How the surcharge works, and who has to do what

The pied-à-terre surcharge takes effect July 1, 2026. The sequence below shows who acts at each step — and the deadlines that make the first year so tight.

1
Department of Finance

Finance flags homes it believes are not primary residences

Using income-tax filing addresses, residency-based exemptions and other data, Finance values each flagged home and issues a notice of surcharge. The law says you owe the tax even if the notice never reaches you.

Notice by Aug. 30, 2026
2
Owner

The owner has a window to prove it is a primary residence

For example, by showing it is the address on their New York State resident tax return, that it is rented to a full-time tenant, or that it is occupied by a close family member.

3
Department of Finance

Finance makes a final determination

If the home is not exempted, the surcharge stands and the first bill is issued.

First bill due Jan. 1, 2027
4
Tax Commission → Court

Challenges go to the Tax Commission

Owners can contest the value, the primary-residence finding, or both, with further review available in court. Expect a wave of challenges in year one.

5
Phase two

Finance switches to sales-based values for co-ops and condos

The threshold drops to a uniform $5 million of sale value and the lower house rates (0.8% to 1.3%) apply — if the City can build the unit-level valuation system in time.

Expected ~Jan. 15, 2028

For co-ops

The bill goes to the cooperative corporation, which must forward notices to shareholders and collect each affected shareholder's surcharge — a job most proprietary leases were never written to handle.

Dates reflect the law as enacted in the FY2026 state budget; first-year deadlines apply only to 2026.