FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2023

Contact: Press Office

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE HIGHLIGHTS KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2023

In 2023, DOF Launched New Programs and Initiatives to Better Serve New Yorkers and Provide More Quality Services

New York, NY — Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Preston Niblack today highlighted several of DOF’s key accomplishments in 2023 – demonstrating how the agency has worked to better serve New Yorkers and provide more quality services.

“The Department of Finance is committed to providing exceptional customer service while ensuring the tax and revenue laws of New York City are administered fairly, efficiently, and transparently,” said Commissioner Niblack. “Throughout 2023, we have implemented several new programs and initiatives to provide more quality services, making our agency easier to navigate for New Yorkers. We are excited to build on these efforts in the New Year as we continue to make DOF the best in class in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service.”

Highlights from the last year at DOF include:

Launching Online Payment Plans for Parking Ticket Judgment Debt: Understanding that financial hardships or other challenges can arise, DOF offers New Yorkers an online payment plan option for a more convenient way to pay off parking ticket debt over $350, otherwise known as judgment debt. Enrolling in an online payment plan with DOF and making payments in installments can prevent future enforcement actions, such as having a vehicle booted or towed.

Holding Illegal Smoke Shops Accountable: The NYC Sheriff’s Office Joint Compliance Task Force to Address Illegal Smoke Shops has completed 1,410 total inspections of illegal smoke shops which has resulted in over $45 million in Civil Penalties and nearly $25 million in illicit products seized. In 2023, the Sheriff’s Task Force also sent letters to landlords and owners of 50 buildings across the five boroughs warning that they could be legally liable for the continued unlicensed sale of cannabis or tobacco products by their tenants.

Communicating More Clearly with New Yorkers and Making Information Easier to Access: DOF unveiled several new efforts in 2023 in the ongoing modernization of the agency. This includes:

• Making property information easier to access through the new Property Information Portal (PIP). The PIP allows New Yorkers to find information about their property online in easy to use one-stop shop. With the PIP, customers can not only see an improved and updated digital tax map of their property, but also look up helpful information about the property and take action, if needed.
• The expansion of the Tenant Access Portal (NYC TAP), offering a convenient way for tenants and their representatives to request and renew Rent Freeze benefits online.
• DOF redesigned its Statements of Account for property taxes to present the most important information clearly and prominently. DOF is also reviewing all external noticing to make sure information is conveyed to recipients in plain language.
• DOF worked throughout 2023 to prepare the agency’s new website for launch in early January 2024. The new website reorganizes DOF’s many online resources in a streamlined, customer-oriented site that provides visitors a faster, more user-friendly experience.

Successfully Advocating for Legislation to Help New Yorkers: DOF worked to successfully advocate for state legislation that was passed to help New Yorkers in several ways. This includes:

• Streamlining the income definition for the Senior and Disabled Rent Freeze and Homeowner Exemption programs, potentially expanding eligibility to 7000 New Yorkers.
• Deed Fraud Civil Penalties legislation, expanding the tool kit to prevent and pursue civil penalties for deed fraud and theft.
• Passage of 280-E Alignment legislation, allowing the legal cannabis businesses to take advantage of certain tax deductions to better support the legal cannabis industry.

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