Switching to the School Tax Relief (STAR) credit from the STAR exemption
If you currently receive the STAR exemption, you may switch to the STAR credit at any time. Once you switch to the credit, you cannot switch back.
How much could I save if I switch?
STAR benefits can change each year due to a variety of factors, including school tax rates, changes in property values in your community, and local assessment practices. While the STAR credit may increase by as much as 2% each year, it may not. The value of the STAR exemption cannot increase or be greater than the amount of the STAR credit. Both the STAR exemption and STAR credit may stay the same or even decrease.
To compare the most recent savings in your community, see STAR credit and exemption savings amounts. To see where taxpayers saved the most by switching to the STAR credit in 2025, select Enhanced STAR and Basic STAR, below.
Top 10 communities with greatest savings after switching to the STAR credit by Enhanced and Basic
Enhanced STAR
| Municipality | School district | Difference between the credit and exemption |
|---|---|---|
| City of Glen Cove | Glen Cove | $790.00 |
| Town of Rye | Blind Brook-Rye | $688.00 |
| Town of Poughkeepsie | Spackenkill | $650.00 |
| Town of Clarkstown | Nanuet | $586.00 |
| Town of Orangetown | Pearl River | $541.00 |
| Town of Orangetown | Nanuet | $537.00 |
| Town of Orangetown | South Orangetown | $537.00 |
| Town of Mount Pleasant | Valhalla | $514.00 |
| Town of Somers | Somers | $507.00 |
| Town of Pound Ridge | Katonah-Lewisboro | $505.00 |
Basic STAR
| Municipality | School District | Difference between the credit and exemption |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Hempstead | Merrick | $149.00 |
| Town of Oyster Bay | Massapequa | $146.72 |
| Town of Pound Ridge | Bedford | $131.13 |
| Town of Oyster Bay | Massapequa | $114.77 |
| Town of Hempstead | Malverne | $103.73 |
| Town of North Hempstead | North Shore | $103.00 |
| Town of Oyster Bay | North Shore | $103.00 |
| Town of Hempstead | Valley Stream 30 | $101.97 |
| Town of Hempstead | Rockville Centre | $90.09 |
| Town of Clarkstown | Clarkstown | $87.00 |
When should I switch?
You can switch to the STAR credit from the STAR exemption at any time. When you receive your first STAR credit will depend on whether you switch before or after the switch deadline for your community.
If you switch before the deadline, you will receive your first credit in the year you switched.
If you switch after the deadline but on or before December 31, you will receive:
- your STAR exemption on your school tax bill in the year you switched, then
- your STAR credit the following year.
If you switch after the deadline and the STAR credit is worth more than the STAR exemption in the year you switched, we will add any difference to your STAR credit in the following year.
How do I switch?
To switch to the STAR credit from the STAR exemption:
- Log in to (or create) your Individual Online Services account.
- Select the ≡ Services menu in the upper-left corner of your Account Summary homepage.
- Select Real property tax, then choose Homeowner Benefit Portal from the expanded menu.
- Select Actions and choose Switch to credit from the drop-down menu.