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The congestion surcharge is a New York State charge added to taxi and for-hire trips that begin in, end in or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street (and begin and end in New York State). It is $2.50 per medallion taxi trip, $2.75 per trip in any other for-hire vehicle (green cabs, black cars, limos, livery, Uber and Lyft) and $0.75 per shared trip (NYS Tax; amounts as of October 12, 2026). The passenger pays it.
TLC's rule for drivers is short: "The congestion surcharge cannot be taken out of the driver's pay, and must be passed on to the passenger(s)" (TLC). The Tax Department adds that the amount must be "reported separately on any receipt given to the passenger", so you should always be able to see it as its own line.
Where drivers see it
Why it matters to TLC drivers
- It is not your money and not your cost. If a base, lessor or app deducts it from your earnings, that breaks TLC's rule.
- No surcharge on Access-A-Ride or other MTA-dispatched trips (TLC). The state also exempts funeral trips, certain buses, school district trips and ambulances or ambulettes.
- Owners can owe it. For taxis, if the technology provider can't withhold it from fares for 12 months, the owner becomes responsible (NYS Tax). Late payment can bring a penalty of 200% of the surcharge.
How big it is
On TLC trip records from September 2025 to August 2026, the surcharge added up to about $238.4 million on Uber/Lyft trips and $77.5 million on yellow taxi trips:
Related terms and mix-ups
- Start date: TLC's page says January 1, 2019. A court order then paused it; the Tax Department told collectors to start at 12:01 a.m. on February 2, 2019 (Notice N-19-2).
- Congestion Zone: TLC's name for the below-96th area.
- Night surcharge: a meter charge by time of day, not by place.
Who pays in a taxi: does a taxi driver pay the surcharge?. Filing: surcharge filing for bases and owners. Both charges compared: congestion pricing for TLC drivers. Local context: Manhattan.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the NYS congestion surcharge?
$2.50 per trip in a medallion taxi, $2.75 per trip in other for-hire vehicles including green cabs, black cars, limos, livery and Uber/Lyft, and $0.75 per shared (pool) trip, as listed by the NYS Tax Department and TLC on October 12, 2026.
Where does it apply?
On trips that begin and end in New York State and begin in, end in or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street (96th Street itself is not included).
Can my base or company take it out of my pay?
No. TLC says the congestion surcharge cannot be taken out of the driver's pay and must be passed on to the passenger.
Is it the same as congestion pricing?
No. Congestion pricing is the MTA's toll for Manhattan at or below 60th Street, started January 5, 2025. The state surcharge is older, covers a bigger area and is a state tax. One trip can carry both.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: Congestion Surcharge nyc.gov
- NYS Department of Taxation and Finance: Congestion surcharge tax.ny.gov
- NYS Tax Notice N-19-2: Court lifts restraining order on congestion surcharge tax.ny.gov
- TLC data dictionary: Yellow taxi trip records nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.