but i need to possibly talk to someone in new york about taxidermy licenses and fed permits. I found the applications for the federal permits but on the app. it had a section to fill out if a license was required. I would like to be legal come our waterfowl season due to the amount of work i have before it has even started. If someone can tell me if just the fed permit is needed or more is involved that would be greatly appreciated.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
Why would you want us to tell you when you have that information as close as your telephone. Call them. IF New York requires you to have a business license, then the federal permit will have to have a copy of that license attached. MOST states do require at least a business license to do taxidermy for profit and I'd be surprised if NY didn't as well. You should have already gotten your business license regardless. If you want to be professional, you have to act professional. Call your licensing or revenue offices. They're in the blue pages of your phone book.
You need to register your business as a DBA (doing business as) with your County Clerks Office. Its easy to do and of coarse they will want some of your money. You also need to get a tax number with the state for sales tax. If you are doing this as a business you have to collect NYS Sales Tax. Once you have all this then you can apply for your Federal Migratory Bird Permit. I believe you can get all the phone numbers that you need for applications from on line. I would try searching NYS Sales Tax online this will get you all the info you need for that. Then NY Federal Migratory Bird Permit this will get you what you need there. Good Luck geting the permit before October. I believe it will take you longer then that to get it. Jack
That is one good thing King George Pataki did for us although now ALL taxidermists are supposed to submit a copy of their log in records to the state DEC every year for their perusal. I have no clue what this is going to accomplish. This is a requirement designed after the "outbreak" of CWD in NY. If they don't know who's practicing taxidermy, how do they enforce that one? Might be probable cause for a warrant.
Seems to me if the concern was real they would want to limit out of state imports of all kinds from all states that already have CWD. They haven't done that yet. That would also limit income to taxidermists as many receive work from other states. Maybe this log check thing will point them to expanding the restrictions to include imports. I was reading that the first cases were a result of captive newborn fawns being housed in the same places capes were being processed.
for answering my question,I prefer to work with waterfowl and didn't want to run into any problems when sending for my fed permit. I work a full time job and enjoy this as a hobby right now not a business.
First, you should check with the local town folks and make sure the current zoning allows you to do business out of your place of residence.
Second...
Although you aren't required to apply for and obtain a state taxidermy license you are still required to obtain a state sales tax number and file quarterly if you are "charging for your work". If you are not doing that much work and the amount of sales tax, after the first year, is less than a certain amount, they will allow you to then pay per year rather than quarterly. Check your phone book for numbers to the state sales tax office.
Third...
You are also required to file a DBA (doing business as) with your county clerks office "if" the "local zoning" says you "can" do business out of your residence.
Fourth...
If you earn income by doing this you will want to keep good financial records as you are required to file a Schedule "C" for income earned through self employment with your yearly tax return. This might get you some extra money back for a few years depending on how you work it with reinvestment. If you are taking in work from clients and charging for your work, it is considered a business and all of the above is required. You need to show a profit 3 out of 5 years(all it needs to be is $1.00). If you don't show a profit in this time frame your business is considered a hobby and all the benefits of business write-offs are taken away from you. A CPA or other tax advisor will be able to add some other pertainent info to my gibberish.
Fifth...
Since you have a current full-time job you aren't required to pay quarterly income tax, unless you are not having income taxes withheld from your current employer. That's where the Schedule "C" form comes in at the end of the year.
Nobody said this was easy.
And lastly...
It sounds like you are already in violation of the federal rules if you have already accepted work with deposits on ducks from clients without the permit even if this is just your hobby. Just a heads up on that one. You will learn that most taxidermists charge 75-100% deposit on these species as once they are mounted you are stuck with them if the client decides they no longer desire the mount. You can't sell them to recoup your investment.
Good luck with whichever way you choose to go, but like Jack F has stated above, you will be lucky to get that federal permit by the time you need it if you are just applying.
I have copies of the newest log sheets they want us to keep, for cervids. Its due in large part to the CWD scam. They have to do what they thinks best, though, so dont sweat it. Anyone doing biz should be keeping a running list anyway, now its just that you are responsible for sending it in within a certain time after the season. Im told a taxidermy permit system is to follow, so they WILL know where to send those precious papers. Im not sure about the fish only and birds only crowd. Call Special Licenses in Albany.
get the fed permit asap
I have not accepted any money,the work that i have already done has been my birds. For the amount of work i will be doing,although I enjoy it, I think i will just stick with doing my own. THANKS