Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that inflation refund checks of up to $400 will be mailed to 8.2 million households across New York State starting this October. This marks the first time the state will distribute such payments, a move made possible through funding secured in the newly enacted Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget.
The refund program is designed to return surplus tax revenue generated by inflation-driven price increases back to middle- and working-class families. Eligible residents will not need to apply or register to receive the funds. Payments will be automatically sent out between October and November. The initiative complements the Governor’s broader agenda to ease the financial burden on residents, which also includes middle-class tax cuts, an expanded child tax credit of up to $1,000 per child, and universal free school meals that could save families around $1,600 per child annually.
Households that filed a 2023 New York State resident income tax return and fall within specified income thresholds will qualify. Joint filers earning up to $150,000 will receive $400, while those earning up to $300,000 will receive $300. Single filers earning up to $75,000 will receive $200, and those earning up to $150,000 will get $150. There are no age restrictions, and the checks will be issued automatically to qualifying residents.
This refund initiative comes as inflation continues to raise the cost of living, with state officials emphasizing that increased sales tax revenue should benefit the people who contributed to it. Checks will be sent throughout all regions of the state, with New York City receiving 3.53 million, followed by Long Island with 1.25 million, and significant distributions across other regions including the Mid-Hudson, Western New York, and Capital Region.
The Governor emphasized that these funds belong to the people and should be returned to help them manage rising expenses. Support for the measure has come from state lawmakers and city officials, who view the refunds as a necessary response to economic challenges facing families statewide.
Additional details about eligibility and check distribution are available at ny.gov/inflationrefund.
