NY Tax Season Opens; State Reviews STAR Recipient Income | The Locally Times
New York has opened the 2025 tax filing season and is sending Form RP-5300-WSC income verification letters to an unspecified number of STAR recipients.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has announced that the 2025 income tax filing season is now open. The department’s announcement highlights the availability of multiple free electronic filing options, including the Free File program. These services allow residents to prepare and submit their state and federal tax returns using a computer, tablet, or mobile device. While the state documents promote these tools as making the process easier, the records do not provide data on their usage or accessibility for residents with limited internet access. ## State Reviews STAR Program Income Concurrent with the opening of tax season, the Department of Taxation and Finance is conducting a review of the state’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program. The department is sending income request letters, identified as Form RP-5300-WSC, to an unspecified number of homeowners. According to the state’s public notice, the purpose of these letters is to confirm the recipient’s income and determine which STAR benefit they are entitled to receive. The STAR program provides a partial exemption from school property taxes for eligible homeowners. The state provides an online portal as the preferred method for recipients to respond to the income verification request. The documents do not define the criteria used to select which STAR recipients are receiving these letters, nor do they specify the total number of homeowners targeted for review. ## Verification Effort Could Impact Local Property Taxes The state’s review of STAR benefits has direct implications for local homeowners and municipal budgets. Any adjustment to a resident's STAR benefit, which is based on income and home ownership status, can alter their annual property tax liability. This, in turn, affects the revenue streams for local governments and school districts that rely on property taxes to fund public services. Public records show local entities like the Town of Brunswick and the Shenendehowa Central School District engage in their own budget processes that are dependent on a stable property tax base. The state’s announcements do not provide projections on the potential financial impact of these reviews on homeowners or municipalities. Furthermore, the provided records do not indicate whether local governments or community organizations are offering assistance to residents who receive the STAR income verification letters.