On September 19, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a tax relief plan for school districts in New York State, providing $2.3 billion in tax breaks for nearly 3 million New Yorkers. Currently, over 2 million New Yorkers have benefited from the STAR tax relief program, with nearly 1 million more set to receive tax refunds in the coming weeks. Hochul emphasized that Long Island residents in New York State can register for direct deposit with the government in the next few weeks before the STAR deduction amount is refunded, allowing tax refunds to go directly into their bank accounts.
Governor Hochul stated at a press conference that back-to-school season is also tax relief season for millions of New Yorkers, from tax deductions to childcare assistance and summer food welfare. “We will continue to put more money into the pockets of New York’s working class, addressing the cost of living for the people and helping families throughout the state.”
The “School Tax Relief” program, known as STAR, provides property tax relief to eligible homeowners and seniors in New York State. The amount of each STAR benefit depends on residents’ income levels and other factors.
For homeowners with incomes of $500,000 or less, the tax benefits from STAR can amount to hundreds of dollars. For seniors aged 65 and above with incomes below $98,700, STAR benefits could exceed $1,000.
New Yorkers can obtain STAR benefits in two ways: receiving STAR rebate checks or direct deposit for STAR deduction funds, or as an exemption to reduce their annual school district tax bill. Once homeowners are enrolled in the program, they do not need to take further action to continue receiving deductions or exemptions. For more information on STAR, please visit: https://www.tax.ny.gov/star/
According to the Governor’s Office news release, over 2 million New Yorkers have already received STAR tax relief, with the remaining relief set to be provided to nearly 1 million New Yorkers in the coming weeks. The distribution of STAR deductions is typically based on the schedule of school district tax due dates. Although September 30 is the most common school district tax due date in New York State, some regions (such as Long Island) have later due dates this fall.
Earlier this year, Hochul and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance launched the first STAR digital portal, allowing eligible New Yorkers for STAR rebates to register and apply for deduction funds through direct deposit rather than mailing physical checks.
New Yorkers residing in Long Island can still register for direct deposit this year and receive school district tax relief funds in the next few weeks, while all eligible New Yorkers for STAR deductions can register for direct deposit of next year’s deduction funds through the digital portal.
On the day of the press conference, multiple members of the New York State Legislature attended to show their support for Hochul’s school district tax relief incentives. New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated that Democratic members of the State Senate, Governor Hochul, and colleagues in the Legislature are working closely to expand opportunities for childcare assistance, increase child tax deductions, and provide much-needed food assistance to children throughout New York.