factors,
but Mr. Abo said everything seems to point to the idea that it makes sense to prepay property taxes.
It could increase the amount of federal taxes paid by New Yorkers by $14 billion, Mr. Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters.
