DiNapoli: Local sales-tax collections rise nearly 16 percent in April

ALBANY, N.Y. — Local government sales-tax collections increased 15.7 percent in April compared to the same month in 2021. 

That’s according to an analysis that New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released May 18. Overall, local collections totaled $1.7 billion, up $232 million from April of last year.

Nearly every county generated “significant” year-over-year growth in sales-tax collections, due, in part, to high inflation raising the cost of goods and services.

Oswego County had the largest increase in collections at 113 percent. Schenectady County was the only county to see a decline, -12.6 percent, in April. Among cities that impose their own general sales tax, the City of Olean had the highest increase in tax collections at 46.6 percent.

“While local sales-tax collections in April were strong throughout most of the state, the continued rise in the price of goods and services has increased the cost of doing business for many local governments,” DiNapoli said. “My office is closely monitoring the impact that inflation is having on New York’s economy.”

New York City’s collections totaled $726 million, an increase of 10.5 percent — or nearly $69 million — when compared to April 2021. 

Monthly sales-tax distributions are based on estimates by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The distributions in the third month of each quarter are adjusted upward or downward to reflect actual vendor results for the quarter as a whole. 

DiNapoli’s office will report the next quarterly numbers — for April through June — in July.