11/07/2023 RPSV4 update now available for new volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers exemption

The RPSV4 update for administration of the 2022 RP-466-a exemption is now available in the Online Assessment Community. After you log in, select RPSV4 Updates in the menu. Under Maintenance releases for RPS2020, you’ll need to download and run:

• RPS2020_5003.exe, and
• Db_794.exe.

The associated release notes are also available.

To help you use the functionality in this update, we are also providing a brief video tutorial.

We recommend that you:

• run a database backup,
• download and run the RPS software and database updates,
• log into RPSV4, and
• verify that your RPS code and database levels reflect the updated level in the Help menu.

As you’ll recall, RPTL 466-a included various unprecedented options that required additional RPSV4 development. For example, this was the first exemption in which a special district may be the only jurisdiction to opt into offering the benefit. Also unique to RPTL 466-a, different percentage levels of benefit may apply within different taxing jurisdictions within an assessing unit.

This update enables you to administer the exemption in RPSV4 for both of those scenarios.

Applying the exemption to ad valorem special districts

To apply the exemption to all ad valorem special districts within the municipality, check the Adval Dist Appl checkbox on the exemption definition.

To apply the exemption to all ad valorem special districts except the fire district, check both the Adval Dist Appl checkbox on the exemption definition and the Fire Flag checkbox on the special district definition.

To apply the exemption to the fire district only, use exemption code 41638. Check both the Adval Dist Appl checkbox on the exemption definition and the Fire Flag checkbox on the Special District Definition.  Note: Purpose Code 8 will only work with 4163_; it will not work with other exemption codes. 

Next up

We will release another update to enable you to run totals for the newly added 41638 exemption code prior to the January billing cycle. That update will also include changes to the low income senior and disability exemptions income screen to accommodate this year’s legislative changes.

Workaround for multiple school districts providing the exemption at different percentages

RPSV4 does not provide the functionality to administer this exemption for multiple school districts within a municipality if those school districts are offering different percentage benefits. For a workaround, you could:

• adjust the definition for each and recalculate tax exemptions,
• run that school’s bills,
• adjust for the next school’s percentage,
• recalculate, and
• so on.