Tax Credit Campaign - Office of Financial Empowerment

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In 2002, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg directed the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to create a Citywide coordinated campaign to increase the number of eligible New Yorkers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In the intervening years, New York City has assembled the most comprehensive Coalition in the country, combining the efforts of more than 250 partners to publicize the credit and to help New Yorkers file their taxes for free or at a low cost.

Public Awareness Campaign
Over the past nine years, we have distributed nearly 17 million pieces of EITC Campaign literature to City agencies, post offices, public libraries, and schools and placed advertisements on the subways and buses, in bus shelters and phone kiosks, in McDonald's, and in dozens of newspapers, including community and ethnic media outlets, and on several television channels and radio stations.

Free Tax Preparation
At the City’s free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites New Yorkers have completed more than 500,000 returns, 40% of which were EITC returns. According to the Internal Revenue Service, New Yorkers claimed approximately $3.62 billion in total EITC tax credits and obtained an average EITC refund of $2,163 in 2011.

DCA's Office of Financial Empowerment continues the City's efforts to increase awareness among eligible New Yorkers about tax credits as part of Mayor Bloomberg's aggressive efforts to fight poverty in New York City.

	Working Together The Mayor's NYC Tax Credit Campaign brings together businesses, City agencies, community groups, media partners, nonprofits, and unions. Our common cause: to use education, promotion, and free and low-cost neighborhood-based tax assistance to broaden awareness about the EITC and other tax credits so eligible New Yorkers claim the money for which they qualify. View a list of our partners

	Tax Time Brochures Download brochure (in PDF) Descargue folleto (en PDF) Request copies of the tax brochures

	Donate to the City's Tax Credit Campaign The City's Tax Credit Campaign is supported in part by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. The Mayor's Fund is a not-for-profit organization established to strengthen public programs with support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, donations to the Mayor's Fund are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Learn more about the FUND or make a contribution

	New York Cares New York Cares is recruiting Tax Prep volunteers to help clients file taxes at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Learn more on how to be a volunteer