CHANGES IN STAR EXEMPTION PROGRAM
The Ulster County Assessors Association would like to advise residential property owners of recent changes enacted by the state legislature to the School Tax Relief (STAR) program.
According to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance:
New STAR applicants will receive a credit in the form of a check directly from NYS instead of receiving a school property tax exemption. The amount of your STAR benefit is the same regardless of how you receive it. IF YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE EXEMPTION ON YOUR SCHOOL TAX BILL YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE REDUCTION ON YOUR SCHOOL TAXES DIRECTLY.
New Basic and Enhanced STAR applicants need to register with the NYS Tax Department to receive a STAR check. If you filed for the Exemption with your Local
Assessor for the 2016 School Taxes, you should have receive notification of the need to register for the Star Check

Visit www.tax.ny.gov or call (518) 457-2036. Register by July 1 to receive your STAR check in September. If you register after July 1, you will receive your check later.
The eligibility criteria are the same for both the STAR credit and the STAR property tax exemption.
If you received a STAR exemption on your 2015 school tax bill, you will continue to receive the exemption and do not need to register for the STAR credit. You can also contact your local assessor for assistance.