How to Invoice as a CPA / Accountant in New York

How to invoice as a cpa / accountant in New York: NY sales tax 4.00% (applies to services), late fees capped at 2%/mo under NY Gen. Oblig. Law §5-501, written contracts required over $500. Step-by-step guide with a free template.

State sales tax
4%
Late fee cap
2%/mo
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
50%
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1. New York-specific invoice requirements

  • Sales tax line: 4.00% state rate. Services billed to NY customers must include sales tax. Many services taxable (info, parking, repair). Combined 8-8.875%.
  • Late-fee cap: New York statute NY Gen. Oblig. Law §5-501 caps interest on unpaid invoices at 2% per month. Spell out the rate in writing on every invoice and in your contract — courts won't enforce undisclosed fees.
  • Written contract required: New York requires a signed agreement for any job over $500. Reference the contract number on the invoice.
  • Right-to-cancel notice: Customers in New York get 72-hour cancellation rights on certain home-services contracts. Disclose this in your terms.

2. CPA / Accountant line items + standard terms

Every cpa / accountant invoice in New York should itemize work clearly. Standard cpa / accountants use Net 30 terms with a 50% deposit required upfront.

  • Tax return — individual — billed by flat.
  • Tax return — business — billed by flat.
  • Bookkeeping monthly — billed by flat.
  • Hourly advisory — billed by hour (~$235 default).

3. CPA / Accountant licensing in New York

CPA license required for attest services and the CPA designation. EAs licensed federally to represent before IRS.

4. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work completes. Use software that records open events and offers a one-click online payment so you don't need to chase a check by mail. New York customers expect digital payment options today — accepting card and ACH typically reduces days-to-paid by 30–50%.

Average invoice
$1,850
State
NY
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
50%

New York metro guides

Metro-specific guides include the combined sales-tax rate and local pricing benchmarks.

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