Tax credit for volunteer firefighters quadrupled
Published on:
October 17, 2026
Across New York State, an estimated 80,000 volunteer firefighters help protect their communities.
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ALBANY―Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Saturday quadrupling New York’s personal income tax credit for eligible volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.
The law boosts the annual tax credit from $200 to $800 for individuals and from $400 to $1,600 for married couples. It will apply beginning in tax year 2027, allowing eligible volunteers to claim the benefit when filing their taxes in 2028.
Eligible volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers will be able to claim either the increased state income tax credit or a qualifying local property tax exemption.
“These brave New Yorkers put their lives on the line to protect their neighbors, often sacrificing time with their families and loved ones,” said Hochul.
“This tax credit puts more money back in their pockets and shows our appreciation for the lifesaving services they provide every day,” she added.
Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) President Donald Farrell called the law “a real thank you to the men and women serving today.”
“And it's how we bring in the next generation,” said Farrell.
According to FASNY, the law marks an important step toward implementing its 14-Point Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Plan, which calls for expanded tax credits, financial reimbursements, childcare assistance and housing incentives to ease the financial burden of volunteering.
Across New York State, an estimated 80,000 volunteer firefighters help protect their communities. But fire officials have been sounding the alarm for years as that number has fallen from more than 120,000 over the past two decades.
Of the state’s nearly 1,700 fire departments, more than 9 in 10 are all-volunteer or mostly volunteer. In rural counties such as Greene, every fire department is staffed by volunteers.
“Volunteer firefighters across New York show up at 3 a.m. without asking why,” said Farrell. “They leave their families, their jobs and their beds to answer the call, and they do it for free.”
FASNY estimates that volunteer firefighters save New York taxpayers an estimated $4.7 billion annually.
