What's happening
This bill allows small businesses in New York to deduct chamber of commerce dues (excluding lobbying costs) from their state taxable income.
Why it matters
Supports Small Business Participation. By making dues to local chambers of commerce tax-deductible, the bill reduces the financial barrier for small businesses (those with 50 or fewer employees) to join and participate in these organizations, which often provide networking, advocacy, and educational resources.
Encourages Local Economic Development. Chambers of commerce typically promote local business interests and economic growth. Increased small business involvement—spurred by the deduction—could strengthen these efforts and foster more vibrant local economies.
Excludes Lobbying Costs for Accountability. The deduction specifically excludes any portion of dues used for lobbying, ensuring that public resources (in the form of tax deductions) are not indirectly subsidizing political advocacy, but instead support non-political chamber activities.
Immediate but Forward-Looking Implementation. The bill takes effect immediately but applies beginning with the 2027 tax year, giving businesses and chambers time to adapt and potentially plan for expanded membership and services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tax Break for Chamber Dues
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
517
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to providing a deduction against adjusted gross income for dues paid by small businesses to chambers of commerce
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 612 of the tax law is amended by adding a new paragraph 48 to read as follows:
(48) In the case of a taxpayer who is a small business, an amount equal to the amount paid by such taxpayer as dues to the local chamber of commerce within which such business is located, provided that such chamber of commerce is incorporated under section fourteen hundred ten of the not-for-profit corporation law. The amount deductible pursuant to this paragraph shall not include any portion of the amount of dues paid by the taxpayer that are used or intended to be used for the purposes of lobbying. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "small business" shall mean a business with fifty employees or less.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01399-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.