New York Business Compliance Checklist
New York has the country's most expensive LLC publication requirement — $1,000+ in NYC — plus complex income tax. This page covers everything from filing fees to sales tax to hiring laws.
$200
$9
Every 2 years
4%
state base rate
No
1. Entity Formation
| LLC filing fee (Articles of Organization) | $200 |
| Corp filing fee (Articles of Incorporation) | $125 |
| Registered agent required | Yes — must have a physical address in the state |
| Publication requirement | Yes — publish formation notice in local newspaper. Cost estimate: $1000. |
| Processing time | ~7 business days (expedited available for extra fee) |
2. Annual Maintenance
| Annual/periodic report | Every 2 years — fee $9 |
| Franchise tax | None |
3. Sales Tax
| State base rate | 4% |
| Combined rate range (with local) | 4% – 8.875% |
| Economic nexus (out-of-state seller) | $500,000 OR 100 transactions per year |
| Marketplace facilitator law | Yes — marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy) collect on your behalf. |
Need to check nexus across multiple states? Use our Sales Tax Nexus Checker.
4. Employer Requirements
| Minimum wage | $16.50/hr (2025) |
| Paid sick leave law | Statewide mandate |
| Non-compete enforceability | Restricted — enforceable only with narrow scope + duration |
| Contractor classification test | Common-law (IRS) test |
Full employment law breakdown: New York Hiring Laws.
5. Workers' Compensation
New York allows private-market workers' comp insurance (competitive market). Coverage is required starting with your first employee.
Estimate your premium with our Workers' Comp Calculator.
6. State Income Tax
Progressive brackets — top marginal rate is 10.9%.
Compliance by Business Structure
Pick your structure to see structure-specific compliance items.
What Makes New York Distinctive
Compliance quirks and rules that separate New York from other states — worth understanding before you file.
- New York requires LLCs to publish a Notice of Formation in 2 newspapers (one daily, one weekly) in the county where the LLC was formed for 6 consecutive weeks — cost can exceed $1,000 in Manhattan.
- New York LLCs file a biennial report every 2 years for $9 — reduced compared to annual states.
- New York requires each LLC to have a Registered Agent with a physical New York State address.
- New York City has its own Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) — 4% on business income for partnerships and sole props operating in NYC.
This is a reference, not legal advice.
State fees and rules change. Verify current values with the New York Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, and Department of Labor before filing. For complex situations, consult a licensed CPA or attorney.