January 16, 2019

UUP members can deduct their union dues from their state income taxes in their 2018 state tax returns.

By doing so, union members can save about $70 on average per year, according to a May 2017 governor's office media release.

Legislation passed in 2017—as part of the state’s 2018 Enacted Budget—created a union dues deduction for New York union members who itemize deductions on their state tax returns. Union members can file itemized deductions in their state tax returns even if they don’t itemize in their federal taxes.

UUP, along with the New York State AFL-CIO and other unions statewide, successfully fought for this change, which is expected to save more than 500,000 union members across the state about $35 million each year.

“Our members, and all union members in New York, should take advantage of this benefit,” said UUP President Fred Kowal. “It’s another example of the importance of unions in New York state. We appreciate the governor’s strong support of labor and his commitment to defending union jobs, which strengthens hard-working middle-class families.”