New York Assembly Bill A08527

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/20/25
• Refer: 5/20/25

Caption

Expands the imposition of sales tax on the sale of race horses made through claiming races to include the total sale price on each sale.

Impact

If enacted, A08527 will directly affect horse racing operations in New York by increasing the tax burden on transactions involving the sale of race horses. This could result in increased costs for buyers participating in claiming races, which might affect their purchasing decisions. The measure is expected to streamline tax collection for the state by ensuring that all sales in this category are taxed, potentially leading to higher state revenues derived from horse racing activities.

Summary

Bill A08527 proposes to amend the tax law in New York by expanding the sales tax imposition on the sale of race horses made through claiming races. Previously, only portions of the sale price exceeding any prior purchase price made for the same horse within the same calendar year were subject to sales tax. The new legislation seeks to eliminate this previous limitation, thus making the full sale price taxable regardless of prior purchase prices. This change aims to generate additional tax revenue from the horse racing industry.

Contention

Discussions around A08527 may raise concerns among stakeholders in the horse racing industry. Supporters of the bill argue that it is a fair approach to tax all sales uniformly and utilize the revenue for state funding. However, opponents may contend that this increase in tax burden could disincentivize buying and selling horses within the state, ultimately making it less competitive compared to jurisdictions with more favorable tax structures. There may also be concerns about how this change could impact smaller racetracks and breeders, who might struggle with increased costs.