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Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE)

The Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) is a property tax break for seniors who own one-, two-, or three-family homes, condominiums, or cooperative apartments.

Eligibility

Age All owners of the property must be 65 or older, unless the owners are spouses or siblings. If you own the property with a spouse or sibling, only one of you must meet this age requirement.
Income The total combined annual income of the property owner and spouse or co-owner cannot exceed $58,399. Income includes, but is not limited to, Social Security, retirement benefits, interest, dividends, IRA earnings, capital gains, net rental income, salary or wages, and net income from self-employment.
Ownership You must own the property for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of filing for the exemption, unless you received the exemption on your previously-owned residence.
Residency All owners must occupy the property as their primary residence except in cases of divorce, legal separation, or abandonment. Owners receiving in-patient care at a residential health care facility may be eligible for the exemption.

Note: You cannot receive both SCHE and DHE (Disabled Homeowners' Exemption). If you qualify for both, you will receive SCHE.

How to apply

If you are not currently receiving SCHE, submit the SCHE online initial application. Filing online is the fastest and easiest way to file. (The online application is available from September 15 to March 15.)

Paper applications will be available soon.

For more information, see the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption brochure. For general assistance, please visit www.nyc.gov/contactdof or call 311.

Estimating your income

Your SCHE application will tell you how to estimate your income and what sort of documentation, if any, you will need to provide. Here are some general guidelines:

  • If you file personal income tax returns, your total combined income is your adjusted gross income (AGI) minus the taxable amount of any IRA distributions or distributions from any individual retirement annuity you received.
  • If you received SCHE benefits prior to July 1, 2024, you also have the option to calculate your income by estimating the total combined income for the owners of the property and their spouses, minus the taxable amount of any IRA distributions or distributions from any individual retirement annuity you received. The SCHE application will describe any documentation you must provide.
  • If you do not file personal income taxes, you can estimate your income by adding all of your sources of income and deduct the taxable amount of any IRA distributions or distributions from any individual retirement annuity you received.

You can use the optional Income Calculation Worksheet if you need assistance with estimating your income. This worksheet is available to you as a resource; you are not required to complete it.

Deadlines

You must apply or renew by March 15 to receive the benefit in the following tax year, which begins July 1. If March 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the next business day.

Savings

If your income is between SCHE can reduce your home's assessed value by
$57,500 and $58,399 5%
$56,600 and $57,499 10%
$55,700 and $56,599 15%
$54,800 and $55,699 20%
$53,900 and $54,799 25%
$53,000 and $53,899 30%
$52,000 and $52,999 35%
$51,000 and $51,999 40%
$50,001 and $50,999 45%
$0 and $50,000 50%

Renewing your benefit

You must renew your Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption every two years in order to continue receiving it. You will receive a notice from the Department of Finance when it is time to file your renewal application.

You can renew your benefit online from September 15 to March 15.

Frequently asked questions

Other forms

Need help? Contact 311 or email us.

If due to a disability you need an accommodation on order to apply for and receive a service, or to participate in a program offered by the Department of Finance, please contact the Disability Service Facilitator at www.nyc.gov/contactdofeeo or by calling 311.