Deadline Approaching for STAR Property Tax Break

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Officials are trying to get more homeowners to register for New York's STAR property tax break before the end-of-year deadline.

State tax officials are providing direct assistance to homeowners in seven STAR registration locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. The centers will be in Albany, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Long Island.

The STAR exemption averages $700 statewide. All homeowners have to reapply for the benefit as part of an effort to weed out waste and abuse.

State officials say 800,000 people still haven't registered with the Dec. 31 deadline looming.

More than 1.9 million homeowners have registered for basic STAR exemptions.