New York vs Pennsylvania Sales Tax Nexus — Comparison 2026
Compare economic nexus thresholds, state and local rates, and filing rules in New York and Pennsylvania.
| Metric | New York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Economic nexus threshold | $500,000 | $100,000 |
| Transaction threshold | 100 | None |
| State rate | 4.00% | 6.00% |
| Avg. local rate | 4.54% | 0.34% |
| Combined state + local | 8.54% | 6.34% |
| Marketplace facilitator | Yes | Yes |
| Effective since | 2019-06-24 | 2019-07-01 |
Which state is easier for sellers?
For low-revenue sellers: nexus triggers first in Pennsylvania because of its $100,000 threshold. If you cross that first, you register there first.
On rate: Pennsylvania is friendlier for customers with a combined state + local rate of 6.34% vs 8.54%.
New York also adds a 100-transaction trigger that Pennsylvania doesn't have.
New York — nexus note
New York sales tax nexus and economic nexus threshold: a business with no New York physical presence is presumed to be a vendor when, in the immediately preceding four sales tax quarters, its gross receipts from tangible personal property delivered into New York exceed $500,000 AND it made more than 100 such sales into New York. Unlike most states, New York uses AND logic -- both thresholds must be met. Gross receipts include taxable and exempt tangible-personal-property sales without expense deductions, and sales transactions include invoices, sales slips, contracts, or other sale memoranda, including sales for resale. New York says marketplace sales should be included in the threshold calculation; after crossing, a remote seller files for registration within 30 days and begins collection 20 days later. Marketplace providers collect New York State and local sales tax on facilitated taxable tangible-personal-property sales delivered to New York, and marketplace sellers remain responsible for non-facilitated sales and taxable transactions outside the marketplace-provider rule. New York Tax Department source data last retrieved 2026-06-08.
Pennsylvania — nexus note
Pennsylvania sales tax nexus and economic nexus threshold: more than $100,000 in annual Pennsylvania gross sales, measured by calendar year, creates economic presence for remote sellers and marketplace facilitators (eff. 2019-07-01 under Act 13 of 2019 and Sales and Use Tax Bulletin 2019-01). Pennsylvania uses a sales-only threshold -- no transaction-count test. Gross sales include taxable and nontaxable sales across channels. A marketplace facilitator with no Pennsylvania physical presence counts both facilitated and direct Pennsylvania sales; a marketplace seller counts direct sales plus marketplace sales only when the facilitator does not collect Pennsylvania sales tax on its behalf. After the first collection year, Pennsylvania measures prior calendar-year sales and starts the annual collection period in the second quarter. The state rate is 6%, with local add-ons in Allegheny County (+1%) and Philadelphia (+2%). Pennsylvania 2026 sales/use tax filing calendars list monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and monthly-with-prepayment filer tracks; returns are due even when no taxable transactions occur in the period. Sellers without physical presence can use a Pennsylvania-certified service provider for registration, filing, collection, and remittance support. Pennsylvania DOR source data last retrieved 2026-05-30.
What to do next
Use the nexus calculator to check exactly which of New York and Pennsylvania you've already triggered. Then read each state's full guide:
Frequently asked questions
- Which state has the lower sales tax nexus threshold, New York or Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania has the lower economic nexus threshold at $100,000, versus $500,000 in New York. A seller's Pennsylvania sales would reach the published Pennsylvania threshold first. These are the thresholds published by each state's tax authority as of 2026-06-08; confirm against the official source before registering.
- Do both New York and Pennsylvania have marketplace facilitator laws?
- Yes. Both New York and Pennsylvania have marketplace facilitator laws, so marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay collect and remit sales tax on the sales they facilitate in both states. Direct-to-consumer sales you make outside a marketplace remain your own responsibility once you cross each state's threshold. Verified 2026-06-08.
- Which has the lower sales tax rate, New York or Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania has the lower combined state and local sales tax rate at 6.34%, compared with 8.54% in New York. These are the statewide base rate plus the average local rate; the exact rate depends on the customer's delivery address. As of 2026-06-08.
- Do I need to register for sales tax in both New York and Pennsylvania?
- It depends on where you cross each state's economic nexus threshold (or have physical presence there). New York's published threshold is $500,000 or 100 transactions, and Pennsylvania's is $100,000. You generally register in a state only once you cross its threshold, so you may have an obligation in one, both, or neither. Run the nexus calculator with your actual sales and confirm with each state's official source. Thresholds as of 2026-06-08.
- When did economic nexus take effect in New York and Pennsylvania?
- New York's economic nexus rule took effect on 2019-06-24, and Pennsylvania's took effect on 2019-07-01. Both stem from the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, which let states require remote sellers to collect once an economic threshold is met.
Sources
date_retrieved: New York 2026-06-08 · Pennsylvania 2026-05-30
- New York: https://www.tax.ny.gov/
- New York: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/publications/sales/nexus.htm
- New York: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/publications/sales/marketplace.htm
- New York: https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/resources/economic-nexus-state-guide
- New York: https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/sales-tax-rates/
- Pennsylvania: https://www.revenue.pa.gov/
- Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/sales-use-and-hotel-occupancy-tax/online-retailers
- Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/sales-use-and-hotel-occupancy-tax
- Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/revenue/documents/taxlawpoliciesbulletinsnotices/taxbulletins/sut/documents/st_bulletin_2019-01.pdf
- Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/revenue/documents/formsandpublications/formsforbusinesses/sut/documents/2026_rev-819.pdf
- Pennsylvania: https://www.salestaxinstitute.com/resources/economic-nexus-state-guide
- Pennsylvania: https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/sales-tax-rates/