New York penny rounding law
A9274-A / S8580-A passed both houses (June 2026) and awaits the governor. It would require in-person cash totals to be rounded to the nearest 5¢ (4¢ or less exempt), 180 days after enactment.
Short answer. New York has no rounding law in effect. The Legislature passed the New Yorkers for Common Cents Act in 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 Governor Hochul had not signed or vetoed it. Until then, rounding is a store policy.
New York cash rounding calculator
Enter a cash total, or item prices plus your sales tax rate. The result updates as you type.
New York law and bills
A9274-A / S8580-A, the “New Yorkers for Common Cents Act” (Assemblymember McDonald; Sen. Skoufis), passed the Assembly on April 27, 2026, was amended on May 13 and passed again on May 18, then passed the Senate 59-2 on June 3, 2026. As of October 31, 2026 the Senate’s bill record shows no delivery to the governor, signature, veto or chapter number. New York bills passed in June are often sent to the governor later in the year; once a bill is delivered after the Legislature adjourns, the governor has 30 days to act.
As passed, the bill would:
- add General Business Law § 399-oooo, requiring merchants making in-person sales to round a cash total (prices less discounts, plus tax): 1, 2, 6 or 7 cents down, 3, 4, 8 or 9 cents up;
- exclude totals of 4¢ or less, and card, check, electronic funds transfer, money order and other electronic payments;
- compute tax before rounding, and not tax rounding gains or losses;
- add § 399-ooo, saying that not giving exact penny change is not a violation of law;
- take effect 180 days after it becomes law for the rounding rule, with the rest effective immediately.
Can a New York store round cash totals?
Today, yes, as store policy. Rounding down is a discount. If the bill becomes law, rounding cash totals for in-person sales would become required, not optional, about six months after signing. New York City separately requires most stores to accept cash (Local Law 34 of 2020), so refusing cash is not an alternative there. A Burger King in Cheektowaga was among the first New York stores reported to change its cash policy in October 2025.
Federal law
There is no federal rounding rule in force either. The Common Cents Act (H.R. 10167) passed Congress on September 28, 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 we found no record of it being signed. If enacted, it would let sellers in New York round cash totals symmetrically to the nearest 5¢ without requiring anyone to round, keep pennies legal tender, and protect sellers that follow its method from conflicting state or local rules. Federal status of the penny.
Your options as a customer
- Pay by card, debit, EBT or app. Those payments are charged the exact amount; rounding only ever touches cash.
- Pay with exact change. Pennies are still legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5103). The Federal Reserve notes, though, that no federal law makes a private business accept cash or coins. New York City is an exception: its 2020 law requires most food and retail stores in the city to accept cash. Federal Reserve FAQ.
- Check the receipt. It should show the exact total and a separate rounding line, so you can see which way it went.
- Report a problem. If a store rounds every cash total up without telling customers, contact the New York Attorney General: file a complaint (1-800-771-7755). See also is it legal for a store to round up?
Sales tax
New York’s state sales tax rate is 4%, and counties and cities add local tax (8.875% combined in New York City). Most groceries are exempt. Under the bill, tax would be computed before rounding; today, compute it on the actual price and round only the cash total. More on sales tax and cash rounding.
SNAP, EBT and card payments
SNAP and WIC benefits are paid electronically, so the EBT part of any purchase in New York is always charged to the exact cent. Federal rules require stores to treat SNAP shoppers the same as other customers, so a store that rounds the cash part of a split payment should use the same rule for everyone. SNAP/EBT, cards and refunds.
Stores and local news in New York
WSHU and Gothamist reported on June 4, 2026 that the bill was headed to Governor Hochul, whose office said she would review it.
Rules in neighboring states
Shopping across the line? Rounding rules change at the border.
| State | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | Law in effect | Optional symmetric rounding of the final cash total. Businesses that round must post the state’s model notice. Cash refunds must be exact. |
| Massachusetts | Agency guidance only | No statute. DOR Directive 26-1: nickel rounding either way does not change sales tax. Standards: round the total, not item prices, and disclose. H.5450 pending. |
| Connecticut | Law enacted, starts later | Symmetric rounding allowed from Jan. 1, 2027 (totals of 4¢ or less excluded). Until then, state guidance says round down only. |
| New Jersey | Agency guidance only | No statute. Taxation and Consumer Affairs: rounding is voluntary, applies to the final cash total, must be disclosed, and does not change sales tax. A5233 passed the Assembly. |
| Pennsylvania | Bill pending | HB 2388 (Pennsylvania Common Cents Act) passed the House 187-15 in June 2026 and sits in Senate Finance. It would require symmetric rounding of in-person cash totals. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the New York penny rounding bill law?
Would New York’s bill require stores to round?
When would New York’s rounding rule start?
Can a New York store round cash today?
Sources
- New York Senate: A9274 (2025–2026 session)
- New York Senate: S8580 (2025–2026 session)
- WSHU: Goodbye, pennies? NY lawmakers pass bill to round to the nearest nickel (June 4, 2026)
- Zoey 103.9: Burger King in Cheektowaga adjusts cash policy amid penny shortage (Oct. 13, 2025)
- New York Attorney General: file a complaint
- H.R. 10167 (119th Congress), Common Cents Act, enrolled bill text (GovInfo)