| Photo by Olga DeLawrence on Unsplash
NEW YORK- A free, in-person, and virtual tax preparation is available for New Yorkers who earn $85,000 or less annually and file as a family, or those who earn $59,000 or less annually and file as an individual or couple without dependents is now available. Select NYC Health + Hospitals sites offer Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali support, and virtual tax preparation is also available in Spanish.
Individuals should schedule an appointment for in-person services and bring identification and proof of income. For virtual services, individuals can upload their documents and meet virtually with a tax preparer to review their tax returns before submission. A full checklist of the documents needed to file taxes is available online.
“Every day, we work to make this city more livable for working-class New Yorkers, and by offering free tax preparation at NYC Health + Hospitals sites, we are again delivering for families across the five boroughs,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “We went to Albany to secure the first increase in the city’s Earned Income Tax Credit in 20 years, and we are thrilled to offer New Yorkers NYC Free Tax Prep to help them receive their fair share this tax season.”
NYC Free Tax Prep provides free, professional tax preparation to help New Yorkers keep their full refund, including valuable tax credits like the recently enhanced New York City Earned Income Tax Credit.
NYC Free Tax Prep initiative is part of the service provided by the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) in partnership with BronxWorks, Grow Brooklyn, Urban Upbound, and Code for America’s GetYourRefund initiative.
NYC Free Tax Prep Services include:
- In-Person Tax Preparation: At in-person tax prep sites, knowledgeable Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers help filers complete an accurate tax return. More than 130 sites across the city will be open throughout the season.
- Drop-Off Service: With drop-off service, filers can drop off their tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
- Virtual Tax Preparation: Virtual Tax Preparation is an online service where an IRS-certified VITA or TCE volunteer preparer will video conference with filers to help prepare their tax return using a secure digital system. Filers can submit photos or scans of tax documents to the preparer, confirm their identity, and complete their return by video call with a preparer. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, a stable internet connection, and the ability to download secure video conference software.
- Assisted Self-Preparation: Assisted Self-Preparation allows filers to complete their tax return online independently, and an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer questions. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, a stable internet connection, an email address, and their 2022 adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.
NYC Free Tax Prep Services are available now at over 130 VITA and TCE sites around the city. The IRS will accept returns through April 15, 2024. New Yorkers can call 311 or visit the NYC Free Tax Prep website and use DCWP’s interactive map to search for the most convenient free tax site nearby.
“For over 20 years, NYC Free Tax Prep has helped file hundreds of thousands of tax returns,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “This year, we’re helping filers keep more of their hard-earned money with the enhanced New York City Earned Income Tax Credit and our expanded NYC Free Tax Prep services for self-employed New Yorkers.
-With Jay Domingo/PDM
