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Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP)
You must have operated your business outside NYC or below 96th Street in Manhattan for at least 24 continuous months before relocating. Most retail and hotel services are not eligible. However, online, mail-order, and telephone sales may qualify.
You may qualify if you relocate jobs from outside New York City or from below 96th Street in Manhattan to above 96th Street in Manhattan, or any of the other four boroughs. Your business must move at least one employee from outside the REAP area to an eligible location.
The space you move into must be nonresidential and improved by construction or renovation. Your premises must also meet one of these requirements:
Option 1: Property-based criteria:
- Eligible for ICIP, or leased from the IDA, NYC, the Port Authority, or the NYS Urban Development Corporation.
- You must spend more than 50% of the property’s assessed value on improvements (or 25% for industrial properties).
Option 2: Lease-based criteria:
- Your lease must run at least 3 years past the later of the lease start date or the relocation date.
- You must spend more than $25 per square foot on improvements (after July 1, 2003).
If you move to a revitalization area (zoned C4, C5, C6, M1, M2, or M3):
- Annual credit of $3,000 per eligible employee (or per “eligible aggregate employment share”) for 12 years
- Credit is refundable for the year you move and the next four years
If you move to an eligible area that is not a revitalization area:
- Annual credit of $1,000 per share (non-refundable)
You can apply the credit to the New York City general corporation tax, banking corporation tax, business corporation tax, unincorporated business tax, or utility tax.
Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years.
To apply, submit a completed REAP application with all required documents.
You must re-certify every year via e-Services to continue receiving benefits.
If you add or replace premises, file the REAP-ADD form
Application deadline: June 30, 2028
If you move from Lower Manhattan, your REAP benefits may be reduced if you eliminate jobs in Lower Manhattan.
Program forms:
- REAP: Application for Certificate of Eligibility
- REAP-ADD: Certificate of Eligibility for Additional or Replacement Premises
- Annual Eligible Aggregate Employment Shares Computation Form: This form is used to assist with the computation of the employment shares and should be included with the REAP annual certifications via e-services.
- Supplemental REAP and LM/REAP Application: Information relating to wages and benefits at eligible premises.
General forms:
- Computer Data Request: Use this form to request computer data.
- Power of Attorney (POA-1): grants legal authority to represent your business
- Military Request for Relief: from certain liens and judgments