I went through the pied--terre appeals process and this is how ridiculously complicated it is

Yes, I am a Manhattan homeowner and, yes, I live in the city full-time — and, yes, my condo is worth a fraction of what will be subject to Gov.Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax.Still, with the city’s release last week of the list of properties potentially subject to the levy — documents that totaled hundreds of thousands of names and addresses, a good number of which aren’t even second homes — I decided to find out how complicated the city makes it to apply for an “exemption” to the “surcharge,” as they so euphemistically phrase it.If you’re a homeowner who has to go through this, I’m sorry.

You’re going to be tied up in a number of micro-managed directions spread across multiple websites that doesn’t answer many questions at all.It’s off-putting and exhausting to the point of making you want to give up.

Maybe it’s time to start thinking about that move to Florida.But I can only guess that’s precisely the point.It all begins with a four-prompt questionnaire.Among the questions: “Do you use this property as your primary residence?” and “Is the property owned by an LLC, partnership, or corporation and used as a primary residence by one or more individuals who collectively hold a majority interest, or the immediate family member of such individuals?” The middle two questions ask whether a renter uses this home as a primary residence, or if an immediate family member does.For those who answer yes for that first question, the city — according to the eligibility guide on the “property surcharge” webpage — then requires submission of the most recently filed federal or state tax return to show proof of residence.

If there are no tax returns available, the site notes the owner will have to provide other proof of residence, such as a driver’s license.For the burning questions, specifically whether the exemption is approved, the city provides no immediate indication as to how long it will take th...