Tax Preparation

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Eligible New Yorkers can use NYC Free Tax Prep to file their federal and state income taxes for free online or in person.

NYC Free Tax Prep can also guide you on how to make sure you get your:

Tax Day is April 18, 2022.

Eligibility

In general, to use NYC Free Tax Prep, you must:

  • Earn $72,000 or less if you have dependents
  • Earn $50,000 or less if you don't have dependents
  • Have a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (some sites can help you apply for an ITIN)
  • Live or work in New York City

You should ask the organization offering NYC Free Tax Prep for more details about the specific services they offer, including if they offer language assistance.

You can go to an NYC Free Tax Prep site to get free help preparing your taxes.

Sites offer different options, including:

  • In-person assistance: An IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will prepare your taxes for you.
  • Drop-off service: You can drop off your tax documents and pick up the completed return later.

At NYC Free Tax Prep sites, you must follow site health guidelines, including wearing a mask and social distancing during the visit. In addition, organizations may conduct screenings or have additional health and safety requirements. You should ask the organization for more details.

Required Documents

You will need the following documents to do taxes:

  • Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, IDNYC card, or passport
  • Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number determination letters (original, copy, or electronic document) for you, your spouse, and your dependents
  • Birth dates for you, your spouse, and your dependents
  • Your 2020 tax return, if available. To request a transcript, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-9946 or visit irs.gov and search “Get Transcript.”
  • New for 2022:
    • If you received advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments in 2021, you need a record of payments:
      • IRS Letter 6419, 2021 Advance CTC
        • Note: A small number of these letters may have included the wrong payment amounts. If you believe this includes you, the IRS encourages you to rely on the amount of payments reflected in your Online Account on IRS.gov. You can get help with this at an NYC Free Tax Prep site.
    • If you received Economic Impact Payments (stimulus payments) in 2020 or 2021, you need a record of payments:
      • Notice 1444: first Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2020
      • Notice 1444-B: second Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2020
      • Notice 1444-C: third Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2021
      • IRS Letter 6475: In early 2022, the IRS will send this letter confirming the total amount of the third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments for tax year 2021.
  • Income statements or forms, including:
    • Form W-2 (wages from each job)
    • Form 1099-G if you received unemployment insurance at any point during 2021. To obtain a form, visit dol.ny.gov and search “1099-G.”
    • Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
    • Form 1099-INT (interest)
    • Form 1099-DIV (dividends)
    • Form 1099-R (retirement plans)
    • Form 1099-B (sale of stock)
    • Form 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income)
    • Form 1098-T (tuition payments, scholarships, and grants to attend a university or technical college)
    • Form 1098-E (interest paid on student loans)
    • Form 1099-C (cancellation of debt)
    • Form 1099-K (deposits and earnings)
    • Form W-2G (gambling winnings)
  • Proof of health insurance (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C) or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate (if applicable) for you, your spouse, and your dependents
  • Child care payment records, including the provider's name, address, and Employer Identification Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, or Social Security number.
  • Cash and non-cash charitable contribution records

To request direct deposit for your refund, you need checking or savings account and routing numbers, which you can find at the bottom of a check.

If you are married and filing jointly, both you and your spouse must sign the required forms.

NYC Free Tax Prep provides two ways to file your taxes for free online with help from IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) / Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers:

  • Virtual Tax Preparation: Use a secure video conference and digital system to give information to a volunteer who will prepare your taxes for you.
  • Assisted Self-Preparation: Use the online service to do your own taxes; a volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer your questions.

Learn more about NYC Free Tax Prep online services.

What You Need

To use the online services, you must have:

  • Access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone
  • A stable internet connection
  • Texting or email (for assisted self-preparation)
  • The ability to download secure video conference software (for virtual tax preparation)

If you live outside New York City, you can call the following telephone numbers for information about free tax preparation assistance and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

  • Agency: AARP Member Earned Income Tax Credit Line
  • Phone Number: (888) 227-7669
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

  • Agency: United States Department of the Treasury
  • Division: Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer's Hotline
  • Phone Number: (800) 829-1040
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 7 AM - 7 PM
  • Automated assistance is available in English and Spanish.

  • Agency: Hudson Valley 211
  • Phone Number: (800) 899-1479
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

  • Agency: New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit Line
  • Phone Number: (800) 323-4400
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

  • Agency: Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit Line
  • Phone Number: (800) 203-1234
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

You can get a brochure with information about free tax filing options.

    Online

    You can download an NYC Free Tax Prep brochure and flyers in English and:

    • Arabic
    • Bengali
    • Chinese
    • French
    • Haitian Creole
    • Hebrew
    • Korean
    • Polish
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • Urdu
    • Yiddish

    Download the NYC Free Tax Prep brochure and flyers.

    By Mail

    You can get a copy of the NYC Free Tax Prep brochure in English and in:

    • Arabic
    • Bengali
    • Chinese
    • French
    • Haitian Creole
    • Korean
    • Polish
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • Urdu

    Call 311 to request a paper copy.

    If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) on your 2021 tax return, the IRS must temporarily hold your refund until February 15. The IRS must hold your entire refund, including any part not from the EITC or ACTC.

    This delay is the result of a law intended to protect you by making sure that you receive the refund you are owed. It also gives the IRS more time to detect and prevent fraud.

    Even though the IRS must temporarily hold refunds for filers who claim the EITC or ACTC, the IRS will still issue most refunds in less than 21 days after February 15.

    Be careful about payment obligations, given the refund delay. This includes using a Refund Anticipation Loan or other loan and preparer fee agreements in which repayment is dependent on your tax refund. Learn more about Refund Anticipation Products on the Tax Preparation Business Tips page.

    Be especially aware of any stated repayment dates. Do not risk more costs by agreeing to a repayment schedule that requires full payment before you get your refund.

    Learn about Federal tax refunds and check refund status.

    The SaveUSA program has ended. If you were a participant and have questions, please contact the Food Bank Paycheck Plus Program or Spring Bank.

    Account holders should speak with their tax preparer about savings options for their refunds this year. You can also schedule an appointment for free financial counseling at an NYC Financial Empowerment Center. For more information, and to schedule an appointment, visit the Financial Counseling page.

    • Agency: Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity
    • Division: Food Bank Paycheck Plus Program
    • Phone Number: (646) 981-6111
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 7 PM; Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM

    • Agency: Spring Bank
    • Phone Number: (718) 879-5000
    • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

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