Nearly 3 million New Yorkers will receive more than $2 billion in property tax relief this summer and fall through the state’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program, according to an announcement Tuesday from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

The program will deliver an estimated $2.1 billion in relief to 2.78 million recipients across New York, according to the announcement. STAR provides ongoing property tax relief to eligible homeowners and seniors, and is designed as an affordability tool in a state with some of the highest property tax burdens in the country.

Most homeowners eligible for a STAR credit will receive between $350 and $600, while most seniors eligible for an Enhanced STAR credit will receive between $700 and $1,500. Some recipients will receive the benefit as an exemption on their school tax bill, while others will receive it through a refundable state income tax credit paid by check or direct deposit.

Checks have started going out and will continue throughout the summer and fall, Hochul’s office explained. Homeowners in areas with June and July school tax due dates — including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse — are expected to receive their benefits soon, with the rest of the state following as local due dates approach.

State officials said homeowners who are eligible and registered for the STAR credit should receive their payment before their school tax deadline.

For housing professionals, the timing and scale of the payouts matter. Property taxes are a key driver of monthly housing costs in New York, influencing both purchase affordability and long-term cost-of-ownership calculations for buyers and lenders. A predictable, recurring state benefit like STAR can help some owners stay current on taxes and reduce pressure to sell or defer needed repairs.

The annual STAR benefit is a recurring factor in total cost of ownership and escrow management. The size and timing of credits can affect borrowers’ effective tax burden, delinquency risk, refinance eligibility or factors for moving — especially in higher-tax regions like Long Island, Westchester and downstate suburbs.

As New York continues to wrestle with affordability and out-migration pressures, statewide programs that offset property tax bills are likely to remain central to policy debates and to underwriting conversations with borrowers who are evaluating whether to buy, sell or stay put.

Regional breakdown

The governor’s office released the following estimates for 2026 STAR relief by region:

  • Long Island: $659.2 million to 572,000 recipients
  • Mid-Hudson: $461.1 million to 397,000 recipients
  • New York City: $149.7 million to 474,000 recipients
  • Capital District: $136.4 million to 238,000 recipients
  • Finger Lakes: $193.7 million to 274,000 recipients
  • Central New York: $123.7 million to 173,000 recipients
  • Western New York: $168.5 million to 314,000 recipients
  • Southern Tier: $103.4 million to 153,000 recipients
  • Mohawk Valley: $62.5 million to 99,000 recipients
  • North Country: $44.5 million to 86,000 recipients

Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region — high-cost housing markets of importance to mortgage lenders and real estate agents — account for more than half of the total STAR dollars.

Eligibility, enrollment, direct deposit

STAR benefits are available to eligible owner-occupants on their primary residence, subject to income limits that vary by program type and year. The governor’s office said most homeowners with incomes below $500,000 qualify for the basic STAR credit ranges listed, while most seniors with incomes below $110,750 qualify for the enhanced ranges.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is urging new and current homeowners who are not yet receiving a STAR benefit to register through the agency’s website. Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said in the announcement that the department wants every eligible homeowner to participate.

To speed payments and reduce check handling, the state is promoting a STAR Credit Direct Deposit option through the Homeowner Benefit Portal in the department’s Online Services system. Homeowners are advised to enroll at least 15 business days before their local school tax due date to ensure timely direct deposit this year.

Beginning in July, the tax department will host regional STAR seminars, starting with Erie County on July 7 and continuing through the summer. The sessions are aimed at helping homeowners understand eligibility, sign up for STAR and maximize available benefits.

In addition to the governor, several legislative leaders and state senators framed the distribution of STAR checks as a response to affordability pressures from rising housing, energy and everyday living costs, particularly for seniors on fixed incomes and working-class homeowners.

“At a time when actions in Washington are increasing costs and reducing support for working families, seniors, and homeowners, New York is continuing to put affordability first,” Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the state Senate’s majority leader, said in a statement. “The Senate Majority was proud to work with Governor Hochul to include continued funding for the STAR program in this year’s State Budget, delivering meaningful property tax relief to homeowners across our state.”

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