Just Over a Week Until Tax Day: Department of Consumer Affairs Reminds Eligible New Yorkers to File Their Taxes for Free

New Yorkers Earning $64,000 or Less Can File for Free Online and at In Person Sites Citywide

NEW YORK, NY –Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lorelei Salas reminds New Yorkers that with just over a week left to file taxes before the April 18 deadline and the last weekend before the Passover and Easter holidays, they should file soon. New Yorkers who earned $64,000 or less in 2016 can file for free using NYC Free Tax Prep online or at one of the in person sites citywide. Additional hours and appointments continue to be added to accommodate last-minute filers. New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxprep to find the most convenient location and its hours.

“Tax Day is right around the corner so don’t procrastinate any longer—file for free today with  our trusted and professional free tax prep services,” said DCA Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “We know just how important tax refunds can be for hardworking families and individuals struggling to make ends meet. New Yorkers deserve to receive every penny of their hard-earned refund and they can do so by filing for free before the April 18 deadline.”

Taxpayers nationwide seem to be waiting to file as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that returns filed are down four percent compared to this time last year. With only a few days left of the filing season, DCA encourages New Yorkers not to delay filing their taxes. New Yorkers earning less than $64,000 can avoid the last minute rush to tax sites by filing online for free at nyc.gov/taxprep. The online service is quick, easy, and secure and experts are available by phone to answer questions. Step-by-step instructions also help filers claim deductions and credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and NYC Child Care Tax Credit (NYC CCTC).

NYC Free Tax Prep enables qualifying New Yorkers to file their taxes safely. The program also raises awareness about important tax credits, such as EITC, that put money back in the pockets of working New Yorkers. Free tax preparation services are made possible by more than a dozen providers through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (VITA/TCE) and AARP Tax Aide programs. In general, New Yorkers with an annual income of $54,000 or less with children or $30,000 or less without children, can visit free tax sites in the five boroughs where returns are prepared by IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers.

DCA reminds filers to be cautious of last minute tax scams. The IRS has issued several warnings reminding people to be wary of IRS impersonation email and phone scams that request personal banking information and request payments.

New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxprep and use DCA’s interactive map to search for the most convenient free tax site, and now text “Taxes” to 42033 (message and data rates may apply) to find the nearest location and receive tax season updates and reminders.

The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCA licenses more than 81,000 businesses in more than 50 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, DCA 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, DCA 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. DCA also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCA and its work, call 311 or visit DCA at nyc.gov/dca or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.