ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State has begun mailing inflation refund checks to 8.2 million households, aiming to help residents with rising costs due to inflation.
Most residents are eligible for a one-time payment between $150 and $400, depending on income and filing status. You’re eligible if you filed a state income tax return for 2023, weren’t claimed as a dependent on another person’s form, and don’t make above the income threshold.
Check deliveries will continue through October and November. Since the checks will be mailed out over multiple weeks, you may get your check sooner or later than your neighbors. The mailing time isn’t based on region or zip code. News10NBC has your guide to making sure you get your check.
Do you need to apply to get an inflation refund check?
If you’re all caught up on filing your taxes, the state says you’re good to go. If you filed your 2023 taxes, all you have to do is check your mailbox. You can learn more in our Good Question.
The check will go to the address you used on your most recently filed tax return. Even if you got your last tax refund through direct deposit, the inflation refunds will come in the form of a paper check.
I got a text message about my inflation refund check. Is it a scam?
A viewer shared a text message with us claiming that she needed to provide her personal information to get the inflation refund check. But that message is a scam, raising several red flags.
The state typically does not send texts. The message came from a number with a 63 area code, which is from the Philippines. Recipients should never enter bank account information through a link in a text without verifying the source. The text also included a time-sensitive request, which is another warning sign. You can learn more here.
How can seniors on Social Security get an inflation refund check?
More than a dozen viewers wrote to News10NBC asking the same question: Are seniors on Social Security who don’t file taxes still eligible for New York State’s inflation refund checks?
The amount of the check is determined by the salary you reported on your 2023 tax return. But many seniors who are on Social Security or disability aren’t required to file taxes because their income isn’t high enough.
The state says if you did not file a New York resident income tax return for 2023, you will not receive a check. However, you can still file that paperwork. A representative from the governor’s office says nothing is stopping seniors or others who did not file a 2023 return from filing a back tax return to get the check.
The form needed is called “IT-201” and it’s the same standard state form filed every tax season. You’ll need the 2023 version, which you’ll find here. You can learn more in our Good Question.
How much money will you receive?
The Department of Taxation and Finance says the amount you receive depends on your income and filing status for the 2023 tax year. Here’s how much you’ll get:
| Filing status | 2023 New York Adjusted Gross Income (Form IT-201 line 33) | Refund amount |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $75,000 or less | $200 |
| More than $75,000, but not more than $150,000 | $150 | |
| Married filing joint | $150,000 or less | $400 |
| More than $150,000, but not more than $300,000 | $300 | |
| Married filing separate | $75,000 or less | $200 |
| More than $75,000, but not more than $150,000 | $150 | |
| Head of household | $75,000 or less | $200 |
| More than $75,000, but not more than $150,000 | $150 | |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | $150,000 or less | $400 |
| More than $150,000, but not more than $300,000 | $300 |
The post State begins mailing millions of inflation refund checks; Here’s what to know appeared first on WHEC.com.
