N.Y. Tax Law Section 256
Mortgages for indefinite amounts or for contract obligations

If the principal indebtedness secured or which by any contingency may be secured by a mortgage is not determinable from the terms of the mortgage, or if a mortgage is given to secure the performance by the mortgagor or any other person of a contract obligation other than the payment of a specific sum of money and the maximum amount secured or which by any contingency may be secured by the mortgage is not expressed therein, such mortgage shall be taxable under § 253 (Recording tax)section two hundred and fifty-three of this chapter upon the value of the property covered by the mortgage, which shall be determined by the recording officer to whom such mortgage is presented for record, unless at the time of presenting such mortgage for record the owner thereof shall file with the recording officer a sworn statement of the maximum amount secured or which under any contingency may be secured by the mortgage. If such maximum amount is expressed in the mortgage or in a sworn statement filed as required by this section, such amount shall be the basis for assessing the tax imposed by this article. A statement filed by the owner of a mortgage pursuant to this section shall thereafter at all times be binding upon and conclusive against such owner, the holders of any bonds or obligations secured by such mortgage and all persons claiming through the mortgagee any interest in the mortgage or the mortgaged premises. If the maximum amount secured or which by any contingency may be secured by the mortgage is not expressed in the mortgage or in a sworn statement as authorized by this section, the recording officer at the time such mortgage is offered for record may require the mortgagor or mortgagee to furnish him with proofs as to such facts as he deems necessary for the purpose of computing the value of the property covered by the mortgage and such proofs shall include an affidavit of appraisal of the value of the property made by at least two competent, disinterested persons and shall be preserved in his office. His determination and copies of the proofs as to the basis for computing the tax on such mortgage shall be forwarded to and subject to review by the state tax commission. Such mortgage shall not be recorded until the statement is filed or the proofs are furnished as required by this article. Whenever any such mortgage shall have been recorded without the payment of the tax as herein provided, and it shall thereafter be determined by the tax commission, after an opportunity to be heard by the parties in interest, that the failure to pay such tax was due to an honest misconception on the part of the recording officer or the owner of the instrument as to the nature of such instrument and its taxability under this article, the tax commission may make an order permitting the recording officer to file the aforesaid statement nunc pro tunc as of the date of the recording of the mortgage. The payment of the tax may be made on the basis of such statement with interest thereon at the rate of six per centum per annum as provided in § 258 (Effect of nonpayment of taxes)section two hundred and fifty-eight of this article.

Source: Section 256 — Mortgages for indefinite amounts or for contract obligations, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/TAX/256 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed May 4, 2024).

250
Definitions 251
Procedure for review 252
Exemptions 252‑A
Other exemptions 253
Recording tax 253‑A
Recording tax by a city of one million or more 253‑B
Credit line mortgage 253‑C
Recording tax imposed by the county of Nassau 253‑D
Recording tax imposed by the city of Yonkers 253‑E
Recording tax imposed by the county of Broome 253‑F
Recording tax imposed by the county of Rockland 253‑G
Recording tax imposed by the county of Westchester 253‑H
Recording tax imposed by the county of Lewis 253‑I
Recording tax imposed by the county of Columbia 253‑J
Recording tax imposed by the county of Sullivan 253‑J*2
Recording tax imposed by the county of Hamilton 253‑J*3
Recording tax imposed by the county of Essex 253‑J*4
Recording tax imposed by the county of Schoharie 253‑K
Recording tax imposed by the county of Genesee 253‑L
Recording tax imposed by the county of Rensselaer 253‑M
Recording tax imposed by the county of Wayne 253‑N
Recording tax imposed by the county of Wyoming 253‑O
Recording tax imposed by the county of Chautauqua 253‑P
Recording tax imposed by the county of Albany 253‑R
Recording tax imposed by the county of Schenectady 253‑S
Recording tax imposed by the county of Steuben 253‑T
Recording tax imposed by the county of Yates 253‑U
Recording tax imposed by the county of Herkimer 253‑V
Recording tax imposed by the county of Cortland 253‑W
Recording tax imposed by the county of Warren 253‑X
Recording tax imposed by the county of Cattaraugus 253‑X*2
Recording tax imposed by the county of Greene 253‑Y
Recording tax imposed by the county of Madison 253‑Y*2
Recording tax imposed by the county of Livingston 253‑Y*3
Recording tax imposed by the county of Washington 254
Optional tax on prior mortgages 255
Supplemental mortgages 256
Mortgages for indefinite amounts or for contract obligations 257
Payment of taxes 257‑A
Refund of mortgage taxes after rescission of certain credit transactions 258
Effect of nonpayment of taxes 258‑A
Payment of tax on instruments not recorded 259
Trust mortgages 260
Determination and apportionment by the state tax commission 261
Payment over and distribution of taxes 262
Expenses of officers 263
Supervisory power of commissioner of taxation and finance and comptroller 264
Tax on prior advance mortgages 265
Tax a lien 266
Enforcement 267
Idem
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Accessed:
May 4, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 256’s source at nysenate​.gov

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