TAF-28-14-00002-EP City of Yonkers Withholding Tables and Other Methods

7/16/14 N.Y. St. Reg. TAF-28-14-00002-EP

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXVI, ISSUE 28

July 16, 2014

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE

EMERGENCY/PROPOSED RULE MAKING

NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. TAF-28-14-00002-EP

Filing No. 561

Filing Date. Jun. 26, 2014

Effective Date. Jun. 26, 2014

City of Yonkers Withholding Tables and Other Methods

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following action:

Proposed Action:

Repeal of Appendix 10-A; addition of new Appendix 10-A; and amendment of section 251.1 of Title 20 NYCRR.

Statutory authority:

Tax Law, sections 171, subdivision First, 671(a)(1), 697(a), 1321, 1329(a) and 1332(a); Code of the City of Yonkers, sections 15-105, 15-108(a) and 15-111; City of Yonkers Local Law No. 11-2014

Finding of necessity for emergency rule:

Preservation of general welfare.

Specific reasons underlying the finding of necessity:

Amendments to the Code of the City of Yonkers enacted by Local Law No. 11-2014 on June 19, 2014, under the authority of Tax Law section 1321, increased the rate of the city income tax surcharge from 15 percent of net state income tax to 16 ¾ percent of that amount, effective January 1, 2014. The increase necessitates adjustments to the withholding tables and other methods in Appendix 10-A of 20 NYCRR, and amendments to section 251.1 of 20 NYCRR. Sections 1309, 671(a), and other comparable sections of the Tax Law require that employers withhold from employee wages amounts that are substantially equivalent to the tax reasonably estimated to be due for the taxable year. To that end, the withholding rates for the remainder of tax year 2014 reflect the full amount of tax liability for tax year 2014. This rule is being adopted on an emergency basis in order to assure that the new withholding tables and other methods can apply beginning on August 1, 2014, and that the information can be disseminated to employers as soon as possible to allow them sufficient time to make the requisite changes to their payroll systems. Expeditious implementation of the new withholding tables on August 1, 2014 will allow taxpayers to pay the increased income tax surcharge in as many increments as possible. The City of Yonkers has advised that it is necessary that the withholding tables be effective August 1 for its Budget to be in compliance and for the City’s fiscal health.

Subject:

City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods.

Purpose:

To provide current City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods.

Substance of emergency/proposed rule (Full text is posted at the following State website:www.tax.ny.gov):

Sections 671(a)(1) and 1329(a) of the Tax Law and section 15-105 of the Code of the City of Yonkers require that employers withhold from employee wages amounts that are substantially equivalent to the amount of City of Yonkers income tax surcharge reasonably estimated to be due for the taxable year. The provisions authorize the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to provide for withholding of these taxes through regulations promulgated by the Commissioner.

This rule repeals Appendix 10-A of Title 20 NYCRR and adds a new Appendix 10-A to provide new City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods. The new tables and other methods reflect amendments to the Code of the City of Yonkers enacted by Local Law No. 11-2014 pursuant to Tax Law section 1321 that increased the rate of the city income tax surcharge from 15 percent of net state income tax to 16 ¾ percent of that amount, effective January 1, 2014. This rule also reflects the increase in the City of Yonkers supplemental withholding tax rate to be applied to supplemental wage payments. The rule applies to wages and other compensation subject to withholding paid on or after August 1, 2014. Accordingly, withholding rates reflect the full amount of liability for 2014 applied to a 5-month period.

This notice is intended:

to serve as both a notice of emergency adoption and a notice of proposed rule making. The emergency rule will expire September 23, 2014.

Text of rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from:

Kathleen D. O'Connell, Department of Taxation and FInance, Office of Counsel, Building 9, W.A. Harriman Campus, Albany, NY 12227, [phone], email: [e-mail]

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Same as above.

Public comment will be received until:

45 days after publication of this notice.

Regulatory Impact Statement

1. Statutory authority: Tax Law, section 171, subdivision First, generally authorizes the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to promulgate regulations; section 671(a)(1) provides that the method of determining the amounts of New York State personal income tax to be withheld will be prescribed by regulations promulgated by the Commissioner; section 697(a) provides the authority for the Commissioner to make such rules and regulations as are necessary to enforce the personal income tax; section 1329(a) of the Tax Law and section 15-105 of the Code of the City of Yonkers provide that the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge shall be withheld in the same manner and form as that required for State income tax; section 1332(a) of the Tax Law and section 15-108(a) of the Code of the City of Yonkers provide that the income tax surcharge shall be administered and collected by the Commissioner in the same manner as the tax imposed by Article 22 of the Tax Law. Section 1321 of the Tax Law authorizes the City of Yonkers to adopt and amend local laws imposing a city income tax surcharge to be administered, collected and distributed by the Commissioner. Local Law No. 11-2014 amended section 15-111 of the Code of the City of Yonkers to increase the city income tax surcharge from 15 to 16 ¾ percent of net state income tax.

2. Legislative objectives: New Appendix 10-A of Title 20 NYCRR contains the revised City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods applicable to wages and other compensation paid on or after August 1, 2014. The amendments reflect the increase in the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge from 15 to 16 ¾ percent of net state income tax, pursuant to amendments to section 15-111 of the code of the City of Yonkers made by Local Law No. 11-2014 of the City of Yonkers, which was enacted under the authority of Section 1321 of the Tax Law. The rule also reflects this increase in the City of Yonkers supplemental withholding rate to be applied to supplemental wage payments.

3. Needs and benefits: This rule sets forth City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods, applicable to wages and other compensation paid on or after August 1, 2014, reflecting the increase in the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge from 15 percent of net state income tax to 16 ¾ percent of that amount. This rule benefits taxpayers by providing City of Yonkers withholding rates that reflect the current income tax rates. If this rule is not promulgated, the use of the existing withholding tables would cause some under-withholding for some taxpayers and impede the City of Yonkers’ revenue.

4. Costs: (a) Costs to regulated parties for the implementation and continuing compliance with this rule: Since (i) the Tax Law and the Code of the City of Yonkers already mandate withholding in amounts that are substantially equivalent to the amount of City of Yonkers income tax surcharge on residents reasonably estimated to be due for the taxable year, and (ii) this rule merely conforms Appendix 10-A of Title 20 NYCRR to the rates of the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge on residents, any compliance costs to employers associated with implementing the revised withholding tables and other methods are due to such statutes, and not to this rule.

(b) Costs to this agency, the State and local governments for the implementation and continuation of this rule: Since the need to revise the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge on residents withholding tables and other methods arises due to the statutory change in the rate of the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge, there are no costs to this agency or the State and local governments that are due to the promulgation of this rule.

(c) Information and methodology: This analysis is based on a review of the statutory requirements and on discussions among personnel from the Department’s Taxpayer Guidance Division, Office of Counsel, Office of Tax Policy Analysis Bureau of Tax and Fiscal Studies, Office of Budget and Management Analysis, and Management Analysis and Project Services Bureau.

5. Local government mandates: Local governments, as employers, would be required to implement the new withholding tables and other methods in the same manner and at the same time as any other employer.

6. Paperwork: This rule will not require any new forms or information. The reporting requirements for employers are not changed by this rule. Employers will be notified of the changed tables and other methods and directed to the Department’s Web site for the new tables and other methods.

7. Duplication: This rule does not duplicate any other requirements.

8. Alternatives: Since sections 671(a) and 1329(a) of the Tax Law and section 15-105 of the Code of the City of Yonkers require that City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods be promulgated, there are no viable alternatives to providing such tables and other methods.

9. Federal standards: This rule does not exceed any minimum standards of the federal government for the same or similar subject area.

10. Compliance schedule: Affected employers will be receiving the required information in sufficient time to implement the revised City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods for wages and other compensation paid on or after August 1, 2014.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

1. Effect of rule: Small businesses, within the meaning of the State Administrative Procedure Act, that are currently subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements will continue to be subject to these requirements. This rule should, therefore, have little or no effect on small businesses other than the requirement of conforming to the new withholding tables and other methods. All small businesses that are employers or are otherwise subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements must comply with the provisions of this rule.

2. Compliance requirements: This rule requires small businesses and local governments that are already subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements to continue to deduct and withhold amounts from employees using the revised City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods. The promulgation of this rule will not require small business or local governments to submit any new information, forms, or paperwork.

3. Professional services: Many small businesses currently utilize bookkeepers, accountants and professional payroll services in order to comply with existing withholding requirements. This rule will not encourage or discourage the use of such services.

4. Compliance costs: Small businesses and local governments are already subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements. Therefore, small businesses and local governments are accustomed to withholding revisions, including minor programming changes for federal, state, City of New York, and City of Yonkers purposes. As such, these changes should place no additional burdens on small businesses and local governments. See, also, section 4(a) of the Regulatory Impact Statement for this rule.

5. Economic and technological feasibility: This rule does not impose any economic or technological compliance burdens on small businesses or local governments.

6. Minimizing adverse impact: Section 671(a)(1) of the Tax Law requires that New York State withholding tables and other methods be promulgated. Section 1329(a) of the Tax Law requires that the City of Yonkers withholding of tax on wages shall be administered and collected by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance in the same manner as the tax imposed by Article 22 of the Tax Law. There are no provisions in the Tax Law that exclude small businesses and local governments from the withholding requirements. The regulation provides some relief to small businesses and local government with respect to the methods allowed to comply with the withholding requirements by continuing to provide employers with more than one method of computing the amount to withhold from their employees. Look-up tables are provided for employers who prepare their payrolls manually, and an exact calculation method is provided for employers with computer-based systems.

7. Small business and local government participation: The following organizations were given an opportunity to participate in the rule's development: the Association of Towns of New York State; the Office of Coastal, Local Government, and Community Sustainability of the New York State Department of State; the Division for Small Business of Empire State Development; the National Federation of Independent Businesses; the New York State Association of Counties; the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials; the Small Business Committee of the New York State Business Council; the Retail Council of New York State; and the New York Association of Convenience Stores; the Tax Section of the New York State Bar Association; the Association of the Bar of the City of New York; the New York State Society of Enrolled Agents; the New York State Society of CPAs; and the Taxation Committee of the Business Council of New York State. In addition, the City of Yonkers was consulted.

Rural Area Flexibility Analysis

1. Types and estimated numbers of rural areas: Every employer that is currently subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements will continue to be subject to such requirements and will be required to comply with the provisions of this rule. The effect on employers in rural areas is limited because the changes relate to the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge on residents withholding requirements. There are 44 counties throughout this State that are rural areas (having a population of less than 200,000) and 9 more counties having towns that are rural areas (with population densities of 150 or fewer people per square mile).

2. Reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance requirements; and professional services: This rule requires employers that are already subject to the City of Yonkers withholding requirements to continue to deduct and withhold amounts from employees using the revised withholding tables and other methods. The promulgation of this rule will not require employers to submit any new information, forms, or other paperwork.

Further, many employers currently utilize bookkeepers, accountants, and professional payroll services in order to comply with existing withholding requirements. This rule will not encourage or discourage the use of any such services.

3. Costs: Employers are already subject to the New York State, New York City and City of Yonkers withholding requirements. Therefore, employers are accustomed to withholding revisions, including minor programming changes for federal, state, City of New York, and City of Yonkers purposes. As such, these City of Yonkers changes should place no additional burdens on employers located in rural areas. See also section 4(a) of the Regulatory Impact Statement for this rule.

4. Minimizing adverse impact: Section 671(a)(1) of the Tax Law requires that New York State withholding tables and other methods be promulgated. Section 1329(a) of the Tax Law requires that the City of Yonkers withholding of tax on wages shall be administered and collected by the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance in the same manner as the tax imposed by Article 22 of the Tax Law. The effect on employers in rural areas is limited because the changes relate to the City of Yonkers income tax surcharge on residents withholding requirements.

5. Rural area participation: The following organizations are being given an opportunity to participate in the rule's development: the Association of Towns of New York State; the Office of Coastal, Local Government, and Community Sustainability of New York State Department of State; the Division for Small Business of Empire State Development; the National Federation of Independent Businesses; the New York State Association of Counties; the New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials; the Small Business Committee of the Business Council of New York State; the Retail Council of New York State; the New York Association of Convenience Stores; the Tax Section of the New York State Bar Association; the Association of the Bar of the City of New York; the New York State Society of Enrolled Agents; the New York State Society of CPAs; and the Taxation Committee of the Business Council of New York State. In addition, the City of Yonkers was consulted.

Job Impact Statement

A Job Impact Exemption is not being submitted with this rule because it is evident from the subject matter of the rule that it could have no impact on jobs and employment opportunities. The purpose of the rule is to provide City of Yonkers withholding tables and other methods, applicable for compensation paid on or after August 1, 2014, which reflect the revision of the tax tables in keeping with the increase in the income tax surcharge from 15 to 16 ¾ percent of net state income tax pursuant to City of Yonkers Local Law No. 11-2014, enacted under the authority of section 1321 of the Tax Law. The rule also reflects the increase in the City of Yonkers supplemental withholding rates applied to supplemental wage payments.