Cuomo’s accurate boast about New York’s historically low corporate tax rate

In Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 10th State of the State address last week, he claimed that under his administration, "We have the lowest corporate tax rate since 1968." 

New York’s business climate has for years been the subject of criticism from business groups and conservative lawmakers, so we wondered about this claim. 

We approached Cuomo’s office, where spokesman Jason Conwall provided us with historical tax data. 

The Department of Taxation and Finance maintains this data, and a table titled "History of Corporate Tax Rates in New York State, 1917-2009," shows that between 1968 and 1970, the corporate tax rate, also known as the corporation franchise tax, was 7 percent. The rate did not fall below 7 percent in later years, and in the final year, 2009, the rate was 7.1 percent. 

Since 2009, the rate changed once, when it was lowered to 6.5 percent, Conwall said. The 6.5 percent rate took effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Historically, New York has had separate rates for banks and insurance companies. The bank tax was merged into the corporate tax system in 2015.  

We reached out to observers of the state’s tax policies for context and to check for any conflicting data. 

The Tax Foundation, a national organization, studies federal and state tax policy and advocated for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act supported by President Trump and congressional Republicans. The Tax Foundation confirmed Cuomo’s claim.

"New York saw remarkable improvement in both its corporate rate - bringing it down to 6.5 percent - and structure - cutting four corporate bases down to three - through tax reform in 2014," said policy analyst Janelle Cammenga. 

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The Tax Foundation advocates for simpler tax codes, and Cammenga noted that New York’s complex individual income tax code affects so-called pass-through businesses, such as partnerships, sole-proprietorships, and limited liability companies.   

E.J. McMahon, founder and research director at the conservative Empire Center, also confirmed Cuomo’s claim. McMahon added that in the 12-county region in downstate New York served by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, a surcharge brings the tax rate to 8.34 percent there. But even with the surcharge, it’s still the lowest rate since 1970, McMahon said. 

At the left-leaning Fiscal Policy Institute, executive director Ron Deutsch confirmed Cuomo’s claim.  

Dave Friedfel, director of state studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization in Albany and New York City, said that readers should be aware that companies in New York pay more than just the corporate franchise tax. In addition to the MTA surcharge, set by the state, New York City imposes a 8.85 percent corporate franchise tax. 

"Overall, it’s good that New York State’s corporate franchise tax rates are lower than they were and are competitive nationwide, but it’s just a small part of the taxes paid by businesses in New York," Friedfel said.  

Cuomo claims that under his administration, New York has the lowest corporate tax rate since 1968. 

Though there are other taxes levied on businesses in New York, experts from the left and the right agree with Cuomo's assertion.  

We rate Cuomo’s statement True.