Star rebate deadline nears

ALBANY - New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Robert L. Megna reminded homeowners who may be eligible for a 2008 STAR Rebate Program check that they have until midnight on Dec. 31 to apply.

Although most homeowners received their STAR rebate check automatically this year, others needed to apply for the rebate due to changes in their property assessment records or because they were eligible in 2007 but did not apply. The Tax Department this year mailed applications to just over 486,000 households and has thus far received responses from approximately 238,000 property owners.

Through Dec. 5 the Department mailed about 2.9 million rebate checks to eligible households, including those who receive the basic STAR exemption or the enhanced STAR exemption on their school property tax bills. The value of these checks totals just over $1.1 billion.

Nearly 3.3 million households may be eligible for a STAR rebate, which is in addition to the STAR property exemption on taxpayers' school tax bills. The maximum benefit for those receiving the Basic STAR rebate goes to upstate homeowners earning $90,000 or less. The benefit diminishes until a homeowner's income reaches $250,000. Taxpayers earning over $250,000 are not eligible for the rebate, but continue to receive the STAR exemption on their school tax bills.

Program information and applications are available online at www.nystax.gov. Homeowners who have received an application are encouraged to apply online using the STAR code provided for their property. Paper applications can also be completed and submitted to the tax department.

For more information, visit www.nystax.gov or call (866)-358-2511.

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