The New York Excess Line Broker license is the credential the New York Department of Financial Services issues to a producer who places coverage with non-admitted insurers when the admitted market cannot or will not write the risk. New York calls it an “Excess Line” license rather than a “Surplus Lines” license, but the two terms describe the same regulatory function under New York Insurance Law § 2105 and 11 NYCRR Part 27.
A 2024 Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) report counted more than $9.2 billion in stamped excess line premium across roughly 350,000 transactions, and ELANY rejects close to 7% of items on first submission for affidavit and tax-allocation errors. That rejection rate is the single biggest reason brokers lose money on placements they thought were finished.
- 📋 The exact fields on the NIPR application and the DFS-required attachments
- 🧮 How the 3.6% premium tax and 0.17% ELANY stamping fee actually get calculated
- 🖊️ Line-by-line walkthrough of the Part A diligent-effort affidavit
- 🗓️ Every deadline, including the March 15 annual premium tax statement
- ⚖️ The §2118 penalties that apply when a filing is late, short, or missing
What the Excess Line Broker License Is and Who Must File It
The Excess Line Broker license authorizes a person or firm to procure insurance from insurers that are not licensed (not “admitted”) in New York, but only after a diligent effort to place the risk in the admitted market has failed. The license is governed by § 2105 of the New York Insurance Law and the placement rules sit in § 2118. The DFS issues the license, and ELANY acts as the stamping office that reviews every excess line placement before it becomes a clean filing.
Anyone who solicits, negotiates, or sells coverage from a non-admitted carrier on a New York risk needs this license. That includes individual brokers, business entities (LLCs, corporations, partnerships), and non-resident brokers who place New York risks from outside the state. Resident applicants apply through the NIPR Uniform Application, and non-residents apply through the same NIPR portal under reciprocity rules in 11 NYCRR Part 27.5.
A broker who places a non-admitted policy without first holding the excess line license commits an unauthorized insurance violation under § 2117. The penalty can include personal liability for the unpaid claim, fines up to $1,000 per transaction, and license revocation. The license is not optional and cannot be cured retroactively.
The application most brokers fill out is the NIPR Uniform Individual Application (Form NIPR-INDV, current revision dated 11/2023) or the Uniform Business Entity Application (Form NIPR-BE, 11/2023). New York adds three state-specific addenda: the Excess Line Broker Supplement, the Trust Account Certification, and the $1,000 Surety Bond required by 11 NYCRR § 27.6.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Pull every supporting document together before opening the NIPR portal. The session times out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and missing one attachment forces you to restart fingerprint scheduling, bond procurement, or the affidavit upload. The DFS Excess Line Broker checklist lists the required items, but it does not explain why each one matters.
- Proof of an active New York Property & Casualty Broker license held for at least one year. Without 12 months of P&C history, the DFS will deny the excess line application under § 2105(a). Print the license verification from the DFS Licensee Search.
- Fingerprint receipt from IdentoGO (service code 154TJC). New York uses IdentoGO by IDEMIA for the criminal-history check; missing the receipt freezes the application at “pending fingerprints” indefinitely.
- $1,000 surety bond, NAIC-approved form, naming the Superintendent of Financial Services as obligee. A bond made out to “DFS” or “New York State” is rejected.
- Original $500 license fee receipt (paid through NIPR by credit card or ACH). Cash is not accepted.
- Trust Account Certification showing a separate New York-domiciled fiduciary account for premiums collected. A commingled operating account is grounds for denial.
- Three years of business and residence addresses with no gaps. Even a one-month gap triggers a manual review that adds 4–6 weeks.
- FEIN (for entity applicants) or SSN (for individuals) matched exactly to IRS records. A mismatch causes a name/TIN failure that DFS cannot correct without a new W-9.
- Designated Licensed Producer (DLP) name and NPN for entity applicants. The DLP must already hold an active New York excess line license.
- Resident-state license certification for non-residents, dated within 90 days. An older certification is treated as expired.
- Child support certification statement under Social Services Law § 111-b. A “yes” answer to arrears blocks the license until cleared by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The license itself is not a single PDF — it is a packet built inside the NIPR portal plus three New York attachments. Start at the NIPR licensing center and choose “New York” as the resident or non-resident state. Select the “Excess Line Broker” qualification (LOA code 22 for individuals, 22 for business entities) on the Uniform Application screen.
The three New York attachments come from different agencies. Download the Excess Line Broker Supplement from the DFS forms library. Get the surety bond template from any NAIC-listed surety, and pull the trust account certification template from ELANY’s broker resources.
Save every PDF locally before uploading. NIPR strips metadata on upload, and DFS reviewers sometimes ask for the original signed copy. Keep them in a folder named with the applicant’s NPN so you can find them during a future renewal or audit.
For the annual premium tax filing, brokers use the Excess Line Premium Tax Statement (DFS Form EL-MGT) filed through the ELANY Electronic Filing System (EFS). The EFS portal also issues the stamping receipts that prove a placement was reported.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the New York Excess Line Broker License Line by Line
The walkthrough below follows the NIPR Uniform Individual Application screen order, then covers the three New York attachments in the order DFS reviews them. Each H3 covers one field or logical group. Field labels match the printed form exactly.
Section 1 — Applicant Type
The form asks whether you are applying as an individual, a sole proprietor, or a business entity. Select the option that matches your tax status, not your marketing label. If you operate as “Marcus Hale Insurance” but file taxes on a Schedule C, you are an individual, not a business entity.
To answer, click the radio button for the matching type. If you choose “Business Entity,” NIPR pivots the application to the BE form and asks for the FEIN. If you choose “Individual,” it stays on the INDV path and asks for the SSN.
Marcus Hale, a New Jersey-resident broker adding a New York non-resident license, selects “Individual.” He files taxes personally and has no LLC.
A nuance trips up sole proprietors with a DBA. The DBA goes in Section 6 (business name), not here. Putting the DBA in Section 1 forces the system to treat the application as an entity filing and demands an FEIN.
The most common mistake is selecting “Business Entity” when only the marketing brand is incorporated. The consequence is that DFS sends a deficiency notice asking for the entity’s certificate of formation, which the applicant cannot produce, and the application sits in pending status for 30+ days.
A misconception is that “Sole Proprietor” is a third category in New York. It is not — for licensing purposes, sole proprietors file as individuals.
Section 2 — Full Legal Name
The form asks for the applicant’s legal name as it appears on the Social Security card or, for entities, on the IRS EIN letter. New York cross-checks names against SSA and IRS databases.
Enter the name in this order: Last, First, Middle. Use no nicknames, no initials in place of full names, and no punctuation in suffixes. Priya R. Shah writes “Shah, Priya, Rohini” — not “P. Shah” and not “Priya Shah Esq.”
A nuance is that married applicants who took a spouse’s name must use whichever name the SSA currently has on file. If the SSA still shows the maiden name, the application must use the maiden name even if the driver’s license shows the married name.
The most common mistake is entering a preferred name. The direct consequence is a name/SSN mismatch that triggers a 4-week hold while the applicant updates SSA records.
A misconception is that DFS will accept the driver’s license name. It will not — SSA is the controlling record under § 2103.
Section 3 — National Producer Number (NPN) and SSN/FEIN
The NPN is the unique number NIPR assigned when the applicant first held any insurance license anywhere. The SSN or FEIN is the federal tax identifier.
Enter the 8- or 10-digit NPN with no dashes. Enter the SSN as nine digits with dashes (123-45-6789) or the FEIN as nine digits with one dash (12-3456789).
Coastline Brokers LLC enters its FEIN as 47-1234567 and the firm NPN issued when it first licensed in Connecticut.
A nuance involves applicants with two NPNs. NIPR sometimes generates a second NPN when an applicant moves states; merge the duplicates by emailing licensing@nipr.com before submitting, or DFS will see a producer history gap.
The common mistake is mistyping the SSN. The consequence is an automatic IRS TIN-match failure that can take three weeks to resolve.
A misconception is that the NPN is the same as the New York license number. It is not — the NPN is national, while the New York license number is state-specific and issued only after approval.
Section 4 — Residence Address and Mailing Address
The form asks for the physical address where the applicant lives (not a PO Box) and a mailing address that may be different. New York mails the license to the mailing address on file.
Enter the residence as a street address. Janet Romero writes 412 Madison Avenue, Apt 6B, New York, NY 10017 in the residence field and a separate PO Box in the mailing field.
A nuance covers brokers who recently moved. Use the current residence even if it is less than 30 days old, and report the prior address in the residence-history block (Section 5).
The common mistake is using the office address as the residence. The consequence is a fingerprint mismatch — IdentoGO compares the residence on the NIPR application to the address printed on the fingerprint receipt.
A misconception is that a PO Box is acceptable for residence. It is not, under § 2103(d).
Section 5 — Three-Year Residence and Employment History
This block asks for every residence and every employer for the last 36 months, with no gaps longer than 30 days.
List residences in reverse chronological order with start and end dates as MM/YYYY. List employers the same way, including self-employment. David Kim lists 06/2023 – Present, Self-Employed, Excess Line Broker and the prior W-2 role before that.
A nuance applies to applicants with overseas history. Foreign addresses must include the country and a translated street address; DFS does not accept addresses written only in non-Roman characters.
The common mistake is leaving a gap labeled “unemployed.” DFS treats a gap as a red flag. The consequence is a manual review that adds 4–6 weeks.
A misconception is that gaps under 30 days do not need to be explained. Any gap, even one day, requires an entry — use “between residences” with the dates filled in.
Section 6 — Business Name and DBA
The form asks for the trade name the applicant uses with the public. This is the field where the DBA goes.
Enter the registered DBA exactly as filed with the New York Department of State. Marcus Hale enters Hale Risk Advisors because that DBA is on file in New Jersey and registered as a foreign DBA in New York.
A nuance covers brokers with multiple DBAs. List the primary DBA here and use Section 12 (additional disclosures) for the rest.
The common mistake is entering an unregistered DBA. The consequence is rejection under General Business Law § 130, which requires DBAs to be registered before use.
A misconception is that an LLC name and DBA are interchangeable. They are not — the LLC name goes on the entity application; the DBA is separate.
Section 7 — Background Questions (Questions 1A through 1L)
This is the disclosure block. Twelve yes/no questions ask about criminal history, regulatory actions, civil judgments, bankruptcies, child support arrears, and unpaid taxes.
Answer each with “Yes” or “No.” A “Yes” requires an attached explanation, certified court documents, and (for criminal matters) a certificate of relief from disabilities if applicable.
Aisha Bennett answers “Yes” to question 1B because of a 2018 misdemeanor and uploads the certified disposition plus a personal statement.
A nuance is that sealed convictions in some states must still be disclosed in New York. § 2110 gives DFS broad discretion, and failure to disclose a sealed matter is a separate ground for denial.
The common mistake is answering “No” to a question about administrative actions because the applicant believes a private letter of caution does not count. It does. The consequence is denial for misrepresentation under § 2110(a)(2).
A misconception is that expunged records can be ignored. They cannot — disclose, then attach proof of expungement.
Section 8 — Lines of Authority
The form asks which qualifications the applicant is requesting. For excess line, check “Excess Line” (sometimes labeled “Surplus Lines” in NIPR’s dropdown).
Tick the Excess Line box. If the applicant is also applying for or maintaining a P&C broker line, leave that box checked too — the excess line license requires an underlying P&C license.
Priya Shah checks Excess Line and leaves her existing P&C broker LOA checked.
A nuance is that NIPR’s national label is “Surplus Lines” but New York’s internal label is “Excess Line.” They map to the same LOA code.
The common mistake is unchecking the P&C line by accident. The consequence is that the underlying license cancels and the excess line application auto-denies.
A misconception is that the excess line LOA covers life and health risks. It does not — it is property and casualty only.
Section 9 — Fingerprint Receipt
The form asks for the IdentoGO transaction control number (TCN) that proves fingerprints were captured.
Enter the 13-character TCN exactly as printed. Schedule the appointment using DFS service code 154TJC at IdentoGO before completing this field.
Marcus Hale enters NY1234567890ABC — the TCN from his Newark IdentoGO appointment.
A nuance is that out-of-state applicants can use a hard-card fingerprint card mailed to IdentoGO, but the TCN is not generated until IdentoGO scans it.
The common mistake is using an FBI receipt from another state’s licensing process. New York requires a New York TCN.
A misconception is that fingerprints from a prior P&C application carry over. They do not — excess line requires a fresh print under § 2105.
Section 10 — $1,000 Surety Bond
The Excess Line Broker Supplement asks for bond company name, bond number, and bond effective date. The bond must be continuous (no expiration) until canceled by 60 days’ written notice.
Enter the surety’s NAIC code, the bond number from the surety’s confirmation, and the effective date as MM/DD/YYYY. The obligee line must read exactly Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York.
Coastline Brokers LLC enters NAIC 12345, Bond #SB-998877, Effective 06/01/2026.
A nuance covers term bonds. New York will reject any bond with a fixed end date — only continuous bonds satisfy 11 NYCRR § 27.6.
The common mistake is naming “DFS” or “the State of New York” as obligee. The consequence is rejection and a $35 surety re-issuance fee.
A misconception is that a $1,000 cash deposit can substitute. It cannot — a bond is required.
Section 11 — Trust Account Certification
The supplement requires certification of a separate New York-domiciled fiduciary account where the broker holds premiums in trust.
Enter the bank name, routing number, account number (last four digits only), and the words Premium Trust Account in the account-purpose field. Sign and date the certification.
Janet Romero enters Chase Bank, Routing 021000021, Account **6789, Premium Trust Account.
A nuance is that the bank must have a New York branch under § 2120. An out-of-state-only bank is not acceptable.
The common mistake is using the operating account. The consequence is licensure denial and, if discovered post-license, a § 2120 commingling violation that can lead to revocation.
A misconception is that a separate ledger inside one bank account counts as a trust account. It does not — physical separation is required.
Section 12 — Designated Licensed Producer (for Entities)
Entity applicants must name a DLP — a natural person who already holds an active New York excess line license and who is responsible for the entity’s compliance.
Enter the DLP’s NPN, license number, and effective date as DLP. The DLP must sign the supplement.
Coastline Brokers LLC designates Marcus Hale, NPN 12345678, NY License #LB-987654, DLP effective 06/15/2026.
A nuance is that the DLP can be changed later by filing a Designated Producer Change form, but coverage gaps of even one day expose the entity to § 2117 violations.
The common mistake is naming a DLP whose excess line license is pending. The consequence is automatic rejection — the DLP must be active, not pending.
A misconception is that one DLP can serve multiple entities. They can, but each entity needs its own filing.
Section 13 — Signature, Attestation, and Date
The application closes with an attestation under penalty of perjury that every answer is true.
Type the full legal name into the e-signature box, check the attestation box, and enter the date as MM/DD/YYYY. The date must be the day of signing — backdating voids the application.
David Kim types David S. Kim, checks the box, and enters 05/27/2026.
A nuance is that entity applications need both the entity officer’s signature and the DLP’s signature.
The common mistake is signing with a digital image rather than typing. NIPR rejects image signatures.
A misconception is that the attestation is boilerplate. It is not — false attestations are a separate fraud charge under Penal Law § 175.35.
Part A Affidavit — Diligent Effort Declination Statement
After license issuance, every placement requires a Part A affidavit signed by the broker certifying that three admitted carriers were approached and declined the risk (unless the coverage is on the ELANY Export List).
For each declination, enter the carrier name, NAIC number, contact person, date of decline, and reason. Marcus Hale writes Travelers, NAIC 25658, John Reilly Underwriter, 05/20/2026, Class declined — coastal wind exposure outside appetite.
A nuance is that a “no quote” from an automated rater does not count as a declination. The carrier must affirmatively decline.
The common mistake is listing the same MGA three times under different brand names. The consequence is ELANY rejection because the three declinations must be from three independent admitted carriers.
A misconception is that export-list classes still need three declinations. They do not — items on the export list skip Part A entirely.
Annual Premium Tax Statement (Form EL-MGT)
Brokers file the annual statement through ELANY’s EFS portal by March 15 each year, reporting all gross premiums written in the prior calendar year.
Enter total gross premium, deduct return premiums, multiply taxable premium by 3.6% for the premium tax under § 2118(d), and add 0.17% for the ELANY stamping fee. Pay through the EFS ACH module.
David Kim reports $1,200,000 gross premium, $50,000 return premium, $1,150,000 taxable premium, $41,400 premium tax, $1,955 stamping fee.
A nuance is that policies covering multiple states require allocation under the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act (NRRA). New York is the home state only when the insured’s principal place of business is New York.
The common mistake is reporting net premium instead of gross. The consequence is a tax shortfall plus interest at 7.5% per year.
A misconception is that the stamping fee is tax-deductible to the insured. It is a regulatory fee, not a tax — read the policy disclosure carefully.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1 — Marcus Hale, Non-Resident Individual Adding NY Excess Line
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Applicant Type | Individual |
| Legal Name | Hale, Marcus, Andrew |
| NPN / SSN | 12345678 / 123-45-6789 |
| Residence Address | 88 Riverside Drive, Newark, NJ 07104 |
| Resident State License | NJ P&C Broker, License #4567890, issued 03/2022 |
| Lines of Authority | Excess Line + P&C Broker (NY non-resident) |
| Fingerprint TCN | NY1234567890ABC (IdentoGO Newark, 05/15/2026) |
| Surety Bond | NAIC 12345, Bond #SB-998877, effective 06/01/2026 |
| Trust Account | Chase NY, Routing 021000021, Acct ****6789 |
| Signature / Date | Marcus A. Hale / 05/27/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Priya Shah, NY Resident First-Time Excess Line Applicant
| Form Section | What Priya Enters |
|---|---|
| Applicant Type | Individual |
| Legal Name | Shah, Priya, Rohini |
| NPN / SSN | 87654321 / 987-65-4321 |
| Residence Address | 245 East 80th Street, Apt 4F, New York, NY 10075 |
| Underlying License | NY P&C Broker since 04/15/2024 (>1 year) |
| Lines of Authority | Excess Line + existing P&C |
| Fingerprint TCN | NY9876543210XYZ (IdentoGO Manhattan, 05/10/2026) |
| Surety Bond | NAIC 22345, Bond #SB-445566, effective 06/15/2026 |
| Trust Account | Citibank NY, Routing 021000089, Acct ****1122 |
| Signature / Date | Priya R. Shah / 05/27/2026 |
Scenario 3 — Coastline Brokers LLC, Business Entity Applying for Firm License
| Form Section | What Coastline Enters |
|---|---|
| Applicant Type | Business Entity (LLC) |
| Legal Entity Name | Coastline Brokers LLC |
| FEIN / Firm NPN | 47-1234567 / 99887766 |
| Principal Office | 100 Wall Street, Floor 22, New York, NY 10005 |
| Designated Licensed Producer | Marcus Hale, NPN 12345678, NY EL License #LB-987654 |
| Lines of Authority | Excess Line (Entity) |
| Surety Bond | NAIC 33456, Bond #SB-771122, effective 06/20/2026 |
| Trust Account | JPMorgan, Routing 021000021, Acct ****3344 |
| Officers / Owners >10% | Sarah Chen (CEO, 60%), Marcus Hale (CCO, 40%) |
| Signature / Date | Sarah Chen, CEO + Marcus Hale, DLP / 05/27/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Online via NIPR. This is the preferred channel. Submit through the NIPR application portal. The fee is $500 paid by credit card or ACH. Processing takes 10–20 business days once fingerprints clear. NIPR emails a confirmation number that serves as proof of filing — save it.
DFS Direct Portal. Some attachments (the bond original, certain disclosures) are uploaded to the DFS Portal. There is no separate fee. Processing runs concurrently with NIPR. Proof of filing is the portal upload receipt PDF.
Mail (paper backup only). Mail to NYS Department of Financial Services, Licensing Bureau, One State Street, New York, NY 10004-1511. Paper filings cost $500 by certified check payable to Superintendent of Financial Services. Processing takes 6–8 weeks. Send certified mail with return receipt as proof.
ELANY EFS for placements and annual tax. Stamping fees and the March 15 annual premium tax statement go through efs.elany.org. Stamping fee is 0.17% of premium; premium tax is 3.6%. Both are paid by ACH. EFS issues a digital stamp that is the broker’s proof of compliant filing.
In person. DFS no longer accepts walk-in license applications at One State Street as of January 2024. In-person filing was discontinued in favor of the portal.
What Happens After You File
Within 24 hours of NIPR submission, the application moves to “Pending — Background Check.” The DFS Licensing Bureau pulls the IdentoGO results, the resident-state certification, and the FEIN/SSN match. If anything is missing, DFS issues a deficiency notice through SIRCON within 5 business days.
If the application is clean, DFS issues the license electronically and emails the license number. New York no longer mails paper licenses by default — print the digital license from the DFS Licensee Search. The license becomes effective the date DFS approves it, not the date the broker applied.
Expect 10–20 business days for clean applications and 4–8 weeks for any application with a “Yes” disclosure or a residence-history gap. ELANY enrollment is automatic once the license issues — the broker receives an EFS welcome packet within 3 business days.
The license is valid for two years and renews on the broker’s birth month (or formation month for entities). Renewal fees are $500 plus 15 hours of approved CE, including 3 hours of ethics, under § 2104.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Listing only two declinations on the Part A affidavit — ELANY rejects the placement and the broker is uncovered until cured.
- Using a term-limited surety bond — DFS denies the license at the bond-review step.
- Naming “New York State” instead of “Superintendent of Financial Services” as obligee — bond is rejected and must be re-issued.
- Skipping the trust account certification — application denial under § 2120.
- Reporting net premium instead of gross on Form EL-MGT — tax shortfall plus 7.5% interest and possible 10% penalty.
- Filing the annual statement after March 15 — late filing penalty under § 2118 of $500 plus daily interest.
- Treating the export list as a blanket exemption from Part A — items not listed still need three declinations, and improper Part A omission voids the placement.
- Backdating the e-signature — voids the application and is treated as fraud under Penal Law § 175.35.
- Using a sealed-conviction “No” answer in Section 7 — auto-denial for misrepresentation under § 2110.
- Forgetting to update the DLP after a personnel change — entity loses excess line authority on the DLP’s departure date.
- Paying the stamping fee out of escrow but reporting it as a tax — accounting mismatch leads to ELANY audit.
- Submitting fingerprints under the wrong service code (not 154TJC) — DFS cannot match the results, and the broker pays for a second appointment.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s – Do hold the underlying P&C broker license for at least 12 months before applying because § 2105(a) makes that experience a hard prerequisite. – Do schedule fingerprints under service code 154TJC so the results map to the excess line license. – Do keep three independent declinations on file for every placement because ELANY audits placements up to three years after the fact. – Do reconcile the trust account monthly because § 2120 violations are strict liability. – Do file the EL-MGT statement by March 15 because the late penalty starts on March 16 with no grace period. – Do save NIPR confirmation emails for at least 6 years because they prove the filing date if DFS records get out of sync.
Don’ts – Don’t use a PO Box as a residence address because § 2103(d) requires a physical street address. – Don’t list the same MGA three times under different program names because ELANY treats those as one declination. – Don’t accept term bonds because only continuous bonds satisfy 11 NYCRR § 27.6. – Don’t commingle premium with operating funds because that is an automatic § 2120 violation. – Don’t assume export-list items skip both Part A and the stamping fee — they skip Part A only. – Don’t sign the attestation before the bond is in force because the attestation date controls.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of Filing Pro Se – Saves $500–$1,500 in licensing-service fees. – Builds direct familiarity with NIPR and ELANY systems the broker will use forever. – Faster turnaround for clean applications because there is no third-party handoff. – Direct access to deficiency notices in real time. – Full control over scheduling and document quality.
Cons of Filing Pro Se – One missed disclosure can cost weeks of processing time. – Self-filers more often misname the bond obligee. – No professional eye on the Part A affidavit format. – Tax-allocation errors on multistate risks are common without NRRA expertise. – No backup if the broker is unavailable when DFS issues a deficiency notice.
FAQs
Do I need a P&C broker license before I can apply for the excess line license?
Yes — § 2105 requires an active New York P&C broker license held continuously for at least 12 months before the excess line application is accepted.
Can I place excess line business while my application is pending?
No — placements made before the license issues are unauthorized insurance under § 2117 and expose the broker to personal liability for the claim.
Does the export list really eliminate the diligent-effort requirement?
Yes — items on the ELANY Export List skip Part A, but the broker still owes the 3.6% premium tax and 0.17% stamping fee.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the legal-name field?
Yes — use whichever name the Social Security Administration currently has on file, regardless of what the driver’s license shows.
Should the bond list “DFS” as obligee?
No — the obligee line must read exactly Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York; “DFS” alone is rejected.
Do I need to disclose a sealed misdemeanor in Section 7?
Yes — § 2110 gives DFS access to sealed records, and non-disclosure is a separate ground for denial even if the underlying offense is minor.
Can I use my operating account as the trust account?
No — § 2120 requires a physically separate fiduciary account at a New York-branched bank; a ledger split inside one account is not enough.
Is the $500 license fee refundable if I withdraw?
No — NIPR and DFS retain the fee whether the application is approved, denied, or withdrawn.
Do non-resident brokers need a New York surety bond?
Yes — every excess line broker, resident or not, must post the $1,000 continuous bond under 11 NYCRR § 27.6.
Can one Designated Licensed Producer cover multiple firms?
Yes — but each entity must file its own DLP designation, and the DLP must hold an active New York excess line license for each filing.
Does the March 15 annual deadline apply if I had no placements last year?
Yes — even brokers with zero excess line premium must file a “no activity” Form EL-MGT to avoid the late filing penalty.
Do I report gross or net premium on the annual tax statement?
Yes — report gross premium written, then subtract return premiums on the form itself; reporting net causes a tax shortfall plus 7.5% interest.
Is fingerprint reciprocity from another state acceptable?
No — New York requires a fresh print under IdentoGO service code 154TJC; prints from another state’s licensing process do not transfer.
Can I e-sign with an image of my signature?
No — NIPR requires a typed e-signature in the attestation field; image signatures are rejected and the application must be re-submitted.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out New York DFS Individual Insurance Producer License + FAQs
- How to Fill Out New York DFS Insurance Producer License – Business + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan DIFS Surplus Lines Agent License (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Massachusetts Surplus Lines Broker License (w/ Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington OIC Surplus Line Broker License + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington OIC Surplus Lines Broker License (+ FAQs)