The sales tax rate in ZIP code 11746 is 8.75%, and it has been at that rate since March 1, 2025. The ZIP covers Huntington Station and portions of Dix Hills and Melville, all in Suffolk County, and the 8.75% applies to most retail purchases you make there.
How the 8.75% Breaks Down
Three separate taxes stack to reach the total. New York State charges a 4% sales tax on retail sales of tangible personal property and certain services, and that 4% is the same in every county.1New York State Senate. New York Tax Code 1105 – Imposition of Sales Tax Suffolk County adds a local sales tax of 4.375%, up from 4.25% as of March 1, 2025.2New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Suffolk County Sales and Use Tax Rate Change Because Suffolk sits inside the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District, a 0.375% MCTD surcharge applies on top.3New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Sales Tax Rates, Additional Sales Taxes, and Fees Together: 4 + 4.375 + 0.375 = 8.75%.
What Is Exempt from Sales Tax
Groceries and Food for Home Preparation
Most food and food products sold at grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores are exempt when purchased for home consumption.4Department of Taxation and Finance. Food and Food Products Sold by Food Stores and Similar Establishments Produce, dairy, bread, and canned goods qualify. Prepared food sold hot, candy, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages do not.
Dietary supplements and vitamins are also exempt, whether they come as pills, powders, or liquids. Protein bars, herbal supplements, mineral supplements, and multivitamins are included.5Department of Taxation and Finance. Dietary Foods and Health Supplements Energy drinks and sports drinks like Gatorade, Red Bull, and Monster are taxable even when they contain vitamins.
Prescription Drugs and Medical Equipment
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs used to treat or prevent illness are exempt from both the state and local tax. So are medical equipment and supplies used to correct or manage a physical condition, along with prosthetic devices and hearing aids.6New York State Senate. New York Tax Code 1115 – Exemptions from Sales and Use Taxes Cosmetics and toiletries are taxable, even when they contain medicinal ingredients.
Clothing and Footwear Under $110
This one trips people up in 11746. Clothing and footwear priced under $110 per item are exempt from the 4% state portion.7New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Clothing and Footwear Exemption Suffolk County has not extended that exemption to its local portion, so a shirt or pair of shoes under $110 is still taxed at the combined county and MCTD rate of 4.75%.8New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Publication 718-C Sales and Use Tax Rates on Clothing and Footwear Items priced at $110 or more are taxed at the full 8.75%.
Things People Often Assume Are Exempt but Aren’t
Restaurant Meals and Takeout
Food and drink sold for on-premises consumption at a restaurant is taxable at the full 8.75%. Takeout is also taxable unless the food is sold unheated and packaged the way you would find it at a grocery store.9New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Sales by Restaurants, Taverns, and Similar Establishments Restaurant delivery charges for taxable food are part of the taxable amount. A mandatory gratuity added to the bill is also taxable unless it is separately listed as a tip and the full amount goes directly to the employees.
Landscaping and Property Maintenance
Services that maintain, repair, or service real property are taxable in New York. For a household in 11746, the 8.75% rate hits lawn mowing, snow removal, hedge trimming, tree trimming, fence painting, and sprinkler system repairs.10New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Landscapers The tax covers both labor and materials. Capital improvements, such as installing a new patio or planting permanent landscaping, follow different rules and may be exempt.
Shipping and Delivery Charges
When a seller ships a taxable product to your address in 11746, the shipping charge is part of the taxable receipt. If the product itself is exempt, the shipping charge is also exempt.11New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Shipping and Delivery Charges If a bill combines taxable and nontaxable items with one shipping charge, the whole shipping amount is treated as taxable. An independent delivery service that you hire separately and pay on its own invoice is not subject to sales tax.
How Coupons Change the Tax
The kind of coupon matters. A store-issued coupon reduces the sale price, so you pay tax only on the discounted amount. A manufacturer’s coupon works differently because the manufacturer reimburses the store, meaning the store still receives full price. Sales tax is calculated on the original price before a manufacturer’s coupon is applied.12Department of Taxation and Finance. Coupons and Food Stamps If a store doubles a manufacturer’s coupon, tax is reduced only by the store’s matching portion.
Use Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases
When you buy something from an out-of-state seller or online retailer that does not collect New York sales tax, you owe a use tax at the same 8.75% rate. Use tax exists to keep residents from avoiding sales tax by shopping across state lines or from sellers with no New York collection obligation.13New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Sales and Use Tax Most large online retailers now collect New York sales tax automatically. Smaller sellers and private-party transactions can still trigger the obligation, and individuals report use tax on their New York State income tax return.