New York Bag Fee Begins March 1, 2020

As part of the ban on single-use plastic bags, which goes into effect on March 1, 2020, effective on that same date, vendors in Suffolk County, New York City and Tompkins County must generally charge a fee of 5 cents per bag for paper bags that are provided to customers, and this fee must be remitted to New York State as part of their sales tax returns.  (The fee that is remitted to New York is not subject to sales tax.) 

Vendors in other counties are not required to charge a fee to customers when providing paper bags, but if those vendors do charge a fee, the fee is treated as the sale of tangible personal property, and the fee is subject to sales tax. 

New York State provides guidance related to the new fee and exceptions that may apply at: https://www.tax.ny.gov/bus/st/paper-carryout-bag-fee.htm