Form IT-665 Instructions: Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Credit (Tax Year 2025)

Form IT-665 is the New York State tax form used to claim the Newspaper and Broadcast Media Jobs Credit. This credit was created to help local newspapers, radio stations, and television broadcasters keep journalists employed during a period when many newsrooms have been cutting staff. If your business publishes a print or digital newspaper, or operates a broadcast station, and you kept qualified journalist positions filled during the tax year, this form is how you claim the corresponding tax credit against your New York State tax liability.

The instructions document, IT665I, walks filers through the eligibility rules, definitions of “eligible employer” and “qualifying journalist,” and the calculation method used to determine the credit amount. It’s issued by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and updated each year to reflect current credit caps and program rules for that specific tax year, in this case 2025.

Who Needs This Form

This credit is aimed specifically at media employers, not the general public or most small businesses. You’d use Form IT-665 if you are:

• An owner or operator of a print or digital newspaper based in New York State
• A radio or television broadcast company licensed to operate in New York
• An employer who maintained journalist positions (reporters, editors, photographers, and similar newsroom roles) throughout the applicable period
• A business that meets the size and revenue thresholds defined in the underlying tax law authorizing this credit

If you don’t operate a media outlet or employ journalists directly, this credit doesn’t apply to you. It’s a narrow, industry-specific incentive rather than a general employment credit.

When Is This Form Used

Form IT-665 is filed along with your New York State income tax or corporation tax return for the year in which you’re claiming the credit. Since the version discussed here covers tax year 2025, it should accompany the return covering that filing period. Employers typically need to track journalist headcount and payroll data throughout the year to have accurate figures ready when it’s time to complete the form.

Because the credit is designed to reward job retention, timing matters. You need documentation showing that qualifying positions were maintained, not just filled briefly, during the periods specified in the instructions. Keeping payroll records organized well before filing season saves a lot of headaches when it’s time to fill this out.

How to Get and Complete the Form

Form IT-665 and its instructions (IT665I) are available directly from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website as a PDF. This particular form is not fillable digitally — you’ll need to print it out and complete it by hand in ink, then attach it to your paper or e-filed return as directed in the instructions.

The instructions guide you through several sections: confirming your eligibility as a media employer, calculating the number of qualifying journalist positions maintained, applying the per-position credit amount allowed for 2025, and transferring the final credit figure to your main New York tax return. Read each section instruction carefully since credit caps and per-employee limits can shift from year to year even when the form’s basic layout doesn’t change.

If you’re also claiming other New York credits in the same filing year, it’s worth reviewing related instructions to make sure you’re not missing anything else your business or household might qualify for. For instance, businesses structured as pass-through entities may want to check the Form IT-653 instructions for the Pass-Through Entity Tax Credit, while companies involved in live entertainment production in New York City might benefit from reviewing the Form IT-654 instructions for the NYC Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit. Individual filers working through their personal New York returns separately might also find the Form NYC-210 instructions for the New York City School Tax Credit useful if they live in the five boroughs.

Since Form IT-665 must be printed and completed by hand, double-check your math before submitting. Errors in credit calculations are one of the most common reasons paper forms get flagged for review or delayed processing. Keep a copy of your completed form along with supporting payroll documentation in case the Department of Taxation and Finance requests verification later.