Migration
Taxpayers changed addresses
New York State taxpayers changed their addresses to out of state addresses in recent years, with a noticeable increase after the start of COVID-19 in 2020.
Chart of taxpayer reported address changes based on NYS Tax Department contact and national change of address database from 2017 to 2021.
Chart of percentage of taxpayers leaving New York from 2017 to 2021.
Millionaires changed addresses
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is even more noticeable on millionaires, who were even more likely to change to out of state addresses during that period.
Chart of millionaire taxpayers reported address changes based on NYS Tax Department contact and national change of address database from 2017 to 2021.
Chart of millionaires who have left New York from 2017 to 2021.
| Tax year | Number of millionaire filers who left the state | Change | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 561 | N/A | N/A |
| 2017 | 662 | 101 | 18.0% |
| 2018 | 711 | 49 | 7.4% |
| 2019 | 696 | (15) | (2.1%) |
| 2020 | 1,973 | 1,277 | 183.5% |
| 2021 | 1,453 | (520) | (26.4%) |
Multi-millionaires moving
Outmigration of millionaires has increased over the years, with the wealthiest millionaires (those with incomes greater than $25 million) relocating at increased rates in 2021.
Chart of annual address changes of millionaires by calendar year from 2017 to 2021
Outflow concentrations
IRS data shows that population outflow is concentrated in people between the ages of 26 and 44 and those with higher incomes.
Recent New York State net outflow by income and age groups
IRS state-to-state migration data: 2019–2020
Chart of state-to-state migration data from 2019 to 2020
Map of state-to-state migration data from 2019 to 2020
Headed for New Jersey
IRS data shows that New Yorkers relocating out of state are most likely to move to New Jersey. Others have relocated to other neighboring states, warmer states, and states with lower tax rates.
At the same time, people are moving into New York State from similar states.
For comparison purposes, the graph below shows inflows and outflows from the same ten states that New Yorkers were most likely to move to.
10 States of largest net outflow of individuals from New York State
Individual income tax returns: state-to-state migration outflow for selected income items, calendar years 2019–2020
Source: IRS Individual Master File, Statistics of Income, May 2022
Chart of ten states of largest new outflow of individuals from New York State.
Inflow and outflow over time
Population inflows and outflows from New York State increase over time, with net outflows peaking in 2019–2020, the last year for which IRS data is available.
Chart showing the difference in NYS Outflow and NYS Inflow, as well as the new outflow, from fiscal year 1990-1991 to fiscal year 2019-2020
Millionaire migration
Millionaires tend to migrate out of the state when they are older.
Chart of the destinations for taxpayers moving in 2021 (by age). Date ranges are 15-24, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84 and 84+. States on the chart are FL, CT, NJ, CA, TX, MA, PA, CO, Out of country, and Unknown
Chart of the destinations for millionaires moving in 2021 (by age). Date ranges are 15-24, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84 and 84+. States on the chart are FL, CT, NJ, CA, TX, MA, PA, CO, Out of country, and Unknown
