Register for the Basic and Enhanced STAR credits
Visit the new Homeowner Benefit Portal in your Individual Online Services account!
From the Homeowner Benefit Portal, you can:
- register for STAR
- enroll in STAR Credit Direct Deposit
- check the status of your property tax registrations
- switch to the STAR credit
- view, edit, or close your registrations
- ensure your information is accurate and complete
- take action to resolve issues
To get started, see the instructions below.
The STAR program can save homeowners hundreds of dollars each year. If you’re a new homeowner or are not receiving a STAR benefit on your current home, register as soon as your home becomes your primary residence. After you register, as long as you're eligible, you'll automatically receive the Basic or Enhanced STAR credit every year.
See the STAR resource center to learn more.
Before you start
Before you start, have the following information readily available:
- names and Social Security numbers for all owners of the property and their spouses
- name of the school district where your primary residence is located
- approximate date you purchased the property
- names of the sellers (not required, but may help ensure you receive your credit before school taxes are due)
- most recent school tax bill, if the current owners received one (view examples)
- address of any residential property owned in another state
- legal name of the trust, if applicable
- banking information (routing and account numbers), if enrolling in STAR Credit Direct Deposit
- 2022 federal or state income tax returns for all owners
If you were not required to file a 2022 income tax return, you will need the following additional information for all property owners:
- total wages, salaries, and tips
- taxable interest income and dividends
- unemployment compensation
- total pensions and annuities
- Social Security benefits
- taxable amount of total distributions from individual retirement accounts and individual retirement annuities (IRAs)
- other income
Ready?
- Log in to your Individual Online Services account or create one.
- Select the ≡ Services menu in the upper-left corner of your screen, then choose Real property tax.
- From the expanded menu, select Homeowner Benefit Portal.
- Select Register and follow the prompts to register for the STAR credit.
Note: If you do not have access to the Internet, you can register with a representative by calling 518-457-2036 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please make sure you have the information listed above before you call.
After you register
Note your confirmation number from the Transaction Confirmation page or in the confirmation email we send you. You can also find your confirmation number and other registration details on the Registration page in the Homeowner Benefit Portal.
If you are eligible, we'll issue your STAR credit payment before your school tax bill is due. Use the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule to see when we’ll begin to issue STAR credit payments in your area.
If you switch from the STAR exemption to the credit and you pay school taxes through a mortgage escrow account: You may want to contact the mortgage lender or its agent to tell them you’ve switched to the STAR credit from the STAR exemption.
Once you have registered, or if you have already registered for the STAR credit, you can enroll in STAR Credit Direct Deposit using your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your bank account number (up to 17 characters).
Important: For verification, you may be asked to review your STAR registration information as you enroll in STAR Credit Direct Deposit. We may ask you to verify certain information more than once to ensure accuracy.
In future years
You don’t need to register again in future years unless there is a change in the ownership of your home. We’ll review your information every year and automatically issue a STAR credit to you if you’re eligible. We’ll also use this registration to determine your eligibility for future New York State property tax benefit programs that may become available to homeowners.
However, if your property has an ownership change due to marriage, divorce, surrender of interest by a co-owner, survivorship, trust, life estate, or name change, you should update your registration. If you sell your property or no longer wish to receive the benefit, you should close the registration.
If you receive a letter from us
If we need additional information to process your registration, or if our records indicate that you are not eligible for the credit, we will send you a letter. The letter will explain how to provide the requested information and how to respond if you disagree.
Resources
STAR ad
Real estate professionals: Get the handout for new homeowners!
Realtors and attorneys, as your clients purchase new homes, we encourage you to provide them with this printable one-page handout: Register for the School Tax Relief (STAR) credit.