Get the Most Out of Your Tax Refund

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.

Food Bank For New York City will provide this service if your 2022 household income was below $60,000 (with or without dependents). Appointments are required. To learn about locations and hours and to make an appointment, visit www.FoodBanknyc.org/taxhelp/. If you have questions, call (646) 981-6111.

Ariva will also offer this service at several Bronx locations if your 2022 household income was $60,000 or less (or $32,000 or less if you are single and have no dependents). Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call (718) 292-2983 or e-mail [email protected].

NYC Free Tax Prep, offered by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment, will provide this service if your 2022 household income was below $80,000 (or $56,000 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 www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-your-taxes.page.

E-filing Your Taxes with Onsite Help

Drop-off services with one-on-one telephonic 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.

Food Bank For New York City will provide this service if your 2022 household income was below $60,000 (with or without dependents). Appointments are required. To learn about locations and hours and to make an appointment, visit www.foodbanknyc.org/taxhelp/. If you have questions, call (646) 981-6111.

Ariva will also offer this service at several Bronx locations if your 2022 household income was below $60,000 (or $32,000 if you are single and have no dependents). Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call (718) 292-2983 or email [email protected].

NYC Free Tax Prep, offered by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment, will provide this service if your 2022 household income was below $80,000 (or $56,000 or less if you are single and have no dependents). Some sites require appointments. For information about locations, hours and appointments, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-your-taxes.page.

Here’s how drop-off e-filing works:

1. 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.”
2. A site volunteer will verify your identity, review your income- and tax-related documents, and ask you to complete an intake form.
3. Your documents will be securely scanned so that an onsite certified tax preparer can process your tax return at a later time.
4. Your certified tax preparer will call you within 48 to 72 hours to go over your tax return and complete the e-filing process.
5. 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 tax return.

E-filing Your Taxes Remotely

As long as your 2022 household income was below $60,000 (with or without dependents), Food Bank For New York City also offers the free Virtual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (Virtual VITA) program for convenient electronic filing (e-filing) from your home. Visit www.FoodBankNYC.org/taxhelp for more information.

Ariva will also offer this free service as long as your 2022 household income was below $65,000 (or $45,000 if you are single and have no dependents). Email [email protected] to learn how to e-file from home.

If your 2022 household income was below $80,000 (or $56,000 if you are single and have no dependents), 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 www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-your-taxes.page.

Here’s how online e-filing works:

1. You must have access to a computer, an email address and a cell phone (preferably a smartphone) to use this option.
2. You will receive an appointment for a video chat, during which you will verify your identity.
3. You will then be asked to complete an online intake form and to upload your income- and tax-related documents using a secure link.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites Near You

If you can’t find a convenient site near you, there are additional Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites that offer free tax preparation assistance. Just 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 and virtual tax preparation services at no charge to taxpayers with low and moderate income, especially those who are age 60 or older. For more information, visit https://taxaide.aarpfoundation.org. (Make sure you read the section that explains what documents you need to have your taxes prepared.) You can also call AARP at (888) 687-2277 to find a site near you.