New tax relief payments will be made to millions of New Yorkers through the state’s popular STAR program. These $1,500 stimulus-style payments are intended to assist seniors and families in paying their high property taxes.
What Is the STAR Program?
New York has had the School Tax Relief (STAR) program since 1997. Rather than directly reducing school taxes, the state issues checks or credits to households to reimburse a portion of their debt.
Families and senior citizens, who frequently consider school property taxes to be among their largest expenses, will particularly benefit from the initiative.
The most current batch of STAR checks will begin to arrive next week and continue to do so throughout the summer and fall, according to confirmation from Governor Kathy Hochul. Nearly three million residents will receive $2.2 billion in tax savings this year alone.
How Much Can Homeowners Expect?
The majority of homeowners with annual incomes under $500,000 will get between $350 and $600. Seniors earning less than $107,300 are eligible for the larger relief provided by the Enhanced STAR benefit, which ranges from $700 to $1,500.
It’s possible that earlier this year, some households already received their STAR savings directly as a tax exemption. However, the majority of beneficiaries will receive their funds via direct deposits or traditional cheques. Faster payments will be sent directly to the bank accounts of those who enrolled online.
When and Where Are Payments Arriving?
Depending on when local school taxes are due, payments are being made in stages. Since their payments were due in July, homeowners in major areas including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and New York City have already started to get their STAR cheques. Payments will be dispersed throughout August, September, and the early fall in other areas.
The following is the distribution of the entire relief:
Long Island: 582,000 grantees, $698.4 million
Mid-Hudson: 404,000 recipients, 488.5 million
New York City: 483,000 recipients, 158.6 million
205.2 million for 279,000 grantees in Finger Lakes
Western NY: 320,000 recipients, $178.5 million
Capital District: 242,000 recipients, $144.5 million
131.1 million dollars for 176,000 recipients in Central New York
Southern Tier: 156,000 grantees, $109.6 million
Mohawk Valley: 101,000 recipients with $66.3 million
North Country: 88,000 recipients, $47.2 million
The largest portion will go to residents on Long Island, but hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks will also be distributed to areas upstate in New York.
How to Get Your STAR Payment
The checks are automated for most people. Reapplying is not necessary unless your residence or homeownership has changed. To verify eligibility, new homeowners and those who haven’t registered yet should go to the website of the New York State Tax Department.
Through the state’s online site, homeowners can also enroll in direct deposit and check the status of their STAR credit. Those who enroll late this year might still receive a paper check first, although direct payments are quicker.
Why This Relief Matters
For seniors and middle-class families, the STAR payments are a welcome boost as inflation continues to drive up the cost of living.
The checks would help New Yorkers keep more money in their pockets at a time when federal support has stalled, according to state lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
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