State officials estimate more than 8 million people will receive checks. The Democratic governor said the $1 billion rebate program is designed to help people facing higher utility bills. The latest round of rebate checks for New York taxpayers will be arriving in September and October — on the eve of an election — according to a person familiar with the matter. This is the second year that the state has sent rebate checks to taxpayers in the fall. Hochul pushed in 2025 for an “inflation rebate” that used surplus state cash to individual New Yorkers.