NYS Energy Rebate Checks
The New York State budget for the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year contains a provision that directs the state to send one-time energy rebate checks to certain individual taxpayers. These checks are also referred to as Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) checks.
To be eligible for a check, the taxpayer must have timely filed a resident income tax return (Form IT-201) for the 2024 tax year, and must have been a full-year resident during 2024. In addition, the taxpayer cannot have been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return, and the taxpayer’s income must be below the applicable threshold.
Taxpayers who are married filing joint will receive a $200 check if their 2024 New York adjusted gross income was $150,000 or less, or they will receive a $150 check if their 2024 New York adjusted gross income was $300,000 or less but over $150,000. If 2024 income exceeded $300,000, New York will send no check.
Taxpayers who are single, married filing separate or heads of household will receive a $100 check if their 2024 New York adjusted gross income was $150,000 or less. If income exceeded $150,000, New York will send no check.
Checks are scheduled to be mailed starting on September 21, 2026, and will continue through December 2026. New York will not use direct deposit to make these payments, even if taxpayers provided bank account information for refunds or payments on their 2024 returns.
Checks are treated as a refund of 2026 New York State income tax and will be taxable for federal income tax purposes if a taxpayer itemizes his or her 2026 deductions for federal purposes. The checks are not taxable for New York State or local income tax purposes.
In our seminars this December and January, we will discuss logistics related to these checks, along with other New York State changes. We will also discuss the many new federal provisions for 2026 from OBBBA and from newly issued regulations and guidance.
Are you registered for one of our upcoming seminars in December and January? If you are not already registered, register here so you’ll be fully prepared with what you need to know.