This year’s federal income tax filing deadline is April 15. See if you qualify for free assistance, and where to find it.
A city-funded free tax prep site at Food Bank for NYC in 2015. (Photo by William Alatriste for the NYC Council)
Tax season is underway, and if you’re like many people who wait until the last minute and aren’t sure where to go, City Limits has your back.
While some large companies advertise filing services as free of charge, avoiding their fees can be laborious and time-consuming. For several years now, both the federal and New York City governments have created simple options for people to file taxes free of charge.
This year, you can file for free through city programs if you live or work in the Big Apple and made $65,000 or less in 2024, or your family made $93,000 or less. This includes undocumented, gig, or paid-in-cash workers, as the U.S. requires all workers to pay taxes on their income.
NYC Free Tax Prep, run by the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), provides free tax preparation services to everyone within the income eligibility range listed above, regardless of their immigration status.
City Limits has prepared this guide to give an overview of the process for those who need help with their tax returns.
Who should file taxes in 2025, and who has to?
Generally, almost everybody who received income in 2024 or who qualifies for a tax credit.
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets the minimum income on which taxes must be paid, considering several factors such as filing status (single, married filing jointly, head of household, qualifying surviving spouse), income, and age.
The best way to know the answer for your specific case is to fill out an IRS questionnaire, available online here.
For example, if your filing status is single, you’re under 65, and your gross income in 2024 was at least $14,600, you must file taxes. For married couples filing jointly, the gross income is $29,200 if both people are under 65, or $32,300 if both are over 65.
If you have over $400 in net earnings in 2024 from self-employment, DCWP explained, then you also have to file taxes.
What documents are needed?
Three sets of documents are needed: a government-issued photo ID (which can include the city’s identification card, IDNYC), a Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), proof of income (via W-2, 1098 or 1099 forms), and banking information. For a complete list of documents, go here.
For self-employed New Yorkers, other documentation of business expenses is required, such as paid invoices, deposited checks, credit card charges, and information about any home office space. DCWP has a toolkit here with the list of necessary documents.
What if you don’t have a Social Security number?
Taxpayers can obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS to file taxes. Apply for an ITIN by submitting an application (IRS Form W-7) with your federal income tax return. There are other ways to apply for an ITIN, such as contacting an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or making an appointment with the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. For a list of tax sites that offer CAA services, visit the IRS website here.
For step-by-step instructions and additional resources, a DCWP spokesperson recommends the city’s ITIN FAQ.
Who’s eligible for free tax preparation in NYC?
DCWP encouraged all self-employed New Yorkers to participate in the city’s workshops and consultations. However, only certain filers are eligible for help through NYC Free Tax Prep: families with an annual income of $93,000 or less, single filers who earned $65,000 or less in 2024, or freelancers and small business owners with business expenses under $250,000.
Where to file taxes for free
More than a dozen organizations around the city serve New Yorkers through the NYC Free Tax Prep Coalition, a DCWP spokesperson explained. This is the complete list of organizations providing these services free of charge:
To find the best location for you, call 311 or visit the NYC Free Tax Prep program map or the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Services are available in different languages, so check if they’re offered at your preferred location.
These free services are available not only at the organizations’ locations, but also at some NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth locations, as well as in the New York, Brooklyn, and Queens public library systems.
A Brooklyn Public Library spokesperson recommended making an appointment for these services and noted that only the Greenpoint Library location accepts walk-ins.
Many New York Public Library sites are nearly booked through the end of the season, a spokesperson explained, so they have stopped accepting walk-ins. The Queens Public Library’s list of locations and calendar are here.
How can people access free filing services?
In person, by dropping off documents at VITA locations and picking up a completed return, or virtually.
There are a few options to choose from if you go the virtual route. To do it on your own, visit GetYourRefund.org’s and choose “File Myself.” You can also file with help at GetYourRefund.org by creating an account, submitting all documentation, and receiving assistance from an RS-certified VITA/TCE preparer. There’s also a third option, which is assisted self-prep: you fill out your return on your own, but can access support over the phone or by email if you need it. You can search for organizations that provide such assistance through the city’s list of tax help sites here.
Launched in 2019, City Limits’ “What You Need to Know,” series aims to provide New York’s immigrant and Latino communities with practical information and explainers on a variety of topics. A Spanish-language version of this piece is forthcoming. Is there an issue you think we should tackle next? Please send your suggestions to Daniel@citylimits.org.
To reach the reporter behind this story, contact Daniel@citylimits.org. To reach the editor, contact Jeanmarie@citylimits.org
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