Connecting ideas to action
Western New York Incubator Network (WIN) Tax Incentives
Through this program of the WNY Incubator Network (WIN) (a New York State-designated Innovation Hot Spot), a NYS-enabled set of tax incentives are available to incubated ventures in their first five years of operation that include five years of state sales tax credits, income tax credits for the company, and for its principals.
About Western New York Incubator Network (WIN) Tax Incentives
Once qualified, a company enters into a five year window of exemption from state corporate income tax and state sales tax on purchases. In that period, partners in the company are also eligible to deduct their income from the incubator company. This window lasts for five years, regardless of company age when entering the program, provided the company remains in good standing as a resident or graduate of its incubator. WIN Tax Incentives are available to ventures regardless of physical location, as long as they are an incubator client. The program cannot be used concurrently with START-UP NY benefits, rather it is designed to allow ventures to move on to the START-UP NY incentives program upon graduation from the incubator.
Participation and Eligibility
To be certified for eligibility for tax incentives by WIN, companies must be in one of 10 incubators that are part of WIN. Companies must also be:
- In good standing with a WIN incubator
- In their first five years of operations (or seven years for life sciences ventures) and in the formative stages of development
- On a path toward scalable development
- At less than $2 million in operating annual revenue
