If you bought a Long Island home this year, register for the New York STAR credit now. The state does not sign you up on its own. Moreover, the state says STAR can save homeowners hundreds of dollars each year on school taxes. You register once, and the credit keeps coming as long as you qualify. Here’s what you need to know.
What the STAR credit is
STAR stands for School Tax Relief. It lowers what you pay in school taxes on your primary residence. It does not apply to county or town taxes, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
There are two ways to get it:
- STAR credit: a check or direct deposit from the state that you use toward your school taxes.
- STAR exemption: a reduction printed right on your school tax bill.
Here’s the key point for new buyers. The STAR exemption is no longer available to new homeowners, per the state’s STAR eligibility page. Only people who have received it since 2015 can keep it for the same home. Therefore, if you just bought, the credit is your path.
Who qualifies
The home must be your primary residence, and you must own it. Then the income limits apply, according to the state tax department:
- Basic STAR credit: combined income of $500,000 or less. No age limit.
- Enhanced STAR: at least one resident owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the benefit year. The income limit is $110,750 for 2026 benefits and $113,550 for 2027 benefits.
Income here means federal adjusted gross income minus the taxable part of IRA distributions. Moreover, starting in 2026, only owners who live in the home, and their spouses who live there, count toward the limit, per the state’s STAR changes page.
The July 1 rule: why your first check may come next year
To get a STAR credit in a given year, you must own the home and live there as your primary residence on July 1 of that year, according to the state tax department.
So if you closed this fall, you likely missed July 1 for this year. However, the state notes that if the former owner had the STAR exemption, you may get that exemption on your bill for your first year. After that, you’ll get the credit, as long as you’ve registered and still qualify.
Therefore, don’t wait for July. Register as soon as the home becomes your primary residence. That’s the state’s own advice.
When the money shows up on Long Island
Timing is different in Nassau and Suffolk. The state begins issuing STAR credits in Nassau County in October and in Suffolk County in December, per the state’s real property calendar. You can check your school district with the state’s STAR Credit Delivery Schedule.
Suffolk: Town tax receivers mail bills by mid-December. The first half is due without interest through January 10. The second half is due without interest through May 31, according to the Suffolk County Comptroller.
Nassau: The first half of the 2026-2027 school tax was due October 1. It can be paid without penalty through November 10, 2026, per the Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes.
One more note. The Suffolk Comptroller says it’s the owner’s job to pay on time, even if a bill never arrives. So if you just bought, call your town’s Receiver of Taxes and ask what’s due next.
How to register
You register online through the state’s Homeowner Benefit Portal, per the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance:
- Log in to your Individual Online Services account, or create one.
- Open the Services menu and choose Real property tax.
- Select Homeowner Benefit Portal.
- Select Register and follow the prompts.
Have these ready:
- Names and Social Security numbers for all owners and their spouses
- Your school district name
- The approximate date you bought the home
- The sellers’ names (optional, but the state says it can help you get your credit before school taxes are due)
- Your most recent school tax bill, if you have one
- Income tax returns for all owners
- Bank account details if you want direct deposit
Moreover, sign up for direct deposit early. If you enroll fewer than 15 days before the state issues credits, you’ll get a paper check this year, according to the state’s STAR FAQs.
Paying taxes through escrow?
Many buyers pay school taxes through a mortgage escrow account. The STAR credit goes to you, not to your lender. The state suggests you contact your lender if you’ve switched from the exemption to the credit. Therefore, it’s worth a quick call so your escrow math lines up.
Already own your home? Credit or exemption?
If you still get the old STAR exemption, you can keep it. You can also switch to the credit. Here’s the trade-off, per the state’s STAR comparison page:
- The STAR credit can grow by up to 2% each year.
- The exemption’s savings cannot grow.
- Once you switch to the credit, you can’t switch back.
The state updates its comparison numbers for Nassau in November and for Suffolk in January. So check your district before you decide.
Selling or missed a year?
If you sell, close your STAR registration in the portal, the state says. And if you never registered, you’re not out of luck yet. Homeowners can claim prior-year STAR credits for up to three years back, per the state’s STAR income limits page.
“We remind every buyer to register for STAR right after closing. It’s a short online form, and it can lower your school tax costs every year.” — Brad Wilson, Broker, Jones Hollow Realty Group
Quick checklist
- Register for the STAR credit as soon as you move in.
- Enroll in direct deposit early.
- Call your town’s Receiver of Taxes to see what’s due next.
- Tell your lender if you pay taxes through escrow.
- Turning 65? The state upgrades eligible owners to Enhanced STAR automatically.
Buying or selling on Long Island?
We help our clients plan for taxes before and after closing. Contact Jones Hollow Realty Group at joneshollowrealty.com or stop by our office at 136 Carleton Ave in East Islip to talk with a local agent.