Considering the state and city tax rates are so high (and will go higher) why do so many business have their headquarters of operations there?

    Why do so many businesses HQ in NYC?
    byu/TheSmartFart intax



    Posted by TheSmartFart

    19 Comments

    1. Alone-Experience9869 on

      I believe for the opportunities, the business environment, human talent, etc. there is business structure provided that not everywhere provides.

    2. They might have HQ there, but they are domiciled for tax purposes in Delaware or somewhere offshore.

    3. Forgemasterblaster on

      Talent is the easiest answer. Compensation is greater and people figure out how to adjust COL to be in nyc.

      It’s the only top 5 US city with cool shit and no need for a car, which is like most other global cities (London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris).

      Best place in the US for many industries and industries that support those businesses. Real Estate is an example. Biggest developers are in nyc. Capital is here. Expertise for lawyers, accountants etc. same for banking. Goldman, citi, JP, etc have century old footholds.

      So companies look around and figure it’s better to be where the best people want to be rather than try to force people into some other area.

    4. GradatimRecovery on

      You might think an NYC headquartered multi-state or multi-national business pays NYS and city taxes on their national or global income. That’s not the case. The state and city only tax the portion of total business income that is allocated or apportioned to their jurisdiction. 

      If that still leaves you wondering why they’d have an office in a high tax jurisdiction at all, it’s most likely for practical reasons like access to talent, regulators, and vendors that they can’t elsewhere.

      Don’t let the tax tail wag the dog

    5. InlineSkateAdventure on

      Because they feel there is some value in the people NYC attracts. Businesses afraid to spend money rarely make money. Buying the cheapest car isn’t always the best choice.

      And at one time it had a huge prestige associated with it, that remains somewhat today but not as strong.

    6. kanye_come_back on

      In NYC you have a much easier time pulling top talent, finding capital, and frankly rich people (in these businesses) want to live in NYC not Arkansas (no offense.) Companies do move to cheaper areas and engage in tax tricks but NYC is a strong economic region.

    7. Letting tax drive all your decisions is the best example of “the tail wagging the dog”.

      Tax should be a concern but not the primary concern

    8. Upset-Kaleidoscope45 on

      There’s prestige to it. As opposed to having a HQ in suburban Minnesota or somewhere like that. Also, I imagine a lot of wealthy powerful C-suite types, lawyers, and other professionals don’t want to waste their lives in some third-tier city that doesn’t offer the same things that a cosmopolitan capital of the western world does. It’s self-sustaining in that way.

    9. A big building in Manhattan does not always mean they are fiscally tied to NY. I believe the HQ of Starbucks is a mailbox in Amsterdam, for example.

    10. Who do people take a job with a higher salary when their overall tax rate will be higher?

    11. Good luck finding niche good employees in Alabama. Also, NYC has immediate access to financing entities, lawyers, tax experts, and consultants. You have none of that elsewhere.

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