NYC Provides Free Help With Tax Prep That Dramatically Increases New Yorkers’ Tax Refunds

By Yehudit Garmaise

"New Yorkers who take advantage of New York City’s new free tax preparation services can see dramatic increases in their tax refunds this season," said Vilda Vera Mayuga, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), on Friday.

“If you made $80,000 or less as a family, or $56,000 or less as an individual in 2022, I urge you to take advantage of New York City free tax prep so you can avoid paying fees, claim important tax credits, and get the refund amount to which you are entitled," she said.

One year after Mayor Eric Adams first pushed New York legislators to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), he now wants to make sure New Yorkers can properly claim it.

“The EITC will reach more than 800,000 New Yorkers, which is a significant number of people,” said the mayor with excitement. “We are going to help them pay for essential food, bills, rent, all the things for which New Yorkers are asking to get assistance.”

The DCWP’s goal, the mayor said, “is to show New Yorkers that under the EITC, single parents with one child with incomes of $14,750, we see their benefits increase from $187 to $933, which is a 400% increase, and that's real money.”

New Yorkers who are married, have two children, and have incomes of $25,000 will see their tax benefits increase from $300 to $925.

Mayor Adams pointed out that he has heard many times that many New Yorkers often do not know how to access the numerous government programs that are available to them, and he wants to use social media and advertising to provide “information and assistance for people to navigate the system and get the resources,” said the mayor.

Mayor Adams lamented that more New Yorkers do not apply for the programs available to them during difficult times, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE), and reduced-fare MetroCards.

"New Yorkers who would like to get free help with filing their taxes can call 311, click on nyc.gov/taxprep, or head to one of the 100 locations that are stationed citywide,” said Mayuga. “It really works. Trust me; I've done it myself.”

Mayor Adams said the “$350 million” in refunds New Yorkers get “back into their pockets” will not only help residents to pay their bills, but those funds will also boost the city’s economy when New Yorkers spend their extra dollars at “the local bodegas, the local stores, and the local cleaners.”

photo credit: Flickr