NY’s School Tax Relief Program (STAR) Helps Low Income New Yorkers With School Children, Homeowners Of Modest Income, Senior Citizens On Fixed/ Low Incomes With Direct Deposited Tax Refund Payments

STAR Tax Relief Press Conference with Governor Hochul

Editor’s note: Readers may remember our coverage of the concerted effort by billionaires to undercut the public school system.  Republicans over time, including presidential candidate Trump, have maintained their intention to dismantle the public education system on the federal level.  According to the North Platte Telegraph, some of the results of this would be “Funding for the education of disabled students would go to states with no strings attached, rather than being regulated by the Department of Education. Students with the most severe disabilities used to be institutionalized or not receive education at all. Students with milder disabilities were ignored or put in “slow classes.”...

Governor Kathy Hochul  announced on September 19, 2024 that New York State is delivering $2.3 billion in tax relief to nearly 3 million New Yorkers statewide under the State’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program. The Governor highlighted that many New Yorkers are now receiving their STAR credit via direct deposit under the first-ever STAR digital portal launched earlier this year. Additionally, the Governor highlighted that New Yorkers in Long Island and several other areas of the State can still  sign up for direct deposit before their STAR credits are issued in the coming weeks.

“Back-to-school season is also school tax relief season for millions of New Yorkers, and we’re now making it even easier to get STAR credits via direct deposit,”  Governor Hochul said. “From tax credits to child care assistance to summer food benefits, we’re continuing to put more money back in the pockets of working New Yorkers to address the cost of living and help families across our state.”

“This initiative plays a pivotal role in alleviating the financial burden on our families, ensuring that they can thrive and that our communities continue to flourish,” Assemblyman Fall said. “I commend Govorner Hochul for spearheading this initiative, and I look forward to continuing the work of building a future grounded in equity, access, and prosperity for every individual in the 61st district in Staten Island, Lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn.”

The STAR program provides property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners and senior citizens throughout the State. The dollar amount of each STAR benefit depends on the resident’s income level and other factors.

For homeowners with incomes of $500,000 or less, STAR benefits are typically worth several hundred dollars. For seniors age 65 and older with incomes below $98,700, STAR benefits can exceed $1,000.

New Yorkers receive this benefit in one of two ways: as a STAR credit issued via check or direct payment to the resident, or as a STAR exemption which can be seen as a reduction in their annual school tax bill. Once a homeowner enrolls in the program, they do not need to take further action to continue receiving the credit or exemption

Banner Image: Tax relief. Image Credit – Alexander Mils