Getting a STAR exemption, not a check in NY? You might be missing out on money

Sarah Taddeo and Emily Barnes, New York State Team
·2 min read

If you've owned your New York home for a while, you may be missing out on some extra cash back on your property taxes through New York's School Tax Relief, or STAR, program.

The STAR program gives eligible homeowners a break on school property taxes. Most homeowners see that break arrive sometime in the late summer or fall.

In years past, New York homeowners had two options for receiving their STAR rebate — an up-front savings that comes directly off their tax bill, or a STAR "exemption," or a “credit,” which comes as a check.

Now, the state requires that new homeowners be issued a check instead of an exemption. In order to receive an exemption currently, homeowners must have owned their home since 2015, according to state law.

What's the benefit of a check instead of an exemption? Potential extra money.

STAR checks are rolling in for the year When is your NY STAR check coming? Check your hometown

Switching from STAR exemption to a check in NY

Homeowners can switch from an exemption to a check, and those who opt to do so could see the value of their STAR savings increase annually because, by law, the STAR credit can increase by as much as 2% each year, according to the state. The value of STAR exemptions cannot increase.

You can switch from a STAR exemption to a STAR credit at any time, but whether you receive a STAR credit for the current year will depend on whether you met your municipality-specific deadline. Those vary, and you can look yours up at tax.ny.gov.

For example, the deadline is in mid-June in most municipalities in Broome, Dutchess, Monroe, Putnam and Rockland Counties, but it could fall anywhere between March and August in Oneida and Westchester Counties.

STAR checks, which gives homeowners a break on school property taxes, are headed to New Yorkers this fall.
STAR checks, which gives homeowners a break on school property taxes, are headed to New Yorkers this fall.

To register, you'll need:

  • Names and Social Security numbers for all owners of the home

  • Name of the school district where your primary residence is located

  • The most recent school tax bill, if the current owners received one

  • Addresses of any residential properties owned in another state

  • The legal name of the trust, if applicable

  • Federal or state income tax returns from 2021 for all owners

  • Approximate date the owners purchased the property and the name of the sellers (Note: this information is not required, but it can help the state smoothly process your registration.)

For more information on how to register for a STAR credit, go to tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star.

About 2.26 million New Yorkers benefited from Basic STAR and 670,000 received Enhanced STAR benefits in 2022, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance. Homeowners are eligible for Enhanced STAR if they're 65 and older and will make less than $93,200 in the 2023-2024 school year.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: STAR checks in NY: This simple switch could save you money