Sales tax on catering in Port Jefferson is 8.75 percent, so a catering quote that says plus tax adds $87.50 for every $1,000 of catering charges.
Our packages are quoted plus tax, which means the price you see is before New York's tax is added at billing. Here is the rate, what the tax covers on a catering bill, and how a tip or service charge is treated. This is general information from New York State Department of Taxation and Finance pages, so ask your caterer for the tax line on your invoice.
What is the sales tax rate on catering in Port Jefferson?
8.75 percent. The Department of Taxation and Finance lists Suffolk County at 8¾ percent in Publication 718, for rates effective March 1, 2025, and that figure includes the ⅜ percent that Suffolk County pays toward the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. The state sets a service's local rate by where the service is delivered, and the Village of Port Jefferson is one of Suffolk County's villages, so a party at a Port Jefferson address carries the Suffolk County rate.
To work out the tax, multiply the taxable amount by the rate and round to the nearest cent. As an example, not a quote: a $1,000 catering bill carries $87.50 of tax, for a total of $1,087.50.
What on a catering bill is taxed?
Nearly every charge for your event. The state's caterer bulletin says a caterer's charges for food, beverages and services for an event are subject to sales tax, and that catering events can take place at a customer's home or other location, a wedding included. A charge is taxed even when it sits on its own line of the invoice.
Is a tip or a gratuity taxed?
A voluntary tip is not taxed. A mandatory gratuity that is added to the bill is not taxed only when all three conditions hold: it is shown separately on the bill, it is identified as a gratuity, and the business gives all of the money to its employees. If one condition is missing, the gratuity is taxed along with the rest of the bill. A service charge is always taxed, because it is not listed as a gratuity. The state's own example is a caterer with an 8 percent service charge and a 15 percent gratuity, both paid to servers: the gratuity is not taxed and the service charge is.
Here is how that works on the same example $1,000 bill, with $100 for each extra line:
| Line on the bill (example) | Amount | Taxed? | Tax at 8.75% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catering charges | $1,000.00 | Yes | $87.50 |
| Service charge | $100.00 | Yes | $8.75 |
| Mandatory gratuity meeting all three conditions | $100.00 | No | $0.00 |
| Voluntary tip | $100.00 | No | $0.00 |
What should you ask your caterer for?
The tax line on the invoice, the rate used and the address it is based on. If a quote has a service charge or a gratuity line, ask how each is labeled and whether the full gratuity goes to the crew, because the label and the payout decide whether it is taxed. You can check the rate for any address with the state's Jurisdiction/Rate Lookup by Address.
We bring the wood-fired oven to Port Jefferson. See our wedding pizza catering page, then book the truck or call or text (631) 538-7596. Send your date, headcount and address and Mikey will tell you which package fits.
Sources
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: Publication 718, Sales and Use Tax Rates by Jurisdiction
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: Tax Bulletin ST-825, Sales Tax Rates, Additional Sales Taxes, and Fees
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: Tax Bulletin ST-110, Caterers and Catering Services
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: Tax Bulletin ST-320, Gratuities and Service Charges
- Suffolk County: Towns and Villages
