Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that New York City is providing free tax preparation services to thousands of eligible residents ahead of Tax Day, aiming to safeguard their hard-earned income from predatory tax preparers.
Under the NYC Free Tax Prep program, individuals and couples without dependents earning up to $68,000 in income last year, as well as families making up to $97,000, qualify for free tax preparation services. This translates to nearly half of New York City's population being eligible, with over 110,000 tax returns completed through the program last year.
According to officials, the program connects filers with IRS-certified volunteer accountants who prepare their taxes at no cost. The initiative aims to prevent residents from paying unnecessary fees that often inflate tax-filing costs.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of the program, stating, "In a city where a dignified life is already hard enough to afford... a few added dollars can make all the difference." He highlighted how the program helps New Yorkers retain every dollar they've earned and avoid exorbitant fees that proliferate in the tax industry.
The initiative has saved residents an average of $346 per return, amounting to approximately $38 million total. The program operates year-round at over 140 sites across the city, offering in-person, drop-off, and virtual filing services in multiple languages.
In addition, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is intensifying its efforts to monitor unscrupulous tax preparers who engage in deceptive practices. Commissioner Sam Levine vowed to deploy inspectors across New York to ensure compliance with the law, issue warning letters to unscrupulous preparers, and urge residents to ask for their consumer Bill of Rights before paying anyone to file their taxes.
Residents can learn more about the program and file complaints at DCWP's website.
Under the NYC Free Tax Prep program, individuals and couples without dependents earning up to $68,000 in income last year, as well as families making up to $97,000, qualify for free tax preparation services. This translates to nearly half of New York City's population being eligible, with over 110,000 tax returns completed through the program last year.
According to officials, the program connects filers with IRS-certified volunteer accountants who prepare their taxes at no cost. The initiative aims to prevent residents from paying unnecessary fees that often inflate tax-filing costs.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of the program, stating, "In a city where a dignified life is already hard enough to afford... a few added dollars can make all the difference." He highlighted how the program helps New Yorkers retain every dollar they've earned and avoid exorbitant fees that proliferate in the tax industry.
The initiative has saved residents an average of $346 per return, amounting to approximately $38 million total. The program operates year-round at over 140 sites across the city, offering in-person, drop-off, and virtual filing services in multiple languages.
In addition, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is intensifying its efforts to monitor unscrupulous tax preparers who engage in deceptive practices. Commissioner Sam Levine vowed to deploy inspectors across New York to ensure compliance with the law, issue warning letters to unscrupulous preparers, and urge residents to ask for their consumer Bill of Rights before paying anyone to file their taxes.
Residents can learn more about the program and file complaints at DCWP's website.
I'm literally so done with how hard it is for people to get their taxes sorted out without getting ripped off by those soulless tax prep companies. Like, 110k+ returns completed through this NYC free tax prep program last year? That's insane! 
And the average savings per return? $346?! That's like, a whole extra cup of coffee every week or something 
. The fact that the DCWP is cracking down and working to protect residents from these shady tax preparers is a huge step in the right direction, though 
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I think this is a great move by NYC! 
It makes total sense that they're trying to help people save money on tax preparation fees, especially when you consider how high those costs can be. I mean, who doesn't want to keep more of their hard-earned cash? 
. It's also great to see Mayor Mamdani emphasizing the importance of not wanting to add extra stress to people's lives when it comes to tax season 
I just think its really cool that NYC is offering free tax prep services to so many people - like, its a great example of how governments can come together to help out those who need it most 
. It makes you realize how much money we all lose to unnecessary fees when we try to file our taxes ourselves. And its also super smart of the city to connect people with certified accountants for free - I mean, thats like a win-win situation 
. Its a great reminder that sometimes, we gotta take care of each other and help those who are struggling just a little bit more 
! it's like NYC is really showing its commitment to helping people out, you know? free tax prep services for thousands of residents? that's just amazing 
. kudos to mayor mamdani for prioritizing this initiative and commissioner sam levine for keeping an eye on things 
. it's all about supporting our community, right? 
Now, with all these scams out there, it's a huge relief that they're offering free help. I mean, who needs $346 saved on one return? 
I mean, have you seen the lines for these free tax prep services? It's like everyone wants in on this deal 
. And what about the tech involved in this program? Are they using some fancy AI-powered tax prep software or just handing out calculators like candy 
That's just amazing.
. And the stats are insane - over 110k returns completed last year! That's like, a whole community of people coming together to take control of their finances 
. It just goes to show that with some good planning and community support, we can really make a difference in people's lives 
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The fact that it saves ppl an avg of $346 per return is just, like, wow. 
. And what about those who can't even find a volunteer accountant in their neighborhood? It feels like there are too many strings attached and not enough real solutions to the problem 
... I mean, $68,000 income to qualify for free tax prep? That's just a starting point, right? Anyone making less than that should be worried... 
What's the real motive behind this program, do you think? Is it just about helping people or is there some underlying agenda to control our finances? 
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This program is all about putting those residents first and making sure they don't have to choose between paying bills or paying taxes 
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. 110k+ tax returns done last year? That's huge! And the fact that it's saving people an average of $346 per return is like... woah