Office of the Governor/City Limits
Totally fabricated image of the governor and mayor celebrating the author's move to New York City.
That’s right all, the time has come, I’ve grown too big for my hometown and it’s time to move on. I’m looking for a new city in which to settle. Does anybody want to offer me a tax break?
Allow me to explain. You see, when I move to your city I will pay taxes. That’s right. I will pay taxes when I move there. I, too, will accept that most basic of social contracts. Do you understand what I’m offering to you? I will be bringing revenue to your fair city. Revenue you don’t get now because I don’t live there. Surely I deserve a discount then for choosing you. Believe me, I could choose anywhere.
I currently pay taxes in my hometown. And my state. But you don’t get that, do you see? Now sure, I pay federal taxes too, but come on, you think that’s helping you? We’ve got bigger priorities to deal with. Also I don’t pay that much in federal taxes.
But I will pay taxes when I move to your city. If you give me a discount. And yes, okay, I might take advantage of a few other programs you provide to pay even less taxes, but come on, that’s what they’re for right? I mean who do you think those programs are supposed to help, the people who already live there? What have they done for you lately? I’m going to move to your city. How often do people do that?
So keep those programs; you could even make some new ones. And give me a discount. It’ll be worth it. I’ll still be paying some taxes. I mean look, I’ll still pay sales tax at least. (There’s no avoiding that one, am I right, my fellow common man?)
I love your city. I would love to move there so I can enjoy its amenities and pay taxes. If you give me the discount. And the other programs. Don’t reduce the amenities though. I love those amenities; they’re world class. Trust me, I’ve looked around. I could move anywhere.
So do we have a deal or what? What’s not to love about this?
Wait what’s that you say? You’ve lived here for years and pay taxes already too? With no discount?
You should move.
As the Rezoning Technical Assistance Coordinator, Chris Walters advocates for affordable housing and equitable land use at the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD).
2 thoughts on “CityViews: Do I Get a Tax Break if I Move to NYC, Like Amazon?”
Any large employer relocating to NYC is eligible for the tax breaks that Amazon will be receiving. Every city and state in the US does that. If NYC wsn’t son business-unfriendly we wouldn’t have to give such tax breaks. Virginia didn’t. The part of the Amazon deal that I object to is the State using a ‘project plan’ to override NYC zoning rules and procedures. What’s worse is that at least two non-Amazon related parcels are apparently included in the ‘project plan’. That’s the deal I want! I’d love to build a 6-story apartment building on my R3X zoned lot and to hell with the zoning rules!
I think that’s exactly the point of this article: “Large employers” moving to NY get to have their taxes rebated, while normal people don’t. Amazon didn’t start it (though they would be getting a special lifting of the usual cap on Excelsior tax credits), but that doesn’t make it any fairer tax policy.
As for how these tax incentives are working out, the answer is “very, very poorly, to the point where most states don’t even bother to keep track”:
https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2012/04/12/pew_evaluating_state_tax_incentives_report.pdf