1.8 million New Yorkers got extra child and work credit checks

In the fall of 2022, New York sent extra money to families and workers who had already gotten two of the state’s tax credits for lower-income people. If you got the Empire State child credit on your 2021 return, your supplemental payment was 25% to 100% of that credit. The lowest incomes got the biggest share: 100% if your income was under $10,000, down to 25% at $50,000 and up. If you got at least $100 in state earned income credit, including the noncustodial parent credit, your supplemental payment was 25% of it.

You didn’t have to apply. To qualify, you had to file your 2021 resident return by April 18, 2022, or have a valid extension. The Tax Department mailed the checks automatically, and most were expected by the end of October. About 1.8 million people shared $475 million, about $270 each on average. The state did not issue supplemental payments under $25.

The payments were part of the state budget for the 2022–23 fiscal year. They were added to a budget with 5.3% more overall spending; the state comptroller said historic federal aid, enacted tax increases, and better-than-expected revenue made that growth possible. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said her conference won the extra child credit and earned income credit boost, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie helped negotiate the budget. The revenue bill passed the Senate 60–3 and the Assembly 137–10 on April 7, 2022, with support from both parties. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed it two days later.