If sometime over the next month you receive a $350 check from New York State, don’t throw it away. It’s not a joke. Instead, it’s a Middle Class Family Rebate from the state.
That’s right, instead of you writing a check to the government, they may be writing you one.
Along with the NY state check, there will be a letter stating something along the lines of “Dear Taxpayer: Last year’s State Budget included this Family Tax Relief Credit. This tax relief is part of New York State’s new effort to reduce taxes”.
You can expect to see the Family Relief $350 check if you meet the following qualifications;
Wondering what the catch is? You may be surprised to hear there’s no catch. The Family rebate program, along with a new homeowners property tax rebate program are part of NY Governor Andrew Cuomo’s effort to address New York’s “high-tax state” reputation.
Governer Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi stated the following; “This much-needed relief for families is one of many steps taken by Gov. Cuomo to control and reduce taxes. As the governor has repeatedly said, New York has no future as the high tax capital of the world.”
NY State started sending out the Family Relief Tax Rebate checks last Tuesday. In fact, the checks come six weeks before Election Day… Interesting.
Here’s another “fun” fact; NY state’s two new 2014 rebate programs will end up costing the state $1.6 million in postage fees alone.
However, if you have a family and fell between the $40,000 and $300,000 income range in 2012, the rebate check will most likely help cover the high costs of raising a family, whether it be a few dinners or new school clothing.
Bummed that you still need to file your 2012 Tax Return? Fortunately, PriorTax offers late tax filing. That means, you can still get caught up on your 2012 taxes and cash in for the possible money New York state owes you.
Whatever your case may be, whatever you do, don’t shred that check you receive from Albany, NY State Capital Office!
Photo via USASOC News Service
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Comments(14)
sandra saguiped
Oct 12, 2014
How I can’t get my $350 rebate check ? I never get my $350 rebate check
admin
Oct 13, 2014
Hi Sandra,
If you believe that you are eligible for the Family Tax Relief Credit check but did not receive it, please refer to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance website.
gail
Oct 16, 2014
Upfront… I am not eligible for the “family” tax credit check and I am all for helping our lower income/middle income households. This brings me to an obvious discrimination… would not people who made less than $40,000 be more deserving of a rebate than people above, let’s say $75,000. If I had a child under 17, I would qualify, so I’m in no way questioning the minimum on my behalf. I’m just saying as a taxpayer( and long, long time worker in this high-taxed state of New York) Gov. Cuomo failed to launch. I would love to see him live on $40,000 a year with one child for one year… If I were young again, living in these times, in this state… I would probably decide to move to another state and never look back. If this becomes the mindset of our younger generation, there won’t be enough people to call New York State a state and we won’t need much government to run it. We can only pray that the citizens of this state will show up during the election in November and vote for changes. Common sense screams that this is a ruse… otherwise, people who could really use a rebate would be getting it!!!!!
admin
Oct 16, 2014
Hi Gail,
As it is probably no surprise, this check has caused much controversy among New York residents. Although Governor Cuomo approved this check to help families in one of the highest-taxed states in the country, many residents who do not qualify feel the same as you do.
reality
Oct 16, 2014
I disagree. We were slightly above the requirements and this check is just whatnwe needed. Its nice to see someone or something giving back to hard working middle for a change. We have bills like anyone else but we dont have options for HEAP, reduced or free lunches, food stamps, etc. It all comes out of our pocket and we end up with less money than some of the “lower” class people we know.
Emile
Oct 17, 2014
It is October 17 and I haven’t received my check, which would come just in time for a couple of winter outfits for my 6 year old. If checks started going out the last week of October, does it take three weeks to get a mail across New York state? State Taxation Department should have a toll free number for folks who haven’t gotten their checks after 21 days.
admin
Oct 20, 2014
Hi Emile,
You can contact the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance at 518-485-1057 about the Family Tax Relief Credit.
Holly
Oct 20, 2014
My husband and I were wondering why we hadn’t received our rebate check yet. I reviewed our taxes from 2012 realized that we made $39,720.00 just missing the minimum. We are obviously disappointed because that check would have really helped out with getting just the necessities like groceries. It’s a little painful to know that someone making up to $300,000 will be getting a rebate check but we aren’t and I don’t believe those in the higher income brackets are really going to appreciate the money like those of us in the lower income brackets. Disappointed Gov. Coumo. I really don’t feel that our elected officials are truly aware of the everyday struggles we working poor are facing right now.
Phillip C
Oct 20, 2014
Same thing happened to us Holly. We missed the “minimum” by 175 dollars. It’s too bad we were too poor to qualify for some money. When I first heard about the rebate check the first thing I thought of was buying groceries with cash instead of a credit card. It baffles me to think that my family of 5 making $39,825 is not getting a check but someone making $300,000 is getting one. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Holly
Nov 1, 2014
I knew there would be plenty of families in the same boat as we are. At first I thought to myself,”why can’t the cut off be $30,000.00?” But that wouldn’t be fair either because of all the families making less than that. I would love to speak to the big shots that came up with the magical numbers. What was the behind the scenes conversations that occurred? It probably went something like this, let’s give a tax break to the people most likely to turn up at a voter’s booth because in the end that’s all that matters in an election year.
Robb
Oct 21, 2014
They could’ve put food on the table for the poor, instead they’ll be letting some rich lady buy a pair of 350 dollar shoes. Makes perfect sense to me, lol.
Kathy M
Oct 23, 2014
It’s a tax REBATE. Those making more money pay a lot more taxes.
Lisa L
Oct 28, 2014
It is now October 27 and we haven’t received our check yet.We meet all the requirements.Maybe a call to the NYS Dept of Taxation and Finance is in order.Would they be able to tell me if one was mailed out? I am hoping it didn’t get misplaced amongst the junk mail and accidentally thrown out.
admin
Oct 29, 2014
Hi Lisa,
Yes, definitely give them a call if you are sure that you meet the eligibility requirements.