(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Just six days after being filed, Nassau County Legislator Siela A. Byone’s (D – Westbury) proposal to waive a $210 penalty charged to Nassau residents who are late paying their property taxes has been signed into law.
The new law, which is designed to provide Nassau County residents with a measure of additional relief from widespread economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, was signed into law by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on Thursday, May 21, thereby ensuring the waiver is in place before the June 1 due date for the first round of property tax payments. Without the waiver, taxpayers who pay after the June 1 deadline would incur the additional listing fee penalty.
Under the legislation, Nassau County will waive the collection of the listing fee tax penalty for Class One and Two Nassau County residential property owners for their 2020 tax bills. Because it must be paid in full to satisfy past-due taxes, an inability to pay the fee could expose already-overburdened taxpayers to escalating interest payments and penalties and even possible foreclosure.
“I recognize that many taxpayers who have lost their jobs or been forced to close their businesses due to COVID-19 may be missing the tax deadline through no fault of their own,” said Legislator Bynoe. “By making it easier to pay their tax bill and avoid ever-increasing interest penalties, this law assists taxpayers grappling with financial hardships during the pandemic.”
Legislator Bynoe filed the proposal on Friday, May 15 with the support of her Minority Legislature Caucus colleagues as co-sponsors. Hours later, members of the Legislature’s Majority caucus joined as co-sponsors, ensuring emergency passage.
“Taking this step to supplement state and federal pandemic relief efforts is both morally and economically sound,” Legislator Bynoe said. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the Legislature and County Executive Curran for responding to the urgency of this need and acting swiftly to bring an additional measure of relief to Nassau County’s most severely impacted homeowners.”