It’s that time of year again — STAR benefits will be making their way into New Yorkers’ mailboxes and bank accounts soon.
The state’s School Tax Relief, or STAR, program gives eligible homeowners a break on school property taxes. This year, almost 3 million residents will receive $2.2 billion in tax relief this summer and fall, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Summer is here — and it’s also the start of STAR tax relief season for millions of New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “From tax credits to child care assistance and much more, we’re continuing to put more money back in New Yorkers’ pockets.”
Here’s what to know about this year’s STAR benefit.
When should you expect your STAR benefit?
STAR checks, which gives homeowners a break on school property taxes, are headed to New Yorkers this summer and fall.
If you qualify for a STAR exemption, or up-front savings that come directly off your tax bill, it would be reflected on your tax bill, which some recipients have already received.
If you receive a STAR credit check or have signed up for the STAR Credit Direct Deposit program instead, you’ll be getting your tax relief soon in most regions of the state as check deliveries will begin next week.
For example, registered and eligible homeowners living in New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse will receive their benefit between the end of June and mid-July, Hochul says, since those parts of the state have school tax due dates in July.
To track your check delivery or enroll in direct deposit, visit ny.gov/STAR.
How much will you get?
It depends. How much you’ll receive relies partly on local school taxes and varies depending on the county you live in. Most eligible homeowners will receive between $350-$600 and most seniors eligible for an Enhanced STAR credit will receive between $700-$1,500, according to the state.
Here’s how much each region will receive this year:
Long Island: $698.4 million
Mid-Hudson: $488.5 million
Finger Lakes: $205.2 million
Western New York: $178.5 million
New York City: $158.6 million
Capital Region: $144.5 million
Central New York: $131.1 million
Southern Tier: $109.6 million
Mohawk Valley: $66.3 million
North Country: $47.2 million
NY STAR Credit Direct Deposit program: Here’s what to know
Do I qualify for a STAR benefit?
Possibly. Basic STAR recipients must:
Own a primary residence in New York
Make $500,000 or less per household for the STAR credit, and $250,000 or less for the STAR exemption
And seniors are eligible for Enhanced STAR if they are:
Own a primary residence in New York
Make $107,300 or less for 2025 benefits
The state requires that new homeowners be issued a check instead of an exemption. In order to receive an exemption currently, homeowners must have owned their home since 2015, according to state law.
Homeowners can switch from an exemption to a check, and those who opt to do so could see the value of their STAR savings increase annually because, by law, the STAR credit can increase by as much as 2% each year, according to the state. The value of STAR exemptions cannot increase.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: When, how much NY homeowners should expect NY STAR tax relief