Does the Taxi Driver Pay the Congestion Surcharge?

Short answer: No. Both congestion charges on a taxi trip are paid by the passenger, not the driver. The NYS congestion surcharge ($2.50 on a yellow taxi trip, $2.75 on a green cab, $0.75 on a shared ride) is withheld by the taxi's Technology Service Provider (TSP) and sent to New York State. TLC says it "cannot be taken out of the driver's pay, and must be passed on to the passenger(s)". The 75-cent MTA congestion toll is also collected from passengers and sent to the MTA. Neither is yours to keep, and neither may be deducted from your earnings.

Sources: TLC Congestion Surcharge, NYS Tax Department and MTA taxi and FHV tolls, checked October 12, 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

What TLC and the state say

• TLC: the surcharge "cannot be taken out of the driver's pay". Medallion owners and FHV bases must file what they collect with the state each month.
• NYS Tax Department: for medallion taxis and green cabs, the TSP is responsible for "withholding and remitting the congestion surcharge and filing returns", and withholds it "prior to distributing funds to the owners or agents". If one day's fares aren't enough, it takes the rest from the next day's; after 12 months, the owner or agent owes what is left. The amount "must be passed through to passengers and reported separately on any receipt".
• TLC Rule 58-21(f): an owner may deduct from your card money only the improvement surcharge, the MTA tax (if the owner is the taxpayer) and TSP amounts allowed by TLC rule.

The MTA toll goes through the TSP too

The MTA's Congestion Relief Zone toll started January 5, 2025. For taxis, TSPs that "provide payment technology within the vehicle" enroll the cabs in the MTA's Per-Trip Charge Plan. Enrolled vehicles pay $0.75 per trip in the zone, collected from passengers, instead of the standard daily toll (the MTA lists $9). Uber and Lyft trips pay $1.50 per trip under the same plan. The full driver guide is congestion pricing for TLC drivers; what happens when you enter the zone with no passenger is answered in do I pay congestion pricing driving empty?

Check your card payouts

If something looks wrong, ask the owner in writing which rule allows the deduction, then contact TLC's Driver Protection Unit at 718-391-5539 or driverprotection@tlc.nyc.gov.

Related rules and exceptions

• No surcharge on Access-A-Ride or other MTA-dispatched trips, and none on trips that end outside New York State, like Newark Airport.
• App drivers: TLC's trip data defines driver_pay as "net of commission, surcharges, or taxes", so surcharges are separate from what the app pays you. Pay-statement lines are explained in congestion charges on pay statements and the Black Car Fund line in why does my Uber pay show Black Car Fund?
• Owners and bases: filing rules are in the congestion surcharge for bases and owners.
• Where taxis and green cabs can pick up in the zone: who can pick up where in NYC. Other charges that aren't yours to pay for: can a taxi owner charge me for repairs? More on the money hub.