New York Consolidated Laws, Real Property Tax Law - RPT § 446. Cemeteries

1. Real property actually and exclusively used for cemetery purposes shall be exempt from taxation and exempt from special ad valorem levies and special assessments.

2. In addition to the exemption provided in subdivision one of this section, unimproved land, which is not presently used for cemetery purposes, but in which interments are reasonably and in good faith anticipated, shall be exempt from taxation, special ad valorem levies and special assessments.  An exemption pursuant to this subdivision shall be granted only upon application by the owner of the property on a form prescribed by the commissioner.  The application shall be filed with the assessor of the appropriate county, city, town or village on or before the taxable status date of such county, city, town or village.

3. The term “cemetery purposes”, as used in this section shall mean land and buildings, whether privately or publicly owned or operated, used for the disposal or burial of deceased human beings, by cremation or in a grave, mausoleum, vault, columbarium or other receptacle.  Such term shall also include land and buildings actually used and essential to the providing of cemetery purposes including, but not limited to, the on site residence of a full-time caretaker and a storage facility for necessary tools and equipment.

4. No real property shall be entitled to receive an exemption pursuant to this section if the owner or operator of such real property or any officer, member or employee thereof, shall receive or may be lawfully entitled to receive any pecuniary profit from the operations thereof, other than reasonable compensation for services performed, or, if the ownership or operation is a guise or pretense for directly or indirectly making any other pecuniary profit for such owner or operator or for any of its officers, members or employees.