Saturday, April 01, 2006

Take it off! Pols remove clothes tax in NY

nydailynews.com
Take it off! Pols remove clothes tax
Joe Mahoney

ALBANY - Starting today, the sales tax on clothing and shoes under $110 has been stripped to nothing at all.

The state's 4% levy was wiped from the books after Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) persuaded the state Senate to resist Gov. Pataki's plea to keep the levy in effect.

But state officials are worried some shops may be unaware they're supposed to stop collecting the tax.

"We didn't have much time to react here because this just happened Wednesday night," said Tax Department spokesman Tom Bergin.

Consumers who believe they have paid the tax in error can seek reimbursement by obtaining state tax Form AU-11 from the agency's Web site - www.tax.state.ny.us - or by contacting the agency at (800) 225-5829 during weekday business hours.

The city dropped its 4% clothing sales tax Sept. 1.