N.Y. families may receive school tax relief up to $1,500: Here’s how to see if you’re eligible

New York is in the process of delivering roughly $2.2 billion in tax relief to millions of state residents, prompting many to wonder whether they’ll soon receive one of the checks worth up to $1,500.

On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the start of the second phase of payments for New York’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program, which provides property tax relief to eligible homeowners and seniors statewide.

“The STAR program provides needed school tax relief to millions of New York homeowners — and the program is now in full swing,” Hochul said. “During a time of financial uncertainty due to funding cuts by Republicans in Washington, my administration is putting money back in the pockets of families with check and credit deliveries continuing to go out to hundreds of thousands of homeowners statewide.”

Some STAR recipients already received their benefit through a tax exemption earlier this year, and others living in New York City, Yonkers, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse received their checks over the past two months during the first phase of distribution.

Now, eligible homeowners in communities with school tax due dates in August or September will start receiving their STAR benefit in the coming weeks, with all eligible recipients expected to receive their benefit in the summer or fall of this year.

Officials said most homeowners eligible for a STAR credit will receive a check between $350 and $600, while most seniors eligible for an Enhanced STAR credit will receive a check between $700 and $1,500.

“While the administration in Washington is creating financial uncertainty for families across the country, here in New York, we’re working to put money back in the pockets of New York families. Because of the STAR program, more than three million homeowners across the state will receive $2.2 billion in tax relief, easing the financial burden on families and putting money back into our communities,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

Eligibility for the STAR program, which is based on various factors, including property ownership and income, can be determined by visiting the state Department of Taxation and Finance website.

The amount of benefits received by each recipient is based in part on local school taxes and varies based on the county in which the resident resides, among other factors.

New Yorkers who receive a STAR credit via check or direct deposit can learn when to expect their money by visiting the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule.

Eligible homeowners can enroll in the STAR Credit Direct Deposit program through the Homeowner Benefit Portal within the Tax Department’s Online Services system.

“Visit our STAR resource page to sign up for STAR if you are a new homeowner and, if you’re an existing homeowner, to check on when your STAR credit or direct deposit will arrive,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller.

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