Governor Kathy Hochul announced on June 16 that approximately 2.78 million New York homeowners and seniors will receive $2.1 billion in property tax relief this summer and fall through the state’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program. For New York City, the rollout means 474,000 households are in line for roughly $149.7 million in benefits, with the first checks already in the mail and the rest staggered against local school tax deadlines.
The announcement closes the first half of a fiscal year in which the affordability conversation has dominated Albany’s messaging. Property taxes have remained one of the heavier line items on the New York household budget, and STAR is the state’s primary mechanism for pushing some of that cost back to homeowners and seniors.
NYC Households at the Center of the Rollout
Of the 2.78 million recipients statewide, 474,000 sit inside the five boroughs. Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island will share approximately $149.7 million in this round, with checks landing first in jurisdictions where school tax due dates fall in late June and July. The state has flagged New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse as front-of-queue markets on the distribution calendar.
The structure reflects how STAR has worked since its expansion: benefits are tied to where school taxes hit the calendar year. Homeowners in the five boroughs receive their STAR credit before NYC’s school tax bills come due, which lets the relief offset the bill rather than reimburse it after the fact.
How the Basic and Enhanced STAR Tiers Break Down
For Basic STAR, most homeowners with household income under $500,000 receive between $350 and $600. For Enhanced STAR, most seniors aged 65 and older with income under $110,750 receive between $700 and $1,500. Some recipients see the benefit as a direct exemption on the school tax bill. Others receive a refundable credit by check or direct deposit.
The split between exemption and credit depends on enrollment history. Long-tenured STAR recipients tend to receive the exemption applied automatically against their bill. Newer enrollees, and most recent registrants moving over from the older system, receive the credit form. New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said the agency wants every eligible homeowner enrolled, with new homeowners and unregistered primary residences flagged as the priority outreach group.
Direct Deposit and the 15-Day Window
Homeowners who prefer not to wait on physical checks can enroll in STAR Credit Direct Deposit through the Homeowner Benefit Portal inside the Tax Department’s secure Online Services system. The state advised enrollment at least 15 business days before the local school tax due date to lock in this year’s payment cycle. Anyone signing up after that window will likely receive a paper check this round and direct deposit in subsequent cycles.
A regional STAR Seminar series begins in Erie County on July 7 and continues through the summer, aimed at new homeowners and existing recipients who want to verify they are receiving the full benefit.
The Regional Picture, With Long Island Leading
Long Island claims the largest regional share at $659.2 million across 572,000 recipients, ahead of the Mid-Hudson region at $461.1 million. Finger Lakes, Western New York, and New York City round out the upper portion of the table. The North Country and Mohawk Valley sit at the lower end at $44.5 million and $62.5 million respectively.
| Region | STAR Relief | Recipients |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island | $659.2 million | 572,000 |
| Mid-Hudson | $461.1 million | 397,000 |
| Finger Lakes | $193.7 million | 274,000 |
| Western New York | $168.5 million | 314,000 |
| New York City | $149.7 million | 474,000 |
| Capital District | $136.4 million | 238,000 |
| Central New York | $123.7 million | 173,000 |
| Southern Tier | $103.4 million | 153,000 |
| Mohawk Valley | $62.5 million | 99,000 |
| North Country | $44.5 million | 86,000 |
The distribution pattern matches where assessed property values, school district taxing power, and homeowner density concentrate. Long Island’s per-capita STAR check averages higher than other regions because Suffolk and Nassau school districts run some of the higher property tax rates in the state.
Where STAR Fits in the Affordability Strategy
STAR has been on the books since 1997. What has shifted in recent years is its positioning inside a broader state package — an expanded child tax credit, middle-class tax cuts, and energy rebates — that Hochul’s office has framed as a coordinated affordability lift. The June 16 announcement folds STAR into that messaging while the program itself remains a stable, recurring line in the state budget rather than a new program.
For homeowners, the practical takeaway is mechanical: confirm registration at ny.gov/STAR, enroll in direct deposit if not already on file, and watch the school tax deadline. For New York City specifically, that means checks routed to a meaningful share of 474,000 households over the next several weeks, applied against bills landing in late June and July.
The Tax Department has published the full regional delivery schedule and direct deposit enrollment portal at ny.gov/STAR.
