New York farm employers - apply now for overtime credit

By Blake Jackson

New York farm employers are urged to apply by September 30th for a certificate of advance payment for the Farm Employer Overtime Credit program.

This program, announced by Governor Hochul, helps farmers offset the cost of overtime wages paid to their employees.

"The State launched the Farm Employer Overtime Credit program to support New York’s agricultural community, helping ensure that our farm businesses have the resources they need to support their workforce while meeting their food production goals," said Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. "I urge all eligible farm employers to apply for a credit certificate from the Department by September 30 to take advantage of this mid-year opportunity to cover the cost of overtime and continue their great work supporting our farmers and our families."

The credit is available to eligible farm employers who paid overtime wages between January 1 and July 31, 2024.  Farm employers can register online, submit employee overtime information, and apply for a certificate for the first half of the year's credit. This allows them to receive an advance payment to help cover overtime costs.

The application process is outlined in detail on the Department of Agriculture website.  Key steps include:

Be a registered eligible farmer.

Employ eligible farm workers who received overtime pay.

Register in the online portal and enter employee overtime information.

Submit an application for a certificate of advance payment by September 30th.

Farm employers who miss the deadline or prefer not to apply for the advance payment can still claim the credit for the entire year (January 1 - December 31) when they file their tax return.

“Despite national challenges that all too often put New York farms at a competitive disadvantage, we won’t let local food access collapse", said Senator Michelle Hinchey. "That's why we fought to create the Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit, which covers farm employers' overtime costs. We’re committed to getting this critical funding to our farmers, and we urge them to apply by September 30th so they don't miss out on these overtime subsidies."

Photo Credit: pexels-nataliya-vaitkevich