One Month Until Tax Day: Department of Consumer Affairs Reminds Eligible New Yorkers to File Their Taxes for Free

- ADVERTISEMENT -

New Yorkers Earning $66,000 or Less Can File for Free at More Than 150 Sites Citywide or Online

NEW YORK, NY

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lorelei Salas reminds New Yorkers that there is one month left to file taxes before the April 15 deadline. Commissioner Salas encouraged New Yorkers who earned $66,000 or less in 2018 to file for free using NYC Free Tax Prep available at over 150 sites citywide or online.

“Thousands of New Yorkers have already used NYC Free Tax Prep this season to file their tax returns” said DCA Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “As Tax Day quickly approaches and with a lot of uncertainty this tax season, we encourage all eligible New Yorkers to use our services to file their taxes safely and for free. Our IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help New Yorkers understand their tax return and how the new law affects them.”

NYC Free Tax Prep services include more than 150 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and AARP Tax-Aide sites citywide, as well as online self-preparation at nyc.gov/taxprep. New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxprep and use DCA’s interactive map to search for the most convenient free tax site, or text “Taxes” to 42033 (message and data rates may apply) to find the nearest location and receive tax season updates and reminders. A checklist of what is needed to file is available at nyc.gov/taxprep.

Free tax filing options for New York City residents include:

For most sites, New Yorkers with an annual income of $54,000 or less with children – or $30,000 or less without children – can visit a tax site in the five boroughs. At the sites, returns can be prepared in-person by an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer or dropped-off to be completed by the preparer. At the convenient drop-off sites, filers can drop off their tax documents and return later to pick up the completed return or receive it by email.

New Yorkers earning less than $66,000 can file their taxes online for free at nyc.gov/taxprep using MyFreeTaxes. MyFreeTaxes is offered by by H&R Block and United Way Worldwide and gives free access to H&R Block’s Premium tax preparation product. This easy-to-use software includes more forms than with any other free software and uses the highest industry standards to safeguard your information.

NYC Free Tax Prep increases awareness about tax credits that put money back in the pockets of working New Yorkers and helps qualifying New Yorkers file their taxes online for free. EITC is one of the largest poverty reduction programs in the U.S. and is a federal, state and New York City tax credit for qualifying families, non-custodial parents (NYS EITC only), and single individuals who work full time or part time or are self-employed. For working families in New York City, federal EITC claims average $2,411 and can be worth as much as $8,682 when combined with state and City credits. Families with low incomes who are employed or underemployed and have child care costs for children up to age four could also be eligible for up to $1,733 with the NYC CCTC. Combined, these credits can total more than $10,000.

For more information about NYC Free Tax Prep, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311. You can also text “Taxes” to 42033 (message and data rates may apply) to find the nearest location and receive tax season updates and reminders and join the #FreeTaxPrep conversation on @NYCDCA’s social media channels.

Consumers using a paid preparer should ask the preparer for a Consumers’ Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers (also available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian and Spanish) and read it thoroughly before having their taxes prepared, and also get DCA’s Tips Regarding Tax Preparers.

The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCA licenses more than 81,000 businesses in more than 50 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCA protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCA empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCA also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCA and its work, call 311 or visit DCA at nyc.gov/dca or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.