A Technology System Provider (TSP) is the company behind the technology in a yellow taxi or green cab: the system that records trips, takes card payments and runs the passenger screen. TLC defines it as "a vendor who has been licensed by the Commission to install and maintain Technology Systems in Taxicabs and Street Hail Liveries" (chapter 51). TLC's 2025 Annual Report counts 3 of them, as of December 31, 2025. TSPs matter to drivers because they collect and pass on surcharges and the congestion per-trip charge.
Why it matters to TLC drivers
For drivers the practical point is simple: surcharges are not your money and not your cost. TLC's congestion surcharge page says the surcharge "cannot be taken out of the driver's pay, and must be passed on to the passenger(s)." See does a taxi driver pay the congestion surcharge? and the full picture in congestion pricing for TLC drivers.
Where drivers see it
- In the cab: the meter tablet, card reader and passenger screen. The annual report describes TSPs as the companies "that develop and maintain the credit card readers, trip recorders, and Taxi TVs."
- On pay and lease statements: card payments and surcharge withholdings come through the TSP to the owner or agent.
- On the meter: taxi meters add the $0.75 Congestion Relief Zone charge for trips in Manhattan at or below 60th Street, as TLC's taxi fare page lists it. Bridge and tunnel tolls are added at the end of the trip.
Related terms
- Technology Service Provider. The NYS Tax Department uses this name for the same role: a person acting for taxicab or hail vehicle owners "to collect the trip record."
- IVCS and the interior advertising provider: other in-vehicle systems and licensees.
- FHV bases play the TSP's role for for-hire vehicles: a base must sign the MTA agreement for the per-trip charge to apply to its trips.
- NYCSC is about E-ZPass accounts, not meters. TSPs don't run E-ZPass; tolls come from the tag holder's account. See E-ZPass for TLC drivers.
More toll and fee terms: tolls hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Technology System Provider?
TLC defines it as a vendor licensed by the Commission to install and maintain Technology Systems in taxicabs and street hail liveries. The Technology System is the hardware and software in the cab that meets TLC's technical rules.
How many TSPs are there?
TLC's 2025 Annual Report lists 3 Technology Service Providers among its business licenses, as of December 31, 2025.
What does a TSP have to do with congestion pricing?
For taxis and green cabs, the MTA's $0.75 per-trip charge applies only if the cab's TSP has signed the MTA agreement to collect and remit it. If not, the vehicle may be charged a $9 toll up to once per day, paid by the vehicle owner.
Who pays the NYS congestion surcharge to the state for a taxi trip?
The NYS Tax Department says that for medallion taxis and green cabs, TSPs withhold and remit the surcharge and file the returns. The surcharge is passed on to the passenger and cannot be taken out of the driver's pay.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51: Definitions (updated Oct 17, 2025) nyc.gov
- TLC 2025 Annual Report (licensee counts as of Dec 31, 2025) nyc.gov
- TLC Industry Notice #24-10: MTA Congestion Pricing Toll (Dec 5, 2024) nyc.gov
- NYS Department of Taxation and Finance: Congestion surcharge tax.ny.gov
- NYC TLC: Congestion Surcharge nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §58-16(f), §58-26(g) nyc.gov
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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.