You can go to an NYC Free Tax Prep site to get free help preparing your taxes.
Sites offer different options, including:
- In-person assistance: An IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will prepare your taxes for you.
- Drop-off service: You can drop off your tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
At NYC Free Tax Prep sites, you must follow site health guidelines, including wearing a mask and social distancing during the visit. In addition, organizations may conduct screenings or have additional health and safety requirements. You should ask the organization for more details.
Required Documents
You will need the following documents to do taxes:
- Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, IDNYC card, or passport
- Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number determination letters (original, copy, or electronic document) for you, your spouse, and your dependents
- Birth dates for you, your spouse, and your dependents
- Your 2020 tax return, if available. To request a transcript, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-9946 or visit irs.gov and search “Get Transcript.”
- New for 2022:
- If you received advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments in 2021, you need a record of payments:
- IRS Letter 6419, 2021 Advance CTC
- Note: A small number of these letters may have included the wrong payment amounts. If you believe this includes you, the IRS encourages you to rely on the amount of payments reflected in your Online Account on IRS.gov. You can get help with this at an NYC Free Tax Prep site.
- If you received Economic Impact Payments (stimulus payments) in 2020 or 2021, you need a record of payments:
- Notice 1444: first Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2020
- Notice 1444-B: second Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2020
- Notice 1444-C: third Economic Impact Payment for tax year 2021
- IRS Letter 6475: In early 2022, the IRS will send this letter confirming the total amount of the third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments for tax year 2021.
- Income statements or forms, including:
- Form W-2 (wages from each job)
- Form 1099-G if you received unemployment insurance at any point during 2021. To obtain a form, visit dol.ny.gov and search “1099-G.”
- Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
- Form 1099-INT (interest)
- Form 1099-DIV (dividends)
- Form 1099-R (retirement plans)
- Form 1099-B (sale of stock)
- Form 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income)
- Form 1098-T (tuition payments, scholarships, and grants to attend a university or technical college)
- Form 1098-E (interest paid on student loans)
- Form 1099-C (cancellation of debt)
- Form 1099-K (deposits and earnings)
- Form W-2G (gambling winnings)
- Proof of health insurance (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C) or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate (if applicable) for you, your spouse, and your dependents
- Child care payment records, including the provider's name, address, and Employer Identification Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, or Social Security number.
- Cash and non-cash charitable contribution records
To request direct deposit for your refund, you need checking or savings account and routing numbers, which you can find at the bottom of a check.
If you are married and filing jointly, both you and your spouse must sign the required forms.
