(a) Scope. The provisions of 28 RCNY §§ 31-01 through 31-06 shall govern the grant of tax exemption pursuant to § 420-c of the Real Property Tax Law, including the procedure for filing an application for tax exemption and the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility by the Office, for all such applications approved by the Department before September 28, 2004. Except as otherwise provided for in the definitions of "Housing Accommodations" in 28 RCNY §§ 31-01 and 31-07, 28 RCNY §§ 31-07 through 31-12 shall govern the grant of tax exemption pursuant to § 420-c of the Real Property Tax Law, including the procedure for filing an application for tax exemption and the issuance of Certificates of Eligibility by the Office, for all such applications approved by the Department on or after September 28, 2004.
(b) Definitions.
Aggregate Floor Area. "Aggregate Floor Area" shall mean the sum of the gross areas of the several floors of a building, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls or from the center lines of walls separating two buildings.
Allocation Document. "Allocation Document" shall mean a document issued by the Housing Credit Agency with respect to Real Property indicating either (i) that such Real Property has received a determination of credit eligibility, (ii) that such Real Property has received a binding reservation for tax credits or (iii) that such Real Property has been allocated tax credits pursuant to § 42 of the Code.
Certificate of Eligibility. "Certificate of Eligibility" shall mean the certificate issued by the Office pursuant to 28 RCNY § 31-04(d).
City. "City" shall mean the City of New York.
Code. "Code" shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commissioner. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the commissioner of any successor agency or department thereto or her or his designee.
Controlling Interest. "Controlling Interest" shall mean: (i) in the case of a corporation, direct or indirect ownership of a majority of shares of each class of voting stock in such corporation, and (ii) in the case of a partnership, a majority ownership in each general partner in such partnership.
Department. "Department" shall mean the Department of Housing Preservation and Development of the City or any successor agency.
Department of Finance. "Department of Finance" shall mean the Department of Finance of the City or any successor agency or department thereto.
Eligible Property. "Eligible Property" shall mean Real Property containing Housing Accommodations and conforming to the criteria listed in 28 RCNY § 31-02(a). Real property not containing Housing Accommodations is not Eligible Property. If a portion of Real Property is not Eligible Property, tax exemption shall be apportioned in accordance with 28 RCNY § 31-03(b). Eligible Property shall be exempt if a Regulatory Agreement with the City or the State or the Housing Trust Fund Corporation is in effect and contemplates construction or rehabilitation of such property for use for housing for persons of low income by a date certain.
Housing Development Fund Company or HDFC. "Housing Development Fund Company or HDFC" shall mean a corporation organized pursuant to Article XI of the Private Housing Finance Law and incorporated pursuant to § 402 of the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
Housing Accommodations. "Housing Accommodations" shall mean Real Property used for (i) residential purposes including dwelling units, common sanitary and cooking and dining facilities, common recreation areas including outdoor recreation areas and public areas such as cellars, basements, public halls and stairs and roofs; (ii) ancillary residential purposes including management, administrative and social service offices and facilities used to provide social services (including Job Training) primarily for Persons or Families of Low Income residing in such Housing Accommodations; or (iii) for projects with an Initial Filing Date on or after July 1, 2004 and before the effective date of the rule adding 28 RCNY §§ 31-07 through 31-12, community facility uses that (A) provide services to individuals who reside in the area, (B) limit any fees charged for such community facility uses to fees that are affordable to individuals whose household incomes do not exceed sixty percent (60%) of the area median income adjusted for family size, and (C) are located on the same Real Property as the dwelling units that constitute such Housing Accommodations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any portion of the combined floor area of such ancillary residential purposes and/or community facility uses which exceeds twenty-five percent (25%) of the Aggregate Floor Area of the Real Property shall not qualify as Housing Accommodations.
Housing Corporation. "Housing Corporation" shall mean a non-profit housing corporation as defined in Article XI of the Private Housing Finance Law which is not incorporated as an HDFC as defined in such Article XI.
Housing Credit Agency. "Housing Credit Agency" shall mean the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal or the City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development or such other agency as shall be designated as a housing credit agency in the city by the State of New York under § 42 of the Code.
Housing Trust Fund Corporation. "Housing Trust Fund Corporation" shall mean the corporation established pursuant to § 45-a of the Private Housing Finance Law.
Initial Filing Date. "Initial Filing Date" shall mean the date an initial application is submitted to the Office.
Job Training. "Job Training" shall mean programs, services and commercial activities occurring within an Eligible Property in space occupied by a not-for-profit corporation. Such programs, services and commercial activities must be for the benefit primarily of Persons or Families of Low Income residing in the Housing Accommodations.
Loan "Loan" shall mean a loan for the acquisition and/or construction and/or rehabilitation and/or permanent financing of Housing Accommodations provided by the City, the State or the Housing Trust Fund Corporation.
Office. "Office" shall mean the Tax Incentive Programs Unit of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development or any successor thereto authorized to administer these rules.
Participant. "Participant" shall mean an owner of Real Property that is the subject of an Allocation Document.
Persons or Families of Low Income. "Persons or Families of Low Income" shall mean persons or families who are in low income groups and who cannot afford to pay enough to cause private enterprise in their municipality to build a sufficient supply of adequate, safe and sanitary dwellings as set forth in § 2 of the Private Housing Finance Law.
Qualified Owner. "Qualified Owner" shall mean an entity: (a) which is either (i) an HDFC, or (ii) a Housing Corporation, or (iii) is a wholly owned subsidiary of such a company or corporation, or (iv) a limited partnership in which the Controlling Interest is held by (A) an HDFC or Housing Corporation or (B) a wholly owned subsidiary of an HDFC or Housing Corporation, or (v) a corporation sponsored or formed by such an HDFC company or Housing Corporation and (b) in which no officer, director, shareholder, member, partner or employee shall receive any pecuniary profit, income or other distributions from the Eligible Property except (i) low income housing tax credits and non-cash tax benefits available pursuant to the Code and (ii) reasonable compensation for services rendered and (c) which is a participant in the federal low income housing tax credit program pursuant to § 42 of the Code and has not defaulted in its obligations thereunder. An example of a qualified owner is a limited partnership in which the Controlling Interest is held by: (a) an HDFC or Housing Corporation or (b) a wholly owned subsidiary of an HDFC or Housing Corporation. Housing Corporations are only eligible if in existence on the effective date of chapter 647 of the Laws of 1994 (August 2, 1994).
Real Property. "Real Property" shall mean the land, buildings and other improvements subject to taxation pursuant to § 102 of the Real Property Tax Law which are the subject of an application under 28 RCNY § 31-04.
Regulatory Agreement. "Regulatory Agreement" shall mean an agreement with the City, the State or the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (i) restricting the use of Real Property to Housing Accommodations for Persons or Families of Low Income and (ii) imposing the rental and occupancy restrictions established by § 42 of the Code on at least seventy percent (70%) of the dwelling units in such Real Property. Such agreement may be contained in the mortgage securing the Loan or may be a separate agreement recorded of record against the Real Property.
State. "State" shall mean the State of New York.
(Amended City Record 8/21/2015, eff. 9/19/2015)
(a) Eligible Property. Real Property may be eligible for an exemption from Real Property taxes as set forth in 28 RCNY § 31-05 if:
(1) It has been acquired and/or rehabilitated and/or constructed, and/or otherwise financed with a Loan; and
(2) It is bound by a Regulatory Agreement; (i) restricting the use of Real Property to Housing Accommodations for Persons or Families of Low Income and (ii) imposing the rental and occupancy restrictions established by § 42 of the Code on at least seventy percent (70%) of the dwelling units in such Real Property. Such agreement may be contained in the mortgage securing the Loan or may be a separate agreement recorded of record against the Real Property; and
(3) An Allocation Document has been issued for the Eligible Property; and
(4) It is owned, at the Application Date and for the duration of such exemption, by a Qualified Owner; and
(5) It constitutes Housing Accommodations for Persons or Families of Low Income as set forth in the Regulatory Agreement or Allocation Document.
(b) Time Requirements.
(1) In order to receive retroactive tax exemption pursuant to 28 RCNY § 31-05(a)(2) hereof, the Initial Filing Date of an application for a Certificate of Eligibility must have been on or before October 24, 1993, unless application is made under Chapter 513 of the Laws of 1993 in which case application must be made ninety days after the effective date of said chapter (July 26, 1993).
(2) An application for a Certificate of Eligibility must contain all documentation required by 28 RCNY § 31-04(b) and be completed within twenty-four months of the Initial Filing Date with the Office or the application may be deemed withdrawn.
(3) If the Allocation Document submitted with the application for the Certificate of Eligibility was either a determination of credit eligibility or a binding reservation for tax credits, then a United States Treasury Form 8609, Part I of which is to be completed by a Housing Credit Agency, must be submitted for the Real Property to the Office within thirty-six months of the Initial Filing Date of the application.
(Amended City Record 8/21/2015, eff. 9/19/2015)
(a) Ineligible Projects. Tax exemption is not available and shall not be granted with respect to the Real Property if, at the time application is made for a Certificate of Eligibility, the owner of the Real Property is in default under the terms of the Loan and/or the Regulatory Agreement.
(b) Ineligible Portions of Real Property. Tax exemption is not available for portions of Real Property not used for Housing Accommodations for Persons or Families of Low Income, as determined by the Office.
(a) Application forms and filing for certificate of eligibility. Prescribed forms and applications are available from the Office. All applications must be submitted to the Office on forms approved by the Office.
(b) Documentation required of all applicants. All completed applications for tax exemption must include the following documentation:
(1) Original and two copies of the fully completed application form;
(2) Copy of the deed for the Real Property;
(3) Copy of all mortgages and notes evidencing the Loan(s) for the Real Property;
(4) Copy of the Regulatory Agreement binding the Real Property;
(5) Copy of the Allocation Document for the Real Property;
(6) Copy of the filed Certificate(s) of Incorporation, stock certificates, filed Certificate(s) of Limited Partnership and partnership agreements, as applicable, evidencing that the applicant is a Qualified Owner.
(7) Schematic drawings of all proposed or completed buildings or improvements to the Real Property, including all floors thereof, which schematic drawings identify those portions of the Real Property which are not dwelling units and clearly specify (i) areas used for common residential or ancillary residential purposes which qualify as Housing Accommodations for Persons and Families of Low Income and (ii) all areas used for commercial and otherwise ineligible purposes which do not qualify as Housing Accommodations; indicate the square footage of each such space, all drawn to a scale acceptable to the Office which scale is clearly indicated on each drawing, provided, however, that the Office may waive schematics if there is no space not used for dwelling units or other residential purposes;
(8) A certification from the City, the State or the Housing Trust Fund Corporation indicating that the applicant is not in default under the terms of the Loan and the Regulatory Agreement with respect to the Real Property which is the subject of the application if requested by the Office; and
(9) A copy of the Temporary or Permanent Certificate of Occupancy, if issued.
(10) Any such additional documentation which the Office may require.
(11) An application may contain more than one building provided that each such building is part of a project, and is specified in the deed, mortgages and notes and the Regulatory Agreement(s) for such project; and provided further that there is a final Allocation Document for each such building.
(c) Completion of application. An application for a Certificate of Eligibility must contain all documentation required by 28 RCNY § 31-04(b) and be completed within twenty-four months of the Initial Filing Date with the Office or the application may be deemed withdrawn. An application for a Certificate of Eligibility shall be deemed complete if the application includes all the documentation required in 28 RCNY § 31-04(b). The requirements of 28 RCNY § 31-04(b)(5) may be temporarily satisfied as provided in 28 RCNY § 31-02(b)(3) by a binding or non-binding reservation or a credit carry over allocation issued pursuant to § 42(h)(i)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code pending compliance with 28 RCNY § 31-02(b)(3) hereof or proof of application for such reservation or allocation. Applicants must notify the Office of any change of address and/or change of ownership of the premises and any change in the designated filing agent.
(d) Issuance of a certificate of eligibility.
(1) It is the applicant's responsibility to complete the application within twenty-four months, or, where applicable, within thirty-six months of the Initial Filing Date as provided in 28 RCNY § 31-04(c). The Office shall issue a Certificate of Eligibility for all approved applications.
(2) Failure to produce documentation satisfactory to the Office or failure to comply with these Rules may result in the denial of a Certificate of Eligibility, and rejection of the application.
(3) Notwithstanding the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility, the tax exemption may be revoked or revised pursuant to 28 RCNY Chapter 39.
(e) Implementation of benefit. Upon issuance of a 420-c Certificate of Eligibility and payment of outstanding fees, the Office will transmit the Certificate of Eligibility to the Department of Finance
(a) Effective date of exemption. Tax exemption under 28 RCNY §§ 31-01 through 31-06 shall commence on the latter of: (i) the date of acquisition of the eligible property by the qualified owner, (ii) the effective date of a regulatory agreement, or (iii) the date of issuance of an Allocation Document, except as follows:
(1) Where Eligible Property acquired after January 5 was exempt from Real Property taxation on the date of such transfer, the property shall remain exempt for the balance of the tax year in progress and for the next full tax year.
(2) Duration of exemption. The exemption shall expire upon the expiration or termination of the Regulatory Agreement or thirty years from commencement of exemption if the Regulatory Agreement exceeds thirty years. If the extended use period as defined in the Code is terminated in accordance with § 42 of the Code, the Regulatory Agreement shall be deemed terminated.
(3) Amount of tax exemption. With respect to the portions of Real Property which are not Eligible Property, the Department of Finance will apportion assessed value between exempt portions of Real Property and non-exempt portions thereof (both as determined by the Office) based upon each portion's relative percentage of the entire parcel's full market value.
(Amended City Record 8/21/2015, eff. 9/19/2015)
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