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In addition, Acting
Commissioner Billet also said that reminders about the program will be
sent to about 600,000 property owners statewide who have yet to apply
for their rebate check.
“This rebate program
provides direct relief to middle-class New Yorkers who need it most, and
it is our department’s goal to reach as many homeowners as possible. We
want all eligible New York homeowners to take advantage of this unique
$1.3 billion property tax cut,” Acting Commissioner Billet said.
Between July and October,
the Tax Department mailed more than 2.7 million notices and applications
to property owners throughout New York state who receive the basic STAR
exemption on their school tax bills, inviting them to apply for a rebate
check under the STAR program.
By the end of October,
approximately 79 percent of households had responded by filing
applications online or through the mail. Rebate checks totaling $685
million have been mailed so far to 1.8 million eligible households.
Seniors 65 years or older
who receive the enhanced STAR exemption on their school tax bills did
not have to apply. These homeowners got their STAR rebate checks
automatically. The Tax Department mailed 630,000 rebate checks totaling
more than $206 million to enhanced STAR recipients.
Rebate checks are calculated
on a sliding scale based on income, with the maximum benefit going to
all upstate homeowners earning $90,000 or less, and all NYC metropolitan
region homeowners earning $120,000 or less. The difference in threshold
levels corresponds to the difference in average regional incomes and
cost of living. The benefit gradually diminishes as income exceeds these
thresholds until a homeowner’s income reaches $250,000.
Taxpayers earning over
$250,000 are not eligible for new relief, but will continue to receive
their current STAR benefit.
Once a homeowner
receives a notice, enrollment is easy with a simple application that can
be submitted by mail or online. The rebate checks are mailed to
homeowners as their applications are processed. Online applications take
less time to process, though generally people may expect their check
several weeks after they submit their application. Enrolling online at
www.nystax.gov
will be the fastest way to
receive a rebate check.
Acting Commissioner Billet
said, “There has been a great response to the program. While most
rebates have been processed, some applications take additional
processing time. We assure all applicants that we are working very hard
to issue rebate checks as quickly as possible.”
To receive a rebate check,
homeowners only have to verify the property information provided on the
application, enter the names, social security numbers, and all required
information for all resident property owners and their spouses, verify
the mailing address, and submit the application.
The Tax Department has
updated information on its Web site,
www.nystax.gov, or through the STAR hotline at 1-877-678-2769.
Spanish speakers can also use the hotline for information.
Homeowners can go online to
view a sample application and instructions, read a list of Frequently
Asked Questions and find out how much they most likely will receive in
their rebate check.
For more information about
the program, please visit the Tax Department’s Web site at
www.nystax.gov or call the STAR
hotline at 1-877-678-2769.
The City School District
of Albany serves approximately 9,000 students in 18 elementary and
middle and
high schools. The district includes several magnet schools and programs,
as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students in
addition to neighborhood schools. The district is more than halfway
through its comprehensive facilities project to newly build and/or
renovate nearly all of its elementary and middle schools. The ultimate
goal of the facilities project is to provide schools with the resources
necessary to help students succeed in the 21st century. |
