New York sales tax is one of the more complicated configurations in the United States. There are multiple levels of sales tax (state, county, city, and others) to be considered, particularly within New York City. Because the rules and regulations are complicated and may be difficult to understand, we’ve provided this guide to inform retailers of the basics. But because tax laws change regularly, we advise you to review the New York Department of Taxation & Finance website and/or seek legal advice if you intend to do business within the state of New York.
New York State sales tax varies by location. There is a state sales tax as well as city, county, or school district rates. New York (NY) Sales Tax Rate: 4% plus any local tax rate imposed by city, county, or school district, typically between 3-5%. In addition, within the Commuter transportation district, there is a sales tax surcharge of 0.375%.
New York (NY) Sales Tax Rate: 4%
Maximum rate for local municipalities: 8.875%
New York Sales Tax varies by county, but a given county may have more than one rate due to local taxes. Therefore, a retailer cannot determine the tax rate simply by knowing the county. Likewise, New York sales tax also cannot be accurately determined by zip code alone.
New York collects destination-based sales tax, that is, local sales tax based on the destination of shipment or delivery within the state by small businesses. There is no sales tax charge for deliveries outside the state. Learn more details at their website.
Corporations and small businesses that have a physical location in the state of New York are required to collect sales tax. This is known as "nexus". Those outside of New York will meet these requirements in event of the following:
Additionally, economic nexus was established in 2018 and revised in 2019, requiring that any entity that makes $500,000 in sales of tangible personal property and 100 or more sales in a given calendar year must collect and remit sales tax to the state of New York, regardless of location. Marketplace sales are included when determining if a company meets this threshold.
As expected, the retail sale of most tangible physical products is subject to New York sales tax. Certain services, admissions, and dues are also taxable. New York lists the following items as being subject to sales tax:
Food for home consumption, prescription and non-prescription medication, and sales to the government or charitable/exempt organizations are not taxable. Other items exempt from sales tax include certain medical devices, machinery and materials used in research, and clothing or shoes that cost less than $110 per item.
Certain other services are subject to New York City sales tax but not state or other sales tax. These include beautician services; massage services; weight control and related services; and written/oral credit rating services. For a complete list, see this guide.
Sellers of tangible personal property and providers of taxable services must register with the NY tax department before doing business. This registration process will provide the business with a Certificate of Authority. This applies regardless of whether the business operates from a commercial property or is a home-based small business. You must have a NY.gov ID before you can apply.
Visit the Department of Taxation & Finance website for:
At the time of this writing, out-of-state sellers who meet economic nexus requirements are required to register within 30 days of meeting the tax threshold.
The E-file mandate requires businesses to file Web file their tax returns and pay electronically if they
This covers most filers. You must must register with Online Services first.
In addition, PrompTax is an electronic filing and payment program that is mandatory for certain businesses. If you have taxable receipts of more than $500,000 or have an annual liability for prepaid sales tax on motor fuel and diesel motor fuel exceeding $5 million, you must enroll and file there.
New York requires businesses to file and pay sales tax either monthly, quarterly, or annually. The frequency with which you must file is determined by your business’s estimated yearly income.
Monthly Filers: No later than 20 days after filing period (20th of each month, or next available business day).
Period | Due Date |
---|---|
January | February 20 |
February | March 20 |
March | April 20 |
April | May 20 |
May | June 20 |
June | July 20 |
July | August 20 |
August | September 20 |
September | October 20 |
October | November 20 |
November | December 20 |
December | January 20 |
Quarterly Filers: No later than 20 days after filing period. (20th of month following end of quarter, or next available business day)
Period | Due Date |
---|---|
March – May (Q1) | June 20 |
June – August (Q2) | September 20 |
September – November (Q3) | December 20 |
December – February (Q4) | March 20 |
Annual Filers: March 20th
If a due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day.
Special rules apply to sales tax vendors and employers subject to electronic funds transfer requirements. See PrompTax above.
New York has strict penalties for a failure to file a return and/or failure to pay sales tax due, as well as additional money owed as interest. In addition to civil penalties, there are also possible criminal repercussions, including jail time.
For failing to file a return, the civil penalties are as follows:
For failing to pay tax due, the civil penalties are as follows:
There are additional penalties for not filing or displaying a Certificate of Authority as required, or if you violate certain laws relating to documents and record-keeping.
Complete details can be found at this location on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website.
You may be eligible for a vendor collection credit if you file on time and pay the full amount due. This credit reduces how much you send to NY State with your return. Learn more details at their web page.
You can also use our free sales tax calculator to look up the rate for any New York state address.
Last updated May 2022