There was no federal stimulus check in June 2023. The last round of federal payments went out under the American Rescue Plan in 2021. But while Washington moved on, several states launched or continued their own relief programs, using budget surpluses or targeted tax rebates to get money back into residents' hands. For homeowners feeling the squeeze of rising property taxes, higher mortgage rates, and stubborn inflation, these state programs made a real difference.

Why State Rebates Took Over

A combination of pandemic-era federal aid, strong tax collections in 2021 and 2022, and rising inflation left many states with large surpluses. Governors and legislators responded with two main tools:

Direct rebate checks sent to residents who met income or residency requirements
Tax credits applied to state income tax returns

The specific eligibility rules varied widely. Some states issued flat-amount rebates to everyone who filed a state tax return. Others tied the rebate to property tax payments, rent, or income below a cap.

New Mexico's Economic Relief Payment

New Mexico offered one of the most generous June 2023 programs. The state opened a brief application window from June 12 through June 30, 2023 for residents who had not received earlier rebate rounds. Payments went out by the end of July 2023, with eligibility tied to residency, household income, and tax filing status. Recipients received checks of several hundred dollars, with specific amounts based on household size and income tier.

The New Mexico Economic Relief Payment was designed to reach residents who typically did not file state tax returns, including older adults on Social Security alone and very low-income households. Outreach through community organizations helped eligible residents who might otherwise have missed the window.

New York Homeowner and Renter Tax Rebate

New York's property-tax rebate program had already delivered up to $1,050 to qualifying homeowners. In 2023, follow-on distributions and adjustments continued to land in mailboxes. New York City households received average rebates around $425, with the specific amount tied to income and tax circumstances. The state's STAR program continued to provide direct relief on school taxes for qualifying homeowners.

Renters in New York could benefit from the state's renter's credit, folded into the annual tax return, which provided partial relief for tenants whose rent functionally included pass-through property taxes.

Washington Working Families Tax Credit

Washington launched the Working Families Tax Credit in early 2023, mirroring the federal Earned Income Tax Credit for eligible state residents. Credits of up to $1,200 became available, with eligibility tied to income, number of children, and federal EITC eligibility. Residents could apply through December 31, 2023, for credits tied to 2022 earnings. For working families in expensive markets like Seattle and Spokane, the credit provided a meaningful boost on top of federal EITC.

California Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) Follow-Through

California's Middle Class Tax Refund program, which paid between $200 and $1,050 to eligible residents, continued to reach some late recipients into 2023 as debit card reissuances and check reissuances wrapped up. The MCTR was designed to offset inflation and sent payments based on 2020 tax returns filed by October 15, 2021.

Property Tax-Focused Programs

Several states ran rebate programs tied specifically to property taxes:

Pennsylvania. The long-running Property Tax/Rent Rebate program continued to provide rebates of up to $975 (with expansions that later raised caps further) to older adults, widowed spouses, and residents with disabilities.
Illinois. Property tax rebates of up to $300 reached homeowners based on previous-year tax bills.
Michigan. The Homestead Property Tax Credit remained available for eligible homeowners filing state income taxes.
Minnesota. The state issued rebate checks in 2023 tied to the 2021 tax year, with amounts varying by filing status.

What Homeowners Should Do

Homeowners who suspected they might be eligible for a state rebate had several practical steps to take:

Check the state tax or revenue agency website. Most states list current rebate programs and eligibility rules.
Confirm that tax returns are filed. Many rebates require a filed state tax return from a specified year. Eligible residents who had not filed could still file retroactively in some states to claim rebates.
Update mailing and banking information. Rebate checks and direct deposits go to the address or bank on file. Moves, bank changes, and closed accounts can cause delays.
Watch for scam messages. State rebate programs rarely send texts asking for bank information or personal details. Verify any message against the state agency's website.

Who Got Missed

State rebate programs often rely on tax return filings, which means non-filers get left out unless the state makes a separate outreach effort. Common groups who missed payments included:

Older adults on Social Security alone who did not file state tax returns
Very low-income households below filing thresholds
Recent movers whose addresses were outdated on tax filings
Individuals with prior-year filing errors that excluded them from eligibility lists

For these groups, connecting with a local legal aid clinic, senior center, or tax preparation volunteer sometimes opened a path to claim missed rebates.

Why State Relief Matters for Homeowners

A $300 or $1,050 check may not sound large, but for homeowners on tight budgets, those dollars can:

Cover a month of heating costs during winter
Fund a modest home repair before it becomes a large one
Pay down a property tax installment or utility arrear
Go into an emergency savings fund

Combined with federal programs like HAF and federal energy efficiency tax credits, state rebates formed part of a patchwork of relief that helped homeowners through the inflation-heavy period that followed the pandemic.

The Takeaway

June 2023 was a bridge month. Federal stimulus was behind us, but many states were still working through their surplus-driven rebate programs. Homeowners who stayed informed and kept their tax filings up to date were well positioned to capture whatever relief was available in their state. The takeaway going forward is simple: file your state return, keep your address current, and check your state's tax or revenue website periodically for new programs. State-level relief may not look as flashy as a federal stimulus, but it is real money, and it adds up.

June 2023 State Stimulus Payments and Financial Relief Guide