N.Y. General City Law Section 31
Returns and liabilities

--(a) General.--On or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of a taxable year, an income tax return under this local law shall be made and filed by or for:

(1)

every resident individual required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year, or having city adjusted gross income for the taxable year, determined under section twelve, in excess of the sum of his city personal exemptions;

(2)

every resident estate or trust required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year, or having any city taxable income for the taxable year, determined under section eighteen.

(b)

Husband and wife.-- (1) If the federal income tax liability of husband or wife is determined on a separate federal return, their city income tax liabilities and returns shall be separate.

(2)

If the federal income tax liabilities of husband and wife (other than a husband and wife described in paragraph three) are determined on a joint federal return, or if neither files a federal return: (A) they shall file a joint city income tax return, and their tax liabilities shall be joint and several, or (B) they may elect to file separate city income tax returns on a single form if they comply with the requirements of the administrator in setting forth information, in which event their tax liabilities shall be separate except as provided in paragraph four of this subdivision (b).

(3)

If either husband or wife is a resident and the other is a nonresident and both elect to determine their joint city taxable income as if both were residents, their tax liabilities shall be joint and several.

(4)

If husband and wife file separate city income tax returns on a single form pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision (b), and: (A) if the sum of the payments by either spouse, including withheld and estimated taxes, exceeds the amount of the tax for which such spouse is separately liable, the excess may be applied by the administrator to the credit of the other spouse if the sum of the payments by such other spouse, including withheld and estimated taxes, is less than the amount of the tax for which such other spouse is separately liable; (B) if the sum of the payments made by both spouses with respect to the taxes for which they are separately liable, including withheld and estimated taxes, exceeds the total of the taxes due, refund of the excess may be made payable to both spouses; Provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph four shall not apply if the return of either spouse includes a demand that any overpayment made by him or her shall be applied only on account of his or her separate liability.

(c)

Decedents.--The return for any deceased individual shall be made and filed by his executor, administrator, or other person charged with his property. If a final return of a decedent is for a fractional part of a year, the due date of such return shall be the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the twelve-month period which began the first day of such fractional part of the year.

(d)

Individuals under a disability.--The return for an individual who is unable to make a return by reason of minority or other disability shall be made and filed by his guardian, committee, conservator, fiduciary or other person charged with the care of his person or property (other than a receiver in possession of only a part of his property), or by his duly authorized agent.

(e)

Estates and trust.--The return for an estate or trust shall be made and filed by the fiduciary.

(f)

Joint fiduciaries.--If two or more fiduciaries are acting jointly, the return may be made by any one of them.

(g)

Waiver of returns. The administrator may provide by regulation that any return otherwise required or permitted to be made under this local law need not be made and filed by any resident individual who had, during the taxable year to which the return would relate, total federal adjusted gross income of no more than eight thousand dollars, or such lesser amount as the administrator shall specify, and the amount of whose federal gross income other than wages from which tax has been withheld pursuant to this local law, plus the net of the modifications specified in section twelve, for such taxable year, does not exceed three hundred dollars or such lesser amount as the administrator shall specify. Any such regulation may provide for additional conditions and prerequisites to the privilege of not filing a return.

(h)

Cross reference.-- For provisions as to information returns by partnerships, employers and other persons, see section thirty-eight.

Source: Section 31 — Returns and liabilities, (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Mar. 9, 2025).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
Mar. 9, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 31’s source at

Link Style