New York local sales-tax collections rise 21% in July

ALBANY, N.Y. — Local government sales-tax collections in New York state increased 21.2 percent in July compared the same month in 2020. It marks the fourth straight month that collections exceeded 2020 results and reflects the state’s recovery from the pandemic.

That’s according to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who said on Aug. 17 that collections totaled close to $1.6 billion, up $276 million from July of last year.

New York City’s collections totaled $649 million, an increase of 14.2 percent, or $81 million, compared to July 2020. Every county outside of New York City also had year-over-year collections for July grow by double digits, ranging from 17.3 percent in Lewis County to 35.7 percent in Wayne County, DiNapoli’s office said.

“Last month’s impressive sales tax performance reflects this year’s strengthening economy and positive jobs numbers,” DiNapoli said. “Overall collections around this time last year were severely weakened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. New York’s local governments are seeing much stronger collections in 2021. However, with recent increases in infection rates occurring across the state, local officials must continue to monitor changing economic conditions and maintain vigilance when it comes to their finances.”

July’s “significant growth” in local sales taxes reflects that collections during the same month of 2020 were “weak,” with sales activity still recovering from the first wave of the pandemic. However, collections this July were also strong even by comparison with pre-pandemic 2019, growing 11.2 percent, or $159 million, over July of that year.

To be sure, July’s increase in sales-tax collections wasn’t nearly as high as the gains seen in June (46.1 percent), May (57.8 percent), and April (45.7 percent), respectively, as those months benefitted from comparisons to year-ago months more impacted by the pandemic shutdowns.

Methodology

During the last month of each calendar quarter, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance reconciles quarterly distributions against what had been reported by sales-tax vendors for the reporting quarter and adjusts payments to local jurisdictions in those months “upward or downward accordingly.”

During the other months, including July, the payments are based on estimates. The next reconciliation will be reported in mid-October and will provide more information on the regional picture of sales tax collections for the third quarter (July-September) of 2021, DiNapoli’s office said.