NY State Senate Bill 2021-S2005

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to investigations and government operations
Jan 16, 2021	referred to investigations and government operations

co-Sponsors

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A670
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Tax Law
Laws Affected:: Add Art 30-C §§1350 - 1354, Tax L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S5166, A8231
2023-2024: S339, A198
2025-2026: S6804, A669

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Imposes a commercial vacancy tax on vacant or abandoned commercial storefronts located in a city with a population of one million or more of one percent of the assessed value of the property.

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2005

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to the imposition of a commer-
cial vacancy tax

 
PURPOSE:

This bill will impose a tax on commercial storefronts that remain vacant
for a prolonged period of time.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the tax law by adding a new Article 30-C that creates a
commercial vacancy tax.

Section 1350, paragraph 1 provides the definition of "commercial store-
front."

Section 1350, paragraph 2(a) provides the definition of "vacant or aban-
doned."

Section 1350, paragraph 2(b) provides the circumstances under which a
commercial storefront is not vacant or abandoned.

Section 1351 provides that the commercial vacancy tax shall begin on
January 1, 2020, and apply to vacant commercial storefronts in a city
with a population of one million or more. The tax shall be 1% of the
assessed value of the property, which includes such vacant or abandoned
commercial storefront.

Section 1352, paragraph 1 provides that every taxpayer subject to this
tax shall, on or before the 4 r-th lb day of the 5th month following the
close of each of its taxable years, make and file a return with the
commissioner setting forth such information as the commissioner may
prescribe. Taxpayers that would cease to be subject to the tax would
make and file a return with the commissioner on the date of cessation or
at some other time the commissioner may require.

Section 1352, paragraph 2 provides that the tax shall be payable to the
commissioner in full at the time the return is required to be filed.

Section 1352, paragraph 3 provides that the commissioner may grant a
reasonable extension of time to file a return or for payment of the tax
under conditions deemed just and proper.

Section 1353 provides for the depositing and disposition of the tax
collected or received by the commissioner.

Section 1354 provides that the commissioner shall administer and enforce
the tax imposed, is authorized to make rules and regulations, and to
require such facts and information to be reported in order to enforce
the tax.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
Storefronts are an important aspect of defining the characteristics,
culture, and effervescence of a community. As rents continue to rise in
New York City, small mom and pop stores, and in some cases larger corpo-
rate retailers, find themselves grappling to afford increasing rents.
Without a deterrent to prevent empty storefronts, commercial landlords
often hold out for a prolonged period of time waiting for a new tenant
to sign a long-term lease at an exorbitant monthly rent.  Consequently,
vacant storefronts are becoming all too common. Vacant storefronts are
nuances that deprive residents of goods and services in their communi-
ties.

This legislation requires that the landlord of any commercial store-
front, in a city with a population of one million or more, pay a tax of
1% of the assessed value of the commercial storefront where the store-
front has been vacant for 6 months or more.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: S.5166 - Referred to Investigations and Government
Operations/A.Referred to Cities

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2005
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. JACKSON, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Investigations
   and Government Operations
 
 AN  ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to the imposition of a commer-
   cial vacancy tax
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new article 30-C to read
 as follows:
 
                               ARTICLE 30-C
                          COMMERCIAL VACANCY TAX
 SECTION 1350. DEFINITIONS.
         1351. IMPOSITION OF TAX.
         1352. RETURNS AND PAYMENT OF TAX.
         1353. DEPOSIT AND DISPOSITION OF REVENUE.
         1354. GENERAL POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER.
   §  1350. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. "COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT" MEANS AREA WITHIN A BUILDING  THAT  MAY  BE
 INDIVIDUALLY LEASED OR RENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING ON OR EXERCIS-
 ING ANY TRADE, BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
   2.  (A)  "VACANT  OR  ABANDONED"  MEANS  A COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT WHICH
 EITHER (I) IS UNOCCUPIED  AND  UNSECURED;  OR  (II)  IS  UNOCCUPIED  AND
 SECURED  BY  BOARDING OR OTHER SIMILAR MEANS; OR (III) IS UNOCCUPIED AND
 UNSAFE AS DEFINED IN THE BUILDING CODE OF THE  MUNICIPALITY  WHERE  SUCH
 COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT IS LOCATED; OR (IV) IS UNOCCUPIED AND HAS MULTIPLE
 CODE  VIOLATIONS  OF  THE  BUILDING  CODE OF THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE SUCH
 COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT IS LOCATED; OR (V) HAS BEEN  UNOCCUPIED  FOR  OVER
 SIX MONTHS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00512-01-1

 S. 2005                             2
 
   (B) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, VACANT OR ABAN-
 DONED  SHALL  NOT  INCLUDE  A COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT WHERE (I) THERE IS A
 VALID BUILDING PERMIT FOR REPAIR,  REHABILITATION,  OR  CONSTRUCTION  OF
 SUCH COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT AND THE OWNER COMPLETES THE REPAIR, REHABILI-
 TATION, OR CONSTRUCTION WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THE INITIAL PERMIT
 WAS  ISSUED, UNLESS THE OWNER ESTABLISHES THAT ADDITIONAL TIME IS NECES-
 SARY TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR,  REHABILITATION,  OR  CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE
 COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT IN A MANNER PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER; OR
   (II)  THE  OWNER  OR  LEASEHOLDER HAS FILED AN APPLICATION FOR, AND IS
 ACTIVELY SEEKING TO OBTAIN, AUTHORIZATION, PERMITS OR A LICENSE REQUIRED
 BY STATE OR LOCAL LAW PERMITTING THE LAWFUL USE  AND  OCCUPANCY  OF  THE
 COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT; OR
   (III) SUCH COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT COMPLIES WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF STATE
 AND  LOCAL  LAW, IS READY FOR OCCUPANCY, AND THE OWNER PROVIDES EVIDENCE
 SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT IS ACTIVE-
 LY BEING OFFERED FOR SALE, LEASE, OR RENT. SATISFACTORY  EVIDENCE  SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, EVIDENCE THAT THE OWNER HAS HIRED A REAL
 ESTATE  AGENT  OR  OTHER  RENTAL  AGENT  WHO ADVERTISES AND PROMOTES THE
 COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT FOR RENT,  LEASE  OR  SALE,  OR  PROOF  THAT  SUCH
 COMMERCIAL  STOREFRONT  IS  OFFERED  FOR  SALE  ON  THE MULTIPLE LISTING
 SERVICE OR ANY OTHER COMPARABLE REAL ESTATE LISTING SERVICE.
   § 1351. IMPOSITION OF TAX. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS
 CHAPTER, OR OF ANY OTHER LAW, FOR TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING ON  AND  AFTER
 JANUARY  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, AN ANNUAL TAX IS HEREBY IMPOSED
 ON EVERY TAXPAYER WHO IS THE OWNER OF A VACANT OR  ABANDONED  COMMERCIAL
 STOREFRONT  LOCATED  IN  A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE
 EQUAL TO ONE PERCENT  OF  THE  ASSESSED  VALUE  OF  THE  PROPERTY  WHICH
 INCLUDES SUCH VACANT OR ABANDONED COMMERCIAL STOREFRONT.
   §  1352.  RETURNS AND PAYMENT OF TAX. 1. EVERY TAXPAYER SUBJECT TO TAX
 UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL, ON OR BEFORE THE FIFTEENTH DAY  OF  THE  FIFTH
 MONTH  FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF EACH OF ITS TAXABLE YEARS, MAKE AND FILE A
 RETURN WITH THE COMMISSIONER  SETTING  FORTH  SUCH  INFORMATION  AS  THE
 COMMISSIONER MAY PRESCRIBE. EVERY TAXPAYER WHICH CEASES TO BE SUBJECT TO
 THE  TAX  IMPOSED  BY THIS ARTICLE SHALL MAKE AND FILE A RETURN WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER ON THE DATE OF SUCH CESSATION, OR AT SUCH OTHER TIME  WHICH
 THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY REQUIRE, COVERING EACH TAXABLE YEAR OR PERIOD FOR
 WHICH NO RETURN WAS THERETOFORE FILED, SETTING FORTH SUCH INFORMATION AS
 THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE. EVERY TAXPAYER SHALL ALSO FILE SUCH  OTHER
 RETURNS AND FURNISH SUCH OTHER FACTS AND INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSIONER
 MAY REQUIRE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. THE TAX IMPOSED BY SECTION THIRTEEN HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE  SHALL BE PAYABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER IN FULL AT THE TIME THE RETURN
 IS REQUIRED TO BE FILED. SUCH TAX IMPOSED ON ANY TAXPAYER  WHICH  CEASES
 TO BE SUBJECT TO THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE PAYABLE TO THE
 COMMISSIONER  AT  THE  TIME  THE  RETURN IS REQUIRED TO BE FILED AND ALL
 OTHER TAXES OF ANY SUCH TAXPAYER, WHICH PURSUANT TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF
 THIS  SECTION  WOULD  OTHERWISE  BE  PAYABLE SUBSEQUENT TO THE TIME SUCH
 RETURN IS REQUIRED TO BE FILED, SHALL NEVERTHELESS BE  PAYABLE  AT  SUCH
 TIME.
   3.  THE  COMMISSIONER  MAY  GRANT  A  REASONABLE EXTENSION OF TIME FOR
 FILING A RETURN OR FOR PAYMENT OF A TAX IMPOSED BY  THIS  ARTICLE  UNDER
 SUCH CONDITIONS AS IT DEEMS JUST AND PROPER.
   §  1353.  DEPOSIT  AND DISPOSITION OF REVENUE. ALL TAXES, INTEREST AND
 PENALTIES COLLECTED OR RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSIONER UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE
 SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND DISPOSED OF PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION
 ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE-A, AS SEPARATELY AMENDED BY CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED

 S. 2005                             3
 
 EIGHTY-ONE  AND FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN EIGHTY-
 ONE, OF THIS CHAPTER.
   §  1354.  GENERAL  POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 HAVE THE POWER TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE
 AND THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE SUCH RULES  AND  REGULATIONS,
 AND TO REQUIRE SUCH FACTS AND INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED, AS THE COMMIS-
 SIONER MAY DEEM NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S2005

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

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co-Sponsors

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Robert Jackson

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

co-Sponsors

Alessandra Biaggi

Julia Salazar

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S2005 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments