New York State Business Income Tax

Most states tax at least some types of business income derived from the state. As a rule, the details of how income from a specific business is taxed depend in part on the business's legal form. In most states, corporations are subject to a corporate income tax, while income from pass-through entities such as S corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and sole proprietorships is subject to a state's tax on personal income. Tax rates for both corporate income and personal income vary widely among states. Corporate rates, which most often are flat regardless of the amount of income, generally range from roughly 4% to 10%. Personal rates, which generally vary depending on the amount of income, can range from 0% (for small amounts of taxable income) to around 9% or more in some states.

Currently, six states—Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming—do not have a corporate income tax. However, four of those states—Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Washington—do have some form of gross receipts tax on corporations. Moreover, five of those states—Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming – as well as Alaska, Florida, and Tennessee currently have no personal income tax. Individuals in New Hampshire are only taxed on interest and dividend income.

Apart from taxing business income through a corporate income tax or a personal income tax, many states impose a separate tax on at least some businesses, sometimes called a "franchise tax" or "privilege tax." This is frequently justified as a tax simply for the privilege of doing business in the state. As with state taxes on business income, the specifics of a state's franchise tax often depend in part on the legal form of the business. Franchise taxes are generally either a flat fee or an amount based on a business's net worth.

How New York State Business Income Tax Works

New York has a corporation franchise tax, which applies to both traditional (C-type) corporations and to S corporations, and a tax known simply as the "filing fee," which applies to LLCs, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and some regular partnerships. In addition, if income from your business passes through to you personally, that income will be subject to taxation on your personal New York tax return.

For traditional corporations, the amount of corporation franchise tax due is the highest of the following three tax bases:

• the corporation's business income base
• the corporation's business capital base, or
• a fixed dollar minimum (FDM) tax.

Here's a quick look at each of these three items.

The business income base is based on federal taxable income with certain New York-specific modifications. The default tax rate is 6.5%. However, a lower rate of 4.875% applies to qualified emerging technology companies (QETCs) and a 0.0% rate applies to qualified New York manufacturers. General business taxpayers with a business income base of more than $5 million pay 7.25%.

The business capital base is the total investment and business capital allocated to New York State after deducting short-term and long-term liabilities attributable to assets. It currently is taxed at a rate of 0.1875%–with a 0% rate for qualified New York manufacturers and QETCs, and qualified cooperative housing corporations. All of these rates are subject to change in the coming years. The tax is capped at $350,000 for qualified New York manufacturers and QETCs, and $5 million for all other taxpayers.

The fixed dollar minimum (FDM) tax is based on a corporation's New York State receipts. New York manufacturers and QETCs have a separate tax table. So do non-captive REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and non-captive RICs (Regulated Investment Company).

As of 2022, the tax table for most corporations is as follows:

• receipts not more than $100,000 = $25
• receipts more than $100,000 but not over $250,000 = $75
• receipts more than $250,000 but not over $500,000 = $175
• receipts more than $500,000 but not over $1,000,000 = $500
• receipts more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,500
• receipts more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $3,500
• receipts more than $25,000,000 but not over $50,000,000 = $5,000
• receipts more than $50,000,000 but not over $100,000,000 = $10,000
• receipts more than $100,000,000 but not over $250,000,000 = $20,000
• receipts more than $250,000,000 but not over $500,000,000 = $50,000
• receipts more than $500,000,000 but not over $1,000,000,000 = $100,000; and
• receipts over $1,000,000,000 = $200,000.

As of 2022, the tax table for New York manufacturers and QETCs is as follows:

• receipts not more than $100,000 = $19
• receipts more than $100,000 but not over $250,000 = $56
• receipts more than $250,000 but not over $500,000 = $131
• receipts more than $500,000 but not over $1,000,000 = $375
• receipts more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,225
• receipts more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $2,625; and
• receipts over $25,000,000 = $3,750.

Additional FMD rules, not covered here, apply to non-New York corporations.

Corporations may also be subject to the metropolitan transportation business tax (MTA surcharge), which applies to corporations that do business, employ capital, own or lease property, maintain an office, or derive receipts from activity, in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, which covers New York City and nearby areas. This tax doesn't apply to New York S corporations.

For New York S corporations, the corporation franchise tax generally is based on the fixed dollar minimum (FDM) tax as described above (a tax on the S corporation's New York receipts). New York manufacturers and QETCs have a separate tax table.

As of 2022, the tax table for most S corporations is as follows:

• receipts not more than $100,000 = $25
• receipts more than $100,000 but not over $250,000 = $50
• receipts more than $250,000 but not over $500,000 = $175
• receipts more than $500,000 but not over $1,000,000 = $300
• receipts more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,000
• receipts more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $3,000; and
• receipts over $25,000,000 = $4,500.

As of 2022, the tax table for S corporations that are also eligible qualified New York manufacturers or QETCs is as follows:

• receipts not more than $100,000 = $19
• receipts more than $100,000 but not over $250,000 = $56
• receipts more than $250,000 but not over $500,000 = $131
• receipts more than $500,000 but not over $1,000,000 = $375
• receipts more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,225
• receipts more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $2,625; and
• receipts over $25,000,000 = $3,750.

Also, additional rules not covered here apply to non-New York S corporations.

New York LLCs and LLPs are required to pay the state filing fee; the fee is based on a business's New York gross income. For 2022, the tax table is as follows:

• gross income not more than $100,000 = $25
• gross income more than $100,000 but not over $250,000 = $50
• gross income more than $250,000 but not over $500,000 = $175
• gross income more than $500,000 but not over $1,000,000 = $500
• gross income more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,500
• gross income more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $3,000; and
• gross income over $25,000,000 = $4,500.

A regular New York partnership is only subject to the state filing fee if it has $1 million or more in gross income. For 2022, the tax table is as follows:

• gross income of $1,000,000 = $500
• gross income more than $1,000,000 but not over $5,000,000 = $1,500
• gross income more than $5,000,000 but not over $25,000,000 = $3,000; and
• gross income over $25,000,000 = $4,500.

For purposes of comparison, note that in recent years New York taxes personal income at marginal rates ranging from 4.00% to 8.82%.

New York City has its own business corporation tax – which is not covered here.

Let's briefly look at additional details for five of the most common forms of New York business: corporations (C corporations), S corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

Corporations

New York corporations are subject to the corporation business tax, which is based on the highest of the corporation's business income base, the corporation's business capital base, or FDM (see above).

S Corporations

An S corporation is created by first forming a traditional corporation and then filing a special form with the IRS to elect S status. Unlike a traditional corporation, an S corporation generally is not subject to separate federal income tax (exceptions include cases where the S corporation has built-in gains, excess passive income, or passive investment income). Rather, taxable income from an S corporation is passed through to the individual shareholders, and each individual shareholder is subject to federal tax on his or her share of the corporation's income. In other words, S corporations usually are pass-through entities. (Note that a shareholder's share of the S corporation's income need not actually be distributed to the shareholder in order for the shareholder to owe tax on that amount.)

New York, however, does not recognize the federal S election. Instead, in addition to the federal S election form, you must also file a New York election form. (If your business does not properly file for S status with the State of New York, the state will tax the business as though it were a traditional corporation.) Moreover, New York S corporations are required to pay corporation franchise tax based on New York receipts. Also, independently of any corporation franchise tax due from the business itself, each individual S corporation shareholder will owe tax on his or her share of the corporation's net income.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

In many states, LLCs are pass-through entities and are not required to pay either federal or state income tax. Instead, income from the business is distributed to individual LLC members, who then pay federal and state taxes on the amount distributed to them. In New York, individual LLC members must pay state income tax on the amount distributed to them, but the LLC itself must also pay the state filing fee.

Note that while by default LLCs are classified for tax purposes as partnerships (or, for single-member LLCs, disregarded entities), it is possible to elect to have your LLC classified as a corporation. In that case, the LLC would also be subject to New York's corporation franchise tax.

Partnerships

In many states, partnerships are pass-through entities and are not required to pay either federal or state income tax. Instead, income from the business is distributed to individual partners, who then pay federal and state taxes on the amount distributed to them. In New York, individual partners must pay state income tax on the amount distributed to them, but a partnership with at least $1 million in New York gross income must also pay the state filing fee.

Sole Proprietorships

Income from your business will be distributed to you as the sole proprietor, and you will pay tax to the state on that income.

Note on Multistate Businesses and Nexus

Our primary focus here is on businesses operating solely in New York. However, if you're doing business in several states, you should be aware that your business might be considered to have nexus with those states and, therefore, might be obligated to pay taxes in those states. Also, if your business was formed or is located in another state but generates income in New York, it might be subject to New York taxes. The rules for taxation of multistate businesses, including what constitutes nexus with a state for the purpose of various taxes, are complicated. If you run such a business, consult with a tax professional.

Additional Information

For guidance on New York's corporation franchise tax and state filing fee, check the Department of Taxation and Finance website. For information on business-related taxes in other states, check Nolo's 50-State Guide to Business Income Tax. And, if you're looking for detailed guidance on federal income tax issues, check Tax Savvy for Small Business by Frederick Daily (Nolo).

Updated February 10, 2022