New York · Schenectady County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Schenectady County, NY property tax exemptions (2026)

The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Schenectady County, on top of New York’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.

What is different in Schenectady County

In Schenectady County the county and each city, town, village and school district decide separately which local-option exemptions to give and set their own income limits, so your benefit depends on exactly where you live. On the 2025 assessment rolls of its 6 cities and towns, at least one level of government (the county, the city or town, a school district or a village) grants the senior exemption in all, the disability exemption in all, the Cold War veterans exemption in all and the volunteer firefighter/ambulance exemption in 5 of them; that shows where an exemption exists somewhere in the town, not that the county adopted it, and the state's counts are exemption records, not homes. Schenectady County gives volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers the maximum 10% exemption on county taxes.

Apply at: Schenectady County Real Property Tax Service Agency
Phone: (518) 388-4246
Local breaks: Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Worker Exemption – Schenectady County
Tax year: 2025

Where to apply in Schenectady County

Schenectady County Real Property Tax Service Agency

Phone: (518) 388-4246
Address: County Office Building, 620 State Street, 3rd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305

Official exemptions page

Other offices

Your city or town assessor – where you file the senior (RP-467), disability (RP-459-c), veterans (RP-458-a/b) and other local exemption applications; the county office does not grant them
NYS Department of Taxation and Finance – STAR – state program: register for the Basic/Enhanced STAR credit

Local exemptions in Schenectady County

Other

Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Worker Exemption – Schenectady County

10% off the assessed value of your primary residence for county taxes (the maximum allowed; expanded starting with January 2025 county taxes).

Set by: county
Tax year: 2025
Who qualifies: Active members of a Schenectady County volunteer fire department or ambulance service with at least two years of service who live in the city, town or village it serves.
How to apply: File the Volunteer Firefighter/Ambulance Worker exemption application with your local assessor by March 1.
Form: Form RP-466-a-vol
Deadline: March 1 (taxable status date)

Source: official page

Amounts by taxing unit in Schenectady County

Each school district, city or other taxing unit can set its own amount. Find the ones on your tax bill.

Sort:

Taxing unit	Type	Seniors	Disability	Veterans alt	Veterans cold war	Firefighter	Source
All 6 cities and towns in Schenectady County added together (2025 rolls) – a total of local records, not a sign that the county itself grants the exemption	total	found in 6 of 6 cities/towns (1,586 exemption records in all, not homes)	found in 6 of 6 cities/towns (127 exemption records in all, not homes)	found in 6 of 6 cities/towns (4,598 exemption records in all, not homes)	found in 6 of 6 cities/towns (295 exemption records in all, not homes)	found in 5 of 6 cities/towns (197 exemption records in all, not homes)	official
City of Schenectady	city	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 634 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 63 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 1,018 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 33 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	no – none on the 2025 roll for any level of government here	official
Town of Duanesburg	town	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 79 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 10 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 322 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 26 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 20 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	official
Town of Glenville	town	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 201 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 8 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 1,252 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 55 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 99 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	official
Town of Niskayuna	town	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 156 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 9 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 755 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 38 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 37 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	official
Town of Princetown	town	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 29 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 3 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 77 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 19 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 6 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	official
Town of Rotterdam	town	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 487 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 34 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 1,174 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 124 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	yes – granted here by at least one level of government (county, city/town, school district or village); 35 exemption records on the 2025 roll, not a count of homes	official

State exemptions that also apply here

These breaks come from New York law. Their full rules, forms and deadlines are on the New York page.

Basic STAR (School Tax Relief) credit or exemption$30,000
Enhanced STAR$88,500
Senior Citizens Exemption (RPTL 467) / NYC Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE)
Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and Limited Incomes (RPTL 459-c) / NYC Disabled Homeowners' Exemption (DHE)
Alternative Veterans Exemption (RPTL 458-a) and Cold War Veterans Exemption (RPTL 458-b)(only where the local government offers it)
Veterans with a Permanent and Total Disability Exemption (RPTL 458-a(11)) - new local optionFull exemption (only where the local government offers it)

All New York property tax exemptions

By group in New York: Seniors · Veterans · Disability · Surviving spouses

Savings estimate for Schenectady County

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Exemption

Value taken off ($)

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Tax rate (%)

New York median effective rate: 1.55% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25103 (median real estate taxes paid, owner-occupied homes) and B25077 (median value, owner-occupied homes). It is a statewide middle value; local rates differ a lot.

An estimate, not a bill. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Eligibility finder for Schenectady County

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Do you own the home and live in it as your main home?

Your age, or the year you were born

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Are you a veteran?

Do you have a permanent disability?

Are you the surviving spouse of a veteran, service member or first responder?

Yearly household income ($)

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Schenectady County

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

Questions about property tax exemptions in Schenectady County

What property tax exemptions are there in Schenectady County?

Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in Schenectady County?

Schenectady County Real Property Tax Service Agency Phone: (518) 388-4246 Address: County Office Building, 620 State Street, 3rd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305. Also: Your city or town assessor, which where you file the senior (RP-467), disability (RP-459-c), veterans (RP-458-a/b) and other local exemption applications; the county office does not grant them. Also: NYS Department of Taxation and Finance – STAR, which state program: register for the Basic/Enhanced STAR credit.

When is the deadline to apply in Schenectady County?

Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Worker Exemption – Schenectady County: March 1 (taxable status date)

Do New York’s statewide exemptions apply in Schenectady County too?

Yes. The statewide breaks on our New York page apply here as well, for example Basic STAR (School Tax Relief) credit or exemption, Enhanced STAR and Senior Citizens Exemption (RPTL 467) / NYC Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE). This page adds what Schenectady County sets or runs itself.

Good to know in Schenectady County

For the 2027 assessment roll, exemption applications are due by the taxable status date: March 1 in all 6 cities/towns. (ORPTS Municipal Profiles; confirm with your assessor.)
For property tax information in the City of Schenectady, contact the City Finance office at (518) 382-5016.

Think your assessed value is too high? See how to appeal in Schenectady County.

Sources

Schenectady County Real Property Tax Service Agency
Schenectady County – Property Tax Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers
data.ny.gov – Summary of Real Property Tax Exemptions by Code by Municipality (roll year 2025)
NYS Tax Department – ORPTS Municipal Data Portal (Municipal Profiles)
No county figure was available, so the estimate uses the New York median effective rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25103 (median real estate taxes paid, owner-occupied homes) and B25077 (median value, owner-occupied homes).

Last checked: Oct 2026.