Military service flags, POW flags and blue star banners (which denote that a son or daughter is serving in the military) will be exempt from New York State sales tax under legislation sponsored by New York State Senator Ken LaValle and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday October 3, 2012. Currently, the flags of the United States of America and the State of New York are exempt from sales and use tax.

Senator LaValle said the law (S1007A, )will take effect on December 1 of this year provided the State Tax Department can put the necessary rules and regulations in place by the effective date.

  “Our veterans, our military service men and women and their families sacrifice so much, and the greatest symbol of their service is a flag,” Senator LaValle said. “To me, it was really a no-brainer to do this.”