Albany, June 16, 2026, 18:02 EDT
- New York started rolling out STAR property-tax relief payments this week, with checks and direct deposits set to go out through summer and fall.
- Most people who own homes and qualify should get $350 to $600. For most seniors who are eligible, the amount runs from $700 to $1,500.
- Payment timing ties to local school-tax due dates, and some people won’t get checks.
New York started rolling out School Tax Relief checks and direct deposits to qualifying homeowners, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday. Nearly 3 million residents are on track to get over $2 billion in property-tax relief this summer and fall.
Timing is an issue since some school-tax bills are due soon. The governor’s office said that New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse have school-tax deadlines in late June and July. That puts the first set of payments in front of people before bills arrive or come due.
STAR, the School Tax Relief program, cuts school property taxes for some New York homeowners. The benefit comes either as a direct credit—sent by check or direct deposit—or as an exemption that lowers the bill itself.
Most homeowners making less than $500,000 will get checks from $350 to $600, according to the state. Seniors who qualify for Enhanced STAR and have income under $110,750 will see payments from $700 up to $1,500.
“The start of summer is also the start of STAR tax relief season,” Hochul said. She linked the program to a wider affordability effort that features energy rebates, an expanded child tax credit and middle-class tax cuts. Governor Kathy Hochul
Distribution is uneven. Long Island gets $659.2 million, to be split among 572,000 people. The Mid-Hudson region is set for $461.1 million for 397,000 recipients. New York City is shown with $149.7 million for 474,000, and the Capital District will see $136.4 million for 238,000.
CBS6 Albany said close to a quarter million homeowners in the Capital Region could see more than $136 million coming their way. Hochul said during a Tuesday press event, “A little breathing room can make a world of difference.” WRGB
Eligibility depends on ownership, residency, age and income. For Basic STAR, there’s no age limit, but the owner must live at the property as the main home. Enhanced STAR asks that at least one resident owner be 65 or older by the end of the benefit year, the state Tax Department said.
Homeowners can check the state’s delivery schedule lookup to find out when checks or direct deposits started, or are expected to start, where they live. The Tax Department says the tool doesn’t give an exact date. They say to wait five to 10 business days for delivery.
There’s a catch. Homeowners with a STAR exemption on their school-tax bill aren’t also eligible for a STAR credit for that year, and the timing can vary, with payments sometimes hitting before or after a neighbor’s. Anyone who signs up for direct deposit less than 15 days before the state issues the credit will get a check this year instead.
Acting Tax Commissioner Amanda Hiller is pushing new homeowners, and anyone not getting the tax break for a main home, to visit the Tax Department’s website and sign up. The state says the property-tax credit lookup tool updates in real time as credits go out.
