New York may add new tax on guns and ammunition

The excise tax would not apply to retail sales of ammunition, firearms, and major components of firearms to any active or retired police officer, or to any law enforcement agency employing an active or retired police officer.

Additionally, the tax wouldn’t apply to gross receipts from the retail sale of ammunition, firearms, or major components of a firearm by a licensed firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, or seller of ammunitions whose total gross receipts from qualifying retail sales is less than $5,000 in any quarterly period.

If the bill is enacted as written, New York will require every licensed firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, and ammunitions seller subject to the tax to file an application for a certificate of registration with the New York Tax Commissioner. The application must be filed electronically along with a nonrefundable application fee, to be set by the commissioner.

The certificate of registration must be obtained before affected dealers, manufacturers, or sellers can engage in business in New York. The commission may refuse to issue or revoke a certificate in certain instances, such as if an applicant has past-due tax liability, has had a certificate of registration revoked or suspended, or has been convicted of certain crimes.

New York will require every holder of a certificate of registration to reapply to renew the certificate prior to its expiration date. This could be every two years or more.

Tax returns and payments for the gun and ammunitions tax will be due quarterly. Every holder of a certificate of registration must file an excise tax return electronically and remit payment electronically on or before the 20th of the month following the end of each quarterly period. 

Each registered firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, or ammunitions seller must keep accurate records of all transactions for a period of three years.

Revenue generated by the tax will go toward a new gun violence prevention and school safety fund.

Though firearms and ammunition are generally subject to sales and use tax in states that have a sales and use tax, California recently became the first state to levy a statewide excise tax on guns and ammo. New York could become the second, and it will be interesting to see if other states follow their lead. If enacted as written, New York will tax gross receipts from retail sales of guns and ammunition starting January 1, 2025. California’s tax on guns and ammo dealers will take effect July 1, 2024. 

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