Good Question: Where’s your second tax relief check?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Who doesn’t like to get money in their mailbox? Thursday’s Good Question has to do with property tax relief.

A viewer asked us, "For the past 3 years many homeowners received a property tax relief credit in the form of a check towards the end of the year. There are rumors that this program has ended. Could you confirm?"

Here’s the deal. Every fall, most us look forward to some checks in the mail. It’s called the STAR, or school tax relief, program.

For the average homeowner in New York, the amount ranges from $725 to $830.

So far, 482,735 STAR credits have been issued by the state. If you’re enrolled in the program, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance officials say those star checks have already been sent out in our area. It can also come as a discount on your school property tax bill.

However, if you’re looking for a second check this year you’re out of luck. The property tax relief credit was not included in this year’s budget.

In prior years, another rebate check was sent out in the fall if the homeowner’s school district complied with the 2% property tax cap. It was a four-year program that ended in 2019. So, only STAR rebate checks this year, no property tax relief checks.

If a property owner has questions they can contact the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance at 518-457-2036.

Click here to find out if you’re eligible or if you haven’t received your check yet.

If you have a question you’d like answered, send an email to GoodQuestion@whec.com.