SEARCH FOR HOMES
SEARCH FOR HOMES
SEARCH FOR HOMES
SEARCH FOR HOMES
Buying a home comes with an endless list of “new homeowner” tasks—some exciting, some confusing, and some that make you wonder why the instructions weren’t written by an actual human being. When we bought our own home, registering for the STAR Credit was one of the most unexpectedly difficult steps. Not because the state makes it hard to qualify, but because clear, plain-English guidance was nearly impossible to find.
That experience is exactly why I put this guide together.
I want you to have the version I wish existed when I needed it—simple, accurate, and easy to follow. If your new home will be your primary residence, taking a few minutes to register can put real savings back in your pocket. Here’s how to do it quickly and confidently.
The School Tax Relief (STAR) Credit is a New York State program designed to help reduce school property taxes for eligible homeowners. Instead of applying the savings directly to your tax bill like it used to, the state now sends your benefit as a check or direct deposit each year.
The best part?
Once you register one time, the state handles the rest automatically as long as you remain eligible.
You qualify if:
Your home is your primary residence, and
Your income is $500,000 or less
You qualify if:
At least one owner is 65 or older, and
Your household income is $107,300 or less
If the previous owner already had STAR listed for your property, you may see their name appear this year. That’s normal. Once you register, the benefit shifts to you moving forward.
Having these items ready will save you time:
Names & Social Security Numbers for all owners (and spouses)
Your school district name
Approximate purchase date
Seller’s names
Your most recent school tax bill (if you received one)
A copy of your 2022 or 2023 tax return
You will need:
Line 37, and
Line 78 (if you received a refund) OR Line 80 (if you owed tax)
Address of any residential property you own in another state
If owned in a trust: the legal name of the trust
You can complete the STAR registration online in about 5–10 minutes once you know what to expect.
Step 1: Go to www.tax.ny.gov/star
Step 2: Create a new account or log in.
Step 3: Enter the information from your tax return using the line numbers listed above.
Step 4: Search for your property address.
If the seller’s name appears—don’t panic. This is expected. You will update it on the next screen.
Step 5: Enter your personal information and add any co-owners.
Step 6: Submit your registration.
Step 7: Select Print to PDF and save the confirmation for your files.
You can have someone walk you through this step by step by calling the New York State Tax Department:
📞 518-457-2036
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
The representatives are genuinely helpful. Buying a home is big enough—you shouldn’t have to wrestle with confusing instructions on top of it.