New York State: Free Income Tax Preparation and E-filing Services for Low-Income Workers (VITA)
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are open across the State to help individuals and families with an annual income of $50,000 or less prepare and file their income tax returns, free of charge, while making sure those eligible receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), refundable tax benefits that put money in people’s pockets. The State’s FreeFile service is also available for eligible New Yorkers to prepare and file their tax returns online.
VITA is a free, IRS-sponsored program to help low- and middle-income workers have their taxes prepared and filed electronically at no cost. VITA also ensures that workers receive all the tax credits to which they are entitled.
People eligible for EITC and CTC have a no-cost option — they can have their returns prepared and filed at a VITA site.
Every county in the New York State has at least one VITA site. View list of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sites by NYS Country.
The federal, New York State and New York City EITCs are refundable tax benefits for working people with low or moderate incomes.
Workers who qualify for the EITCs and file Federal and State tax returns can get back some or all of the income tax that was withheld during the year. They may also get extra cash back from the IRS, New York State and New York City, if their EITCs are higher than the taxes they owe.
The EITCs are not the only tax credits that low- to middle-income taxpayers may be eligible for. The federal and State Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits may be available to working people who pay for child or dependent care. The State Noncustodial Parent Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for noncustodial parents who are current in paying their child support obligations.
