S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5716
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 15, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, MANNION -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Budget and Reven-
ue
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to establishing a tree removal
and emerald ash elimination credit
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new
subsection (bbb) to read as follows:
(BBB) TREE REMOVAL AND EMERALD ASH ELIMINATION CREDIT. (1) GENERAL.
AN INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR TAXABLE YEARS
BEGINNING ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AGAINST
THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE FOR THE COSTS OF REMOVAL OF A TREE
INFESTED WITH THE EMERALD ASH BORER (AGURILUS PLANIPENNIS), WHEN SUCH
REMOVAL IS RECOMMENDED BY A CERTIFIED ARBORIST OR FORESTER FOR THE LONE
REASON OF HOSTING AN EMERALD ASH BORER INFECTION. THE AMOUNT OF THE
CREDIT SHALL BE THE LESSER OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER TREE OR FIFTY
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF REMOVAL PER TREE.
(2) TAX CREDIT. AN INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT FOR
TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
FOUR AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH INSECTICIDE INJECTION TREATMENTS TO A TREE INFECTED WITH THE EMER-
ALD ASH BORER. THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT SHALL BE THE LESSER OF ONE
HUNDRED DOLLARS PER TREE OR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF TREATMENT
PER TREE.
(3) TREE REMOVAL AND EMERALD ASH ELIMINATION COSTS. (A) THE TERM
"COSTS OF REMOVAL" INCLUDES THE COST OF AN ASSESSMENT FROM AN ARBORIST
OR FORESTER, ANY INITIAL APPRAISALS OF THE TREE OR TREES, MUNICIPAL OR
OTHERWISE, LABOR COSTS OF REMOVING THE TREE, ANY DISPOSAL FEES, AND ANY
CLEANUP FEES; EXCEPT ANY STATE OR LOCAL SALES TAX APPLICABLE TO THE
SERVICES PERFORMED.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10016-01-3
S. 5716 2
(B) THE TERM "COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INSECTICIDE INJECTION TREATMENTS"
INCLUDES THE COSTS OF AN ASSESSMENT FROM AN ARBORIST OR FORESTER, ANY
INITIAL APPRAISALS OF THE TREE OR TREES, MUNICIPAL OR OTHERWISE, COSTS
OF APPLICATION SERVICES OF THE TREATMENT OR TREATMENTS, AND ANY FOLLOW-
UP FEES; EXCEPT ANY STATE OR LOCAL SALES TAX APPLICABLE TO THE SERVICES
PERFORMED.
(4) AMOUNT OF CREDIT. THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF TAX CREDITS ALLOWED
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR STATEWIDE SHALL BE TEN
MILLION DOLLARS.
(5) TREE REMOVAL AND EMERALD ASH ELIMINATION FOR QUALIFIED TAXPAYERS.
A PROPERTY OWNER WHO INCURS COSTS FOR REMOVING OR TREATING WITH
INJECTIONS A TREE OR TREES AS IN THIS SECTION, MUST BE REMOVING OR
INJECTING THE TREE FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OR MIXED-USE PROPERTY,
WHICH IS:
(A) LOCATED IN THIS STATE;
(B) OWNED BY THE TAXPAYER; AND
(C) USED BY THE TAXPAYER AS HIS OR HER PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE, SECONDARY
RESIDENCE, OR RENTAL PROPERTY.
(6) WHEN CREDIT ALLOWED. THE CREDIT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL BE ALLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE TAXABLE YEAR, COMMENCING AFTER
JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR IN WHICH THE REMOVAL WORK IS
COMPLETED AND PAID FOR.
(7) CARRYOVER OF CREDIT. IF THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT, AND CARRYOVERS
OF SUCH CREDIT, ALLOWABLE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR
SHALL EXCEED THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR, SUCH EXCESS AMOUNT MAY BE
CARRIED OVER TO THE FIVE TAXABLE YEARS NEXT FOLLOWING THE TAXABLE YEAR
WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE CREDIT IS ALLOWED AND MAY BE DEDUCTED FROM THE
TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR SUCH YEAR OR YEARS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
Homeowner Insurance companies have begun sending cancellation notices to homeowners for tree removal and/or trimming. . Notices that I have seen recently from neighbors and family include a 60-day notice, often before the current policy has ended. To make things worse an application for a new policy REQUIRES that you cancel the old policy prior to the new policy inspection.. and/or that the policy begin BEFORE a home inspection. This seems 100% like an orchestrated scam on homeowners. . the cost to trim ONE tree in the city of Syracuse is $2,000.00 Removals are double that, sometimes$5,000.00 per tree. This has gotten out of hand! PLEASE HELP