New York Bill Would Give Cannabis Distributors More Time to File Quarterly Tax Returns

A bill filed today in the New York Senate would adjust the deadline for cannabis distributors to file their quarterly tax returns, pushing the due date later in the month and aligning it more closely with other state tax filing timelines. Senate Bill S 8749, introduced by State Senator Jeremy Cooney (D), would amend New York’s tax law to change when distributors of marijuana products must submit required tax returns and payments to the state. Under current law, distributors are required to file by the 20th day following the end of each quarterly reporting period.

The proposal would move that deadline to the 50th day after the close of each quarter. Specifically, tax returns would be due 50 days after the last day of February, May, August, and November. The returns would still be required to be filed electronically with the state tax commissioner and must include the total amount of tax due for the quarter, along with any additional information requested by the state.

The bill does not alter tax rates, reporting requirements, or who is subject to the tax. Instead, it focuses narrowly on the timing of filings, a change that could give cannabis distributors additional time to reconcile sales data, calculate tax obligations, and comply with reporting rules in a market that continues to evolve.

The legislation was introduced and referred to the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee. If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the change would take effect immediately.

New York legalized adult-use marijuana in 2021, with retail sales launching at the end of 2022. Since then, the state’s legal market has expanded rapidly, with over $1.6 billion in sales in 2025 alone.