Suffolk County sales tax revenues are up 3% ($28 million) from 2024 for the first six month of the year. Last year for the same time periods revenues were $933 million and are at $961 million for 2025.
New York State Controller, Tom DiNapoli, issued the Local Sales Tax Collections Report saying statewide sales tax collections were $11.9 billion in first half of 2025, up 3.7% ($423 million) over the prior year.
New York City collects about three times more in sales taxes than the next highest region (Long Island) and comprises approximately half of all collections statewide. This is because, among other things, the City is a global tourism destination and home to more than two-fifths of the state’s population.
“While New York’s local sales tax collections experienced stronger growth in the first half of 2025, future revenues may become less predictable as local communities weather federal policy changes, inflation and other economic factors,” said DiNapoli. “Local officials should continue to take advantage of all the financial tools and guidance my office has to offer to help them strengthen their finances and resiliency amid these uncertain times.”
Most counties in New York State share a portion of their local sales tax revenue with cities, towns, villages and, in a few instances, school districts within their borders. These sales tax allocations are made in accordance with statute or pursuant to sharing agreements between the county and its city or cities.
Suffolk County is one of 12 counties in New York that shares no portion of the sales tax.
Recent policy changes at all levels of government (local, state and federal) can influence local sales tax performance. For example, in 2024, Suffolk County adopted a local law to increase its sales tax rate from 4.625 % to 4.75 %, effective March 1, 2025, to help fund its new countywide drinking water protection program.
Local rate changes, while not common, can have a large effect on collections for the affected taxing jurisdiction. These rate increases must receive approval from the State Legislature and be signed into law by the Governor.
Nearly 86% of counties outside of New York City had an increase in collections. Year-over-year growth in collections during the first half of 2025 almost doubled that for the same period last year and was nearly the same as the average growth rate for the January to June period from 2010 to 2019 during the recovery and expansion following the Great Recession. Each of the state’s 10 economic development regions, including New York City, experienced a year-over-year increase in collections, with growth varying on a region-by-region basis.
Eight counties are experiencing difficulty and did have a decline in first-half sales tax collections. St. Lawrence saw the steepest decline at -5.7%, followed by Livingston (-5.1%) and both Sullivan and Schoharie (-2.9%).