Thousands of eligible homeowners across Long Island and New York did not receive their checks for the school tax rebate (STAR) program, and it may be too late to rectify the state's mistake.

The 2006 STAR rebate checks serve as property tax relief in addition to the STAR tax exemption. State Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-Sag Harbor) says about 60,000 checks never made it to their destination. According to Thiele, many were sent to houses instead of post office boxes and others had the incorrect ZIP code.

Unfortunately for several unknowing victims of the error, the January 22 deadline to apply for new checks has passed. Thiele says he is working to pass an extension to April 15. Anyone who should have received a check and did not can call (877) 6-STAR-NY, the state's STAR Rebate Hotline.