By SÍLE MOLONEY
NEW YORK GOV. Kathy Hochul joined U.S. Sec. Hillary Rodham Clinton and #HalfTheStory to establish the first Teen Tech Council for New York, sharing authentic youth perspectives on the distraction-free school initiative on July 22, 2025 in New York.
Photo courtesy of Luca Richman/Clinton Foundation
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 22 the start of Phase II of the School Tax Relief (STAR) program benefit season. Hochul said at the time that eligible homeowners in communities with school tax due dates in August or September would start receiving their STAR benefit in subsequent weeks.
She said most homeowners eligible for a STAR credit would receive a check for between $350 and $600 and most seniors eligible for an enhanced STAR credit would receive a check for between $700 and $1,500. STAR recipients can visit ny.gov/STAR to track their check delivery or enroll in direct deposit.
“The STAR program provides needed school tax relief to millions of New York homeowners — and the program is now in full swing,” the governor 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.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in part, “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.”
Phase I saw STAR credits and checks delivered to parts of New York State with school tax due dates in June and July, including New York City, Yonkers, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. State officials said STAR deliveries to those regions were completed in mid-July.
They went on to say that the STAR program provides property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners and that during STAR benefit season, which runs from June to November, nearly three million homeowners will receive more than $2.2 billion in property tax relief through the program.
They said homeowners who are eligible and enrolled in the STAR program receive their benefit each year in one of two ways: as an exemption that reduces their school tax bill, or as a credit issued as a check or direct deposit.
They said those who receive the STAR credit as a check or direct deposit can visit the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule to learn when credits will be issued in their area and property owners who are looking for details about STAR credits that have already been issued should visit the Property Tax Credit Lookup.
They said homeowners can enroll in the STAR Credit Direct Deposit program through the Homeowner Benefit Portal within the Tax Department’s secure online services system, and homeowners can also use the Homeowner Benefit Portal to manage their STAR benefits.
State officials said the direct deposit option enables eligible STAR credit recipients to get their STAR credits without having to wait for and cash a check. They said to ensure they receive their STAR credit by direct deposit this year, homeowners should enroll as soon as possible.
They said homeowners who enroll fewer than 15 days before their STAR credit is issued will receive a check this year and direct deposit will begin next year. To find out when STAR credits will be issued in your area, use the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule lookup.
A regional breakdown of this year’s $2.2 billion in STAR tax relief for nearly three million New Yorkers is provided below:
REGION
STAR TAX RELIEF
RECIPIENTS
Capital District
$144.5 million
242,000
Central New York
$131.1 million
176,000
Finger Lakes
$205.2 million
279,000
Long Island
$698.4 million
582,000
Mid-Hudson
$488.5 million
404,000
Mohawk Valley
$66.3 million
101,000
New York City
$158.6 million
483,000
North Country
$47.2 million
88,000
Southern Tier
$109.6 million
156,000
Western New York
$178.5 million
320,000
TOTAL
$2.2 BILLION
2.83 MILLION
State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda (S.D. 32), who represents parts of The Bronx, said he was pleased by Hochul’s announcement. “In communities like ours, in The Bronx, where the rising cost of living continues to affect so many people, this assistance means much more than just a check, it is essential financial relief that can make the difference between stability and hardship,” he said in part.
State Senator Robert Jackson (S.D. 31), who represents parts of Manhattan and The Bronx, said in a state where working families shoulder some of the highest property taxes in the nation, this next phase of STAR was more than a benefit, it was a real relief. “This is government at its best: directly returning hard-earned dollars to those who sustain our communities,” he said.
He continued, “From the Bronx to Buffalo, from seniors relying on fixed incomes to young families striving for stability, these checks aren’t just policy—they embody the principle that public dollars must serve the public good. I commend Governor Hochul and the Legislature for coming together and demonstrating precisely what good governance looks like—putting meaningful resources directly into the hands of the people we represent.”
Meanwhile, Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia (A.D. 86) said, “Putting money back in the pockets of New Yorkers is one of the most important things we can do to help families put food on the table and keep our state affordable. Here in New York City, nearly half a million homeowners are receiving over $158 million in property tax relief. I applaud Governor Hochul for moving this effort forward and delivering for working families across every corner of our state.”