April 9, 2021
Albany, NY

Governor Cuomo Announces State Tax Break for MTA COVID Death Benefits as Part of the FY 2022 Budget

Benefits Paid to Families Will Be Exempt from State Income Taxes

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that, as part of the FY 2022 Enacted Budget, direct payments made to families of MTA employees through the COVID family death benefit program will be exempt from State income taxes.

"While most of us stayed home during the darkest days of the pandemic, the members of the MTA workforce risked their own health and came to work, so that essential workers from across the New York City area could reach their destinations and perform their vital duties," Governor Cuomo said. "These heroic men and women risked their own wellbeing along with that of their families', and those who lost their lives to COVID are going to be remembered and honored for their sacrifice. In order to provide some additional relief for the families of these heroes, the death benefits these families have received through the MTA's COVID family death benefit program will be exempt from New York State income taxes."

The MTA's unprecedented $500,000 COVID family death benefit program began in April 2020 and has thus far led to $62 million in approved direct payments to the families of MTA employees who died from COVID-19.

Contact the Governor’s Press Office

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