New York lawmakers eye streaming tax, delivery fee

New Yorkers could be facing a tax on digital subscription streaming media services for music, TV and audiobooks as well as a fee for delivery services in order to raise money for mass transit under measures contained in a budget proposal being advanced Thursday in the state Assembly. 
 

The tax and fee provisions come as New York is seeking to raise billions of dollars for mass transit as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the New York City region. 

The Democratic-led Assembly's budget plan would add a 4% state sales tax and a 4% local sales tax for digital streaming products including TV, audiobooks, podcasts, online gaming and music. Cable and satellite TV would be exempt from the tax. 

Money from the streaming taxes is expected to raise millions of dollars, including $29 million in the first year it's in place, for the MTA and eventually as much as $63 million in the coming years.