Over 3M New Yorkers To Receive Homeowner Tax Rebate Checks This Summer

NEW YORK — If you're a New York State homeowner making $250,000 or less, check your mailbox. You may have received a tax rebate check worth hundreds of dollars.

The state's homeowner tax rebate credit is a one-year, $2.2 billion program included in the state budget in April. It's designed to provide direct property tax relief to more than three million eligible homeowners this year.

Eligible homeowners will get the checks automatically. There is no need to apply.

New York State says it has already started mailing checks and expects to mail most in June. If you haven't received your check by early July, you should get it before your school tax bill is due.

To be eligible, you must have:

• qualified for a 2022 STAR credit or exemption
• had income that was less than or equal to $250,000 for the 2020 income tax year
• a school tax liability for the 2022-2023 school year that is more than your 2022 STAR benefit

The amount of your rebate credit will depend on:

• where your home is located
• how much your income is
• whether you receive Enhanced STAR or Basic STAR

You can find the amount you'll receive for the homeowner tax rebate credit here. The amount of your rebate check will vary based on a variety of factors, like your school district. But it won't be less than $100, according to state officials.

Your homeowner tax rebate credit also cannot be more than the amount of your net school tax liability for the 2022-2023 school year, after taking into account your 2022 STAR benefit.

For example...

If you receive the Basic STAR credit, and your school tax bill is $1,000 and your STAR check is $600, then your homeowner tax rebate credit cannot be more than the difference ($400).

If you receive the BASIC STAR exemption on your school tax bill, and your school tax bill is $400, your homeowner tax rebate credit cannot be more than $400.

New York is sending these checks to homeowners a few months earlier than expected. Typically these types of checks are mailed in the fall. But now they are being sent just weeks before the June 28 Democratic primary.

Rep. Tom Suozzi, who is running against Gov. Kathy Hochul for the Democratic nomination, said he is happy that New Yorkers are getting checks but believes she is "bribing the voters" ahead of the primary, according to multiple media outlets.