New York continues to lose more taxpayers than it gains through migration, while the state also remains one of the nation's highest-taxed, according to separate reports from the state comptroller and the Citizens
Budget Commission.
The reports point to continued population and taxpayer shifts that could affect New York's finances and workforce, though they do not conclude that taxes alone are driving residents to leave.
More taxpayers moved out than moved in
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said personal income taxes account for more than half of New York's tax revenue.
In 2024, about 10.9 million tax returns were filed in New York. Of those:
- 87% were filed by full-year residents.
- 11% were filed by nonresidents who earned income in New York.
- 2% were filed by part-year residents who moved into or out of the state during the year.
Among the 256,164 part-year filers, 134,913 moved out of New York while 121,251 moved into the state, resulting in a net loss of 13,662 taxpayers from New York's tax base.
According to DiNapoli, the largest net loss came from married couples with incomes between $100,000 and $500,000, with 8,179 more taxpayers in that income group leaving than arriving.
Among taxpayers earning $500,000 or more, only about 1% moved out of the state.
The report also found New York posted a net gain of 4,326 single tax filers in 2024, continuing a trend that began after the COVID-19 pandemic.
"When personal income taxes drive so much of the state's revenue, even small shifts in the number of tax filers can have an impact over time," DiNapoli said. "I remain very concerned about the net loss of married, middle-class filers and urge policymakers to continue their efforts to improve affordability for New York's families."
New York remains one of the nation's highest-taxed states
The Citizens Budget Commission reported New York has the nation's highest combined state and local taxes on a per-capita basis, averaging $12,495 per resident — about 78% higher than the national average of $7,009.
The report also noted New York City's top combined personal income tax rate reaches 14.776%, compared with California's top rate of 13.3%.
Population losses continue outside growth areas
According to the Citizens Budget Commission, New York's population remains about 200,000 below its 2019 peak.
Population growth has largely been concentrated in a corridor stretching from New York City through the Hudson Valley and Long Island to the Capital Region. That region accounts for about 79% of the state's jobs and generates roughly 85% of its economic output.
Meanwhile, many rural regions continue to lose residents.
Between 2010 and 2025:
- The Southern Tier lost more than 42,000 residents.
- Western New York lost more than 38,000 residents.
The report also found deaths now outnumber births across most of the state outside New York City and Long Island as New York's population continues to age.
Between 2010 and 2025, New York recorded a net population loss of about 145,000 residents. International immigration, which added roughly 85,000 to 95,000 residents during that period, helped offset some of those losses.
Schools, jobs and businesses also reflect demographic shifts
Enrollment in New York's K-12 public schools has fallen by more than 300,000 students since 2010.
The report found SUNY and CUNY continue to attract both New York and out-of-state students. In 2022, 36,487 students from outside New York enrolled in the two systems, compared with 32,168 New Yorkers who left the state to attend college elsewhere.
The Citizens Budget Commission also said New York's business climate remains challenging, citing the state's high corporate tax rates and labor costs.
According to the report:
- New York City's combined corporate tax rate is 17.44%, compared with 11.5% in New Jersey and 8.84% in California.
- Small-business labor costs are about 25% higher than the national average.
At the same time, New York remains home to one of the country's largest concentrations of wealth. The report found the state had the fourth-highest number of millionaires in the nation in 2022.
Health care and social assistance accounted for nearly 41% of all new jobs added in New York since 2010. As of 2025, those jobs paid an average annual wage of $65,616, below the statewide average of $99,949, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meanwhile, retail and manufacturing combined lost more than 127,000 jobs between 2019 and 2025.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: More taxpayers are leaving New York than moving in, new reports show
