ALBANY — New Yorkers don’t have to do anything special to get their inflation refund checks, and the state government is warning people to ignore outreach that says otherwise.

Part of this year’s state budget, New York is sending between $150 to $400 one-time refund checks to about 8.2 million eligible taxpaying households this year. Eligibility depends on income and filing status, with couples making up to $300,000 per year able to get at least $300.

The money, billed as a refund of better-than-expected sales tax revenue driven by inflation last year, is a new tax credit for the 2023 filing year — the tax year most people filed their returns for last spring. As long as someone filed their state income tax return for that year, and makes less than the income limit, they’ll get the check automatically, sent to their address on file with the state Department of Taxation and Finance. The checks will come automatically between now and November.

But many New Yorkers have reported official-looking text messages, emails, calls or outreach on social media, telling them they need to provide more financial information to get their checks. Some messages threaten that the recipient will forfeit the money if they don’t provide more information.

None of that is true. The state needs no further information to determine eligibility beyond a tax return filed for 2023, and the state doesn’t need bank account information to deposit the money.

Under state law, a person has three years to file a prior year’s tax return to receive any refunds owed to them. For the 2023 tax year that period will end in April of 2027. The checks will come in the mail, in an official New York state envelope, bearing a green block of text that says “Inflation Refund Check,” with the New York State Capitol in Albany as the return address.

“New Yorkers do not have to do anything to receive an inflation refund check outside of meeting the eligibility requirements,” Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul said in a statement. “With scams targeting the state’s inflation refund initiative, let me be clear: The Tax Department and the IRS do not call or text individuals for personal information. My administration urges New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report these scams to the Tax Department to protect yourself from being a victim.”

Tax scams can be reported by phone or email, to both the state Department of Taxation and Finance and the IRS. Information on how to report a tax scam can be found online at wdt.me/TaxScams. The state also suggests that recipients block the phone number calling or texting them the scam information, and delete the text messages. If the scammer is leaving voicemail, state officials ask the recipient to save those recordings.

Online safety experts also warn to never open an attachment received in a scam email, never open a link in a scam email or text message, and not to respond to scam messages. In the case of scam phone calls, experts suggest disengaging as soon as the scam is identified, never providing your name or any personally identifying information, and not leaving your full name on your voicemail greeting.