New York State began sending out property tax rebate checks last week. Here's how to find out if you should be expecting some cash.

Homeowners who are already enrolled in the STAR tax relief program should prepare for a rebate check if their school district stayed under the property tax cap. A similar program was launched last year rewarding school districts that stayed under the cap. This year, however, in order to receive a check your local government must also be under the cap.

The Democrat & Chronicle has set up a searchable database to find out if you should be expecting a check. According to the site, Hudson Valley homeowners should be getting a rebate unless they live in the following communities:

Orange County areas not receiving a rebate check:

  • Village of Woodbury
  • Town of Cornwall
  • Village of Monroe
  • Town of Greenville
  • Village of Maybrook
  • Village of Cornwall-On-Hudson
  • Town of Montgomery

Dutchess County areas not receiving a rebate check:

  • North East
  • Union Vale
  • Clinton

Sullivan County areas not receiving a rebate check:

  • Town of Fallsburg
  • Town of Highland
  • Town of Forestburgh

And in Ulster County there were no areas that failed to stay under the tax cap, meaning all homeowners should expect a rebate.

Don't spend all of that money just yet, though. Last year checks were delayed for months with some residents having to contact the state in order to receive them. Also, exactly how big of a rebate you will receive depends on how far below the tax cap your local government stayed. In short, you may want to wait for the check to actually arrives before spending it on Christmas gifts.

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