Westchester County tax payers are getting some relief when it comes to this year's property taxes thanks to an executive order issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer says he spoke with the governor to get the green light to help people struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some people living in Westchester can get an extension on paying their county property taxes without having to pay any penalty fees.

Westchester County property taxes are due on April 30. If you qualify, you now have until July 15 to pay.
That is also the due date for federal and state property taxes. 

In order to be eligible for this extension, a person must be able to prove they have suffered an economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as loss of employment. You must be on the STAR program, and you cannot be paying your property taxes through an escrow account.

People who have an income of more than $250,000 are not eligible for this extension without penalty program. "So the benefit that we're giving out is for the little guy, the guy in the middle. The person who has lost their job or lost their business income and now faces an April 30th deadline of property taxes and can't come up with the lump sum given their circumstances," say Latimer.

Latimer says the goal is to ease the burden of those having a tough time financially. "People who may own a business  as a sole income and the business is shuttered. Or if you own a three-family house that you rent out the apartments and your tenants can't pay you rent and that's your income."

Some of the leaders of Westchester's municipalities have said waiving late fees will impact their cash flow.

But this executive order allows the county to negotiate with the towns and cities to accept less than 60% of the taxes which are due from the municipalities on May 25.

The program is not mandatory, this means if your town or city officials decide not to take part in it, you may not be able to get the extension.

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