State program
New York Life Sciences and Excelsior Research and Development Tax Credit
Research incentives delivered through the Excelsior Jobs Program and a dedicated refundable life sciences credit.
- Refundable
- Pre-approval required
Last reviewed October 2026
Program overview
New York does not operate a general-purpose research credit; instead it channels research incentives through discretionary economic development programs. The Excelsior Jobs Program provides a research and development component equal to a share of the federal credit attributable to New York for participants meeting job and investment commitments. Separately, the Life Sciences Research and Development Tax Credit provides a refundable credit to new life sciences companies during their early years, with the rate depending on employee count. Both programs are administered by Empire State Development.
Eligibility
Businesses admitted to the Excelsior Jobs Program under an executed agreement, or new life sciences companies certified by Empire State Development meeting the program's employment and expenditure criteria.
Benefits
Refundable credits against New York State tax, subject to program caps and annual performance certification.
Caps, deadlines and forms
Caps and limits
- Refundable credits against New York State tax, subject to program caps and annual performance certification.
Deadlines
Claimed on the annual return; no separate application deadline is stated.
Forms
Filing forms are listed by the revenue authority: official source (opens in a new tab).
New York IDR questions
What an examiner is likely to ask about this credit. S1–S7 apply to every state claim; the rest come from this program's own rules.
- S1Confirm the research was physically performed within New York.
- S2Provide the New York qualified research expense calculation and base amount.
- S3Reconcile New York expenses to the federal Form 6765.
- S4Show how wages and supplies were apportioned between New York and other locations.
- S5Provide the New York return and credit schedule for each year claimed.
- S6Show the carryforward schedule for unused New York credits.
- S7Confirm the entity claiming the credit is the entity subject to New York tax.
- NY-1Provide the pre-approval, certification or application filed for the New York credit, with its filing date.
- NY-2Show the New York refund eligibility tests (such as small business status) were met in each year refunded.
Draft questions for illustration, reviewed by a specialist before any engagement.
Common weak spots
- Expenses for research performed outside New York included in the New York claim.
- Missing or late pre-approval: the application or certification was not in place when required.
- Caps and proration not modelled, so the expected benefit is overstated.
- Refund claimed without evidence that the eligibility tests were met.
- Base amount computed from incomplete historical records.
See how your claim holds up
The mock audit drafts these questions for your own claim and scores the evidence behind each answer.
Run a mock audit for New YorkInformation on this page is general in nature, not tax advice. Program details change frequently; always confirm current rules with the relevant revenue authority or engage a specialist before acting. Last reviewed October 2026.
Find out what your research actually qualifies for
A scoping conversation takes thirty minutes and costs nothing. You leave with a view on eligibility, likely credit range and the documentation you would need.
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