What's happening
This bill creates a tax credit covering 50% of the cost to install wheelchair ramps or similar equipment in residences.
Why it matters
Significantly lowers the financial burden. for individuals or families needing to make homes accessible, potentially making it easier for people with mobility challenges to remain in or return to their own residences.
Expands eligible equipment to include not just wheelchair ramps, but also stair lifts, incline and vertical platform lifts, and bathtub lifts. , reflecting a broader understanding of accessibility needs beyond just entryways.
Allows for refundable credits. , meaning if the tax credit exceeds your tax liability, you get the difference as a refund (though without interest), making the benefit accessible even to those with little or no state income tax liability—such as lower-income or retired individuals.
May incentivize more widespread adoption of accessibility modifications. , which could reduce demand for costly institutional care and improve quality of life and independence for people with disabilities or age-related mobility issues.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tax Credit for Accessibility Upgrades
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to budget and revenue
- Referred to budget and revenue
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Tax Credit for Medical Equipment
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4731
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Budget and Revenue
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to providing tax credits for installing wheelchair ramps and stair lifts into a residence
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection (jjj) to read as follows:
(jjj) Credit for durable medical equipment. (1)(A) A taxpayer shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by this article in an amount equal to fifty percent of the cost to purchase and install durable medical equipment in a residence.
(B) For purposes of this subsection, "durable medical equipment" shall mean a wheelchair ramp, stair lift, incline platform lift, vertical platform lift, or bathtub lift.
(2) Application of credit. If the amount of the credit allowed under this subsection for any taxable year exceeds the taxpayer's tax for such year, the excess will be treated as an overpayment of tax to be credited or refunded in accordance with the provisions of section six hundred eighty-six of this article, provided, however, that no interest will be paid thereon.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on January first next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08388-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to providing tax credits for installing wheelchair ramps and stair lifts into a resi- dence
Purpose
This bill would provide a tax credit so that adding accessibility equip- ment in a home with persons with mobility issues will be more afforda- ble.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Allows for a tax credit to be applied in the amount of fifty percent when durable medical equipment is purchased. Part B: For the purpose of this subsection, "durable medical equipment" is defined to include accessibility equipment such as wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, incline platform lifts, vertical platform lifts and bathtub lifts. If the amount of the credit allowed under this subsection for any taxable year exceeds the taxpayer's tax for such year, the excess will be treat- ed as an overpayment of tax to be credited or refunded in accordance with the provisions of section six hundred eighty-six of this article, provided, however, that no interest will be paid thereon.
Justification
Giving people with mobility issues the ability to stay in their homes both increases the quality of life for those affected and saves money to the state in the cost of avoided institutionalization or additional home care. By making accessibility equipment more affordable, New York resi- dents will be more likely to purchase this durable medical equipment and maintain their independence.
Legislative history
2017-18 - S. 3380 - Investigations Committee/A. Ways and Means Commit- tee. 2015-16 - S. 5017 - Investigations Committee/A. 6965 - Ways and Means Committee.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on January 1st next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.