Consumer and Worker Protection311Search all NYC.gov websites
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 17, 2023
One Month to File: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Reminds New Yorkers to File Their Taxes
All New Yorkers Who Earned $80,000 or Less Encouraged to File for Free with NYC Free Tax Prep
NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today reminded New Yorkers that there’s only one month until Tax Day, which is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. NYC Free Tax Prep helps New Yorkers keep their full refund including valuable tax credits like the enhanced NYC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), at no cost to them. Single-filing New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, or families who earned $80,000 or less are eligible for NYC Free Tax Prep. The newly announced NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers provides year-round tax preparation services for gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often struggle to file taxes and manage financial record keeping and face limited access to capital, banking services, and loans. Self-employed individuals and owners of businesses can work with specially trained preparers on their annual return and, later this year, quarterly estimated tax filings, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, and other resources on record keeping and tax filing. Services are available in-person, online, and drop-off, and in multiple languages. For more information about NYC Free Tax Prep, tax credits and more, visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep or call 311 and say “Tax Prep.”
“With only one month before the deadline to file taxes, DCWP reminds all eligible New Yorkers to file for free with NYC Free Tax Prep,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “NYC Free Tax prep will help you claim all of the credits you’re eligible for at no cost to you. And this year, New Yorkers can keep even more of their hard-earned money thanks to Mayor Adams’ expansion of the NYC EITC!”
NYC EITC
The EITC is available to working families and individuals with low and moderate incomes. The enhancement of the NYC EITC — the first increase in New York City in almost 20 years — fulfills a campaign pledge from Mayor Adams and will help 800,000 New Yorkers who qualify to better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities.
This tax season, the NYC EITC is increasing from a five percent match of the federal EITC levels to 10 to 30 percent, depending on the filers’ income, meaning more money back for more New Yorkers. Under the city’s enhancement of the NYC EITC, a single parent with one child with an income of $14,750 will see the benefit increase from $187 to $933 — a 400% increase. A married couple with two children and an income of $25,000 will see their New York City benefit increase from $308 to $925 under the city payment — a 200% increase.
NYC Free Tax Prep Services include:
- In-Person Tax Prep — sit down with a volunteer preparer: At in-person tax prep sites, knowledgeable IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers help filers complete an accurate tax return. Over 140 sites are open across the city.
- Drop-off Service — drop off documents and pick up completed returns later: With drop-off service, filers can drop off their tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
- Virtual Tax Prep — like in-person free filing but online: Virtual Tax Prep is an online service where an IRS certified VITA/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 — free online tax prep on one’s own or with help: Assisted Self-Preparation allows filers to complete their tax return online on their own 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 2021 adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.
New Yorkers can call 311 or visit New York City’s tax prep website to choose the best filing option for themselves and find the most convenient location if choosing in-person or drop-off tax prep. A checklist of what documents New Yorkers need to bring with them to file and multilingual information about the services are available online. In-person services are available in English, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. Over the phone interpretation for other languages is also available.
Paid Tax Preparers
The city encourages eligible filers to file for free with NYC Free Tax Prep but consumers who use a paid tax preparer should ask the preparer for a Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers (available in multiple languages) and read it carefully before having their taxes prepared. Consumers should also be on alert for predatory tax preparers that overcharge, charge hidden fees, or file their returns without permission.
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 51,000 businesses in more than 40 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, DCWP 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, DCWP 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. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Media Contact:
Michael Lanza / Stephany Vasquez Sanchez
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-0042
press@dcwp.nyc.gov