Free Tax Return Prep Provided Across Five Boroughs

NEW YORK—With the deadline for filing tax returns nearing, New Yorkers can go to the city’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites for free service.

The free tax assistance sites are primarily designed to help low income families file for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can provide qualified families a refund of $7,000 or more. Any family with children that had a 2011 income of less than $50,000, or a single filer with an income less than $18,000, qualifies for EITC.

There are 14 VITA sites around the city hosted by the Food Bank, and one by the East River Development Alliance (ERDA).

The tax assistance site hosted by the ERDA in Long Island City, Queens, has prepared more than 800 tax returns and helped low-income filers receive over $1.2 million in benefits since it opened in January.

“More New Yorkers should be taking advantage of ERDA’s free tax preparation services,” said City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn in a press release. “Families have seen thousands of dollars in tax returns, whether it goes into a college fund or is used to put food on the table for your family, that money received and the money saved by using ERDA’s free services provide New Yorkers with more opportunity.