Get the most out of your tax refund

Connect with organizations that can help make sure you:

Prepare your taxes securely;
Apply for any income-based credits and deductions you’ve earned; and
File for the earned income tax credit (EITC), if you qualify.

Assistance is available onsite through the following organizations (for in-person and drop-off services), as well as online.

If Your Household Income Is Below $97,000, You Can Visit One of These Organizations for Free Tax Preparation in the Five Boroughs

If you have specific deductions or a potentially complex return, call or email your selected tax preparation organization to confirm that they can provide you with free tax preparation.

NYC Free Tax Prep

If you earned $97,000 or less with qualifying children and/or dependents, or $68,000 without qualifying children and/or dependents, in 2025, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment is offering free tax preparation events, regardless of immigration or naturalization status. You can choose in-person or drop-off tax preparation services at sites throughout the five boroughs, and you may also take advantage of online tax preparation services from the comfort of your home. Find out more.

The Campaign for Working Families

If your 2025 household income was below $69,000 (with or without dependents), the Campaign for Working Families, an IRS-certified provider with 20+ years’ experience, is offering free tax preparation events. In-person and drop-off tax preparation services are available at sites throughout the city, and you can also take advantage of online tax preparation services from the comfort of your home. Find out more.

Ariva

If your 2025 household income was below $66,000 (or $35,000 if you are single and have no dependents), Ariva is offering free in-person tax preparation events at sites throughout the Bronx. Find out more.

Claim Your EITC

Find out whether you meet the income requirements for the EITC by using the 2025 tax guidelines listed below:

Income below $61,555 ($68,675 if married, filing a joint return) with three or more dependent children
Income below $57,310 ($64,430 if married, filing a joint return) with two dependent children
Income below $50,434 ($57,554 if married, filing a joint return) with one dependent child
Income below $19,104 ($26,214 if married, filing a joint return) with no dependent children

You CAN receive free tax preparation assistance even if you itemize the following deductions:

Medical and dental expenses
State and local property or sales tax you paid
Interest on your mortgage and/or investments
Gifts to charity
Certain work-related expenses

You CANNOT receive free tax preparation assistance if you:

Are filing a tax return in another state;
Have self-employment income (reported on Form 1099-MISC or from your own business) and incurred deductible expenses over $35,000 to earn your income;
Have rental income;
Have income from cryptocurrency transactions
Pay alimony;
Have capital loss carryover; or
Have additional deductions, forms or schedules other than those mentioned above or listed in “What You Need to Have Your Taxes Prepared,” including large Schedule D (stock market) or Schedule E (real estate).

For all in-person services, the Campaign for Working Families requires an appointment. Some Ariva and NYC Tax Prep sites also require appointments. Visit the organization’s website for details:

Make an Appointment or Get Online Help Now

Option 1: In-person Tax Preparation Services

Filing Your Taxes with the Help of a Tax Expert

In-person services with one-on-one electronic filing (e-filing) are available, at no charge, at tax preparation sites. A knowledgeable Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified tax preparer will sit with you to complete an accurate tax return. The tax preparer will review your information with you and help you file your taxes, as well as file for the EITC if you qualify.

The Campaign for Working Families will provide this service if your 2025 household income was below $69,000 (with or without dependents). Appointments are required. To learn about locations and hours and to make an appointment, visit the Campaign for Working Families website. If you have questions, call (646) 981-6111.
Ariva will also offer this service at several Bronx locations if your 2025 household income was $66,000 or less (or $35,000 or less if you are single and have no dependents). Appointments are required for some locations. Visit the Ariva website to check which locations require appointments and to find instructions for making an appointment. If you have questions, call (718) 292-2983 or email info@ariva.org.
NYC Free Tax Prep, offered by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment, will provide this service if your 2025 household income was below $97,000 (or $68,000 or less if you are single and have no dependents). Some sites require appointments. To learn about locations and hours and to make an appointment, visit the NYC Tax Prep website.

Option 2: Drop-off Tax Preparation Services

E-filing Your Taxes with Onsite Help

Drop-off services with one-on-one over-the-phone assistance and electronic filing (e-filing) are available, at no charge, at tax preparation sites. When you drop off your income- and tax-related documents, a certified tax preparer will scan them so that your taxes can be prepared at a later time. The tax preparer will then call you to review your information and help you file your taxes, as well as file for the EITC if you qualify.

The Campaign for Working Families will provide this service if your 2025 household income was below $69,000 (with or without dependents). To learn about locations and hours and to make an appointment, visit the Campaign for Working Families website. If you have questions, call (646) 981-6111.
NYC Free Tax Prep, offered by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment, will provide this service if your 2025 household income was below $97,000 (or $68,000 or less if you are single and have no dependents). Some sites require appointments. For information about locations, hours and appointments, visit the NYC Tax Prep website.

Here’s how drop-off e-filing works:

Only the person(s) filing will be allowed on the premises (the only exceptions are caregivers and children). You will also need to bring everything listed in the section, “What You Need to Have Your Taxes Prepared.”
A site volunteer will verify your identity, review your income- and tax-related documents and ask you to complete an intake form.
Your documents will be securely scanned so that an onsite certified tax preparer can process your tax return at a later time.
Your certified tax preparer will call you within 48 to 72 hours to go over your tax return and complete the e-filing process.
Your tax return will be electronically filed. You must have access to a computer and an email address because the link to your completed tax return will be sent by email. If you do not have an active email, you will receive an appointment to pick up a copy of your return.

Option 3: Online Tax Preparation Services

E-filing Your Taxes Remotely

As long as your 2025 household income was below $69,000 (with or without dependents), you can take advantage of the Campaign for Working Families’ free Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (Virtual VITA) program for convenient electronic filing (e-filing) from your home. Visit their website for more information.
If your 2025 household income was below $66,000 (or $35,000 if you are single and have no dependents), you can use Ariva’s free Virtual VITA. If you are interested in this option, email info@ariva.org to request virtual tax prep. You will receive a link via email to start the process.
If you earned $97,000 or less with qualifying children and/or dependents, or $68,000 without qualifying children and/or dependents, in 2025, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment will provide this service through NYC Free Tax Prep. For a list of providers, visit the NYC Tax Prep site.

Here’s how online e-filing works:

You must have access to a computer, an email address and a cell phone (preferably a smartphone) to use this option.
You will receive an appointment for a video chat, during which you will verify your identity.
You will then be asked to complete an online intake form and to upload your income- and tax-related documents using a secure link.
A quality reviewer, who is a certified tax preparer, will schedule a call with you to review and confirm the information on your tax return.
After the quality review, you will be asked to sign an authorization to file your tax return so it can be electronically filed. You will then receive an email with the link to your completed tax return.

Other Resources for Onsite Tax Help

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites Near You

If you can’t find a convenient site near you, contact the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to find sites that offer free tax preparation assistance. Call the VITA Site Locator Hotline at (800) 906-9887 or use the VITA Site Locator Tool to locate your nearest VITA site and find hours of operation and contact numbers.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing in-person, drop-off and virtual tax preparation services at no charge to taxpayers with low and moderate incomes, especially those who are age 60 or older. For more information, visit the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide website. (Make sure you read the section that explains what documents you need to have your taxes prepared.) You can also use AARP’s locator tool or call (888) 687-2277 to find a site near you.

Home Care members who need help making an appointment at one of the tax locations may contact their Outreach Coordinator; email OutreachAssistance@1199Funds.org or use the Coordinator contact list to find the right coordinator.

For More Information, Including Free Tax Preparation Sites

For National Benefit Fund and Greater New York Benefit Fund Members

(In English, en español, На русском языке, nan lang Kreyòl, 中文)

Tax Preparation Sites: Long Island | New Jersey | Westchester

For Home Care Members

Regardless of your Eligibility Class, all Home Care members are eligible to receive free tax preparation assistance—even if you don’t receive health benefits.

(In English, en español, На русском языке, nan lang Kreyòl, 中文)

Tax Preparation Sites: Long Island | New Jersey | Westchester