New York STAR program provides school tax relief

New York offers the School Tax Relief (STAR) program to help homeowners manage property taxes used to fund local public education. The program provides two main forms of relief: a STAR exemption and a STAR credit.

A STAR exemption offers a direct reduction in the annual school tax bill, though the benefit amount may remain static or decrease over time. In contrast, the STAR credit provides a refund check from the state and has the potential to increase by up to 2% annually.

There are two tiers of the STAR credit: Basic and Enhanced. The Basic STAR credit is available to homeowners with a household income of $500,000 or less. The Enhanced STAR credit is specifically for senior citizens aged 65 and older who meet stricter income requirements. For 2026, the income threshold for Enhanced STAR is set at less than $110,750.