The first inflation refund checks for New York state taxpayers are in the mail, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. A total of 8.2 million households are due to receive the refund checks, which will disperse excess sales tax money collected due to inflation. Hochul announced the mailing of the first refund checks at a Sept. 26 event in Albany. On Sept. 28, Hochul issued a warning that scams are beginning to pop up with scammers telling people they need to make payments or provide personal information in order to receive a refund check.
In her warning, Hochul said scammers sending text messages, voice messages, emails and direct mail to taxpayers in an attempt to spread false information and steal money. Some messages falsely claim that New Yorkers must submit information in order to receive an inflation refund check, supposedly so revenue agencies can deposit money into a taxpayer’s bank account. The New York State Tax Department and the IRS will not call or text New Yorkers with requests for any personal information, Hochul advised.
“New Yorkers do not have to do anything to receive an inflation refund check outside of meeting the eligibility requirements,” Hochul said. “With scams targeting the state’s inflation refund initiative, let me be clear: The Tax Department and the IRS do not call or text individuals for personal information. My administration urges New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report these scams to the Tax Department to protect yourself from being a victim.”
Hochul announces checks are (or are going) in the mail.The amount of the check sent to a household will depend on the amount of income they reported on the 2023 state income tax return:
- Joint tax filers with income up to $150,000 will receive a $400 check.
- Joint tax filers with income over $150,000 but no greater than $300,000 will receive a $300 check.
- Single tax filers with income up to $75,000 will receive a $200 check.
- Single tax filers with incomes over $75,000 but no greater than $150,000 will receive a $150 check.
“This is your money and we’re putting it back in your pockets,” Hochul said. “If your neighbor gets it (a refund check) and you don’t, don’t start calling us. Give us October and November. I don’t know the logic behind all this but this is what I’m told is the time frame, so you’ll have it just in time for your holiday shopping.”
Hochul said that the state was able to amass from $2 billion to $3 billion more than had been anticipated due to inflation driving up prices, which meant that consumers have been paying more in sales and use taxes.
“This is because hard working New Yorkers got slammed with higher costs of everything and they had to pay more and they had to pay more in sales tax,” Hochul said. “Last I checked inflation is not going down. Interest rates are still high. Washington is still slamming us with everything going up because of the tariffs.”
The state says that in the Mid-Hudson region, 924,000 households will be receiving inflation refund checks.
