NY Requires STAR Income Verification From Some by April 2026 | The Locally Times
The NYS Department of Taxation and Finance is mailing Form RP-5300-WSC to select homeowners, requiring income verification by April 15, 2026, to maintain their STAR property tax benefit.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is requiring certain homeowners to confirm their income by April 15, 2026, to maintain their School Tax Relief (STAR) benefit. According to a notice on the department's website, letters identified as Form RP-5300-WSC are being mailed during the 2025 tax filing season. The verification process will determine which STAR benefit level homeowners are eligible to receive based on their income. ## How to Verify Your Income The deadline for homeowners to respond to the income request is April 15, 2026, which coincides with the due date for filing 2025 income tax returns. A public notice from the tax department advises that responding online is the most efficient method. The state's website provides instructions for completing the income confirmation electronically using a computer, tablet, or mobile device. ## Unanswered Questions for Homeowners Public documents from the Department of Taxation and Finance do not specify the criteria used to select homeowners for this income verification. Records do not disclose the total number of homeowners receiving Form RP-5300-WSC statewide or in any locality, nor do they define the selection methodology for this compliance check. Furthermore, the state’s announcement does not outline the consequences for failing to respond by the deadline, such as a potential reduction or complete loss of the STAR benefit. The posted information also does not detail alternative response methods for residents who may have limited internet access or require other assistance.