NEW YORK, NY (TIP): The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU), and the Department of Social Services (DSS) today launched a citywide Day of Action, with less than one month left in tax season, to urge eligible residents to maximize their refunds by claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and file their taxes for free through NYC Free Tax Prep.

On March 21, 2025, PEU, DCWP, and DSS outreach specialists will be conducting outreach in neighborhoods in all five boroughs with historically low tax-filing rates to ensure New Yorkers are aware of their eligibility for the EITC, a crucial benefit that helps low- to moderate-income workers retain more of their hard-earned money.

Through direct canvassing, community events, and a citywide text messaging campaign, New Yorkers will learn how to file their taxes for free through NYC Free Tax Prep and claim essential tax credits. The EITC, which was expanded in 2023 for the first time in two decades, has already provided millions in relief to working-class New Yorkers. Eligible filers may receive up to $11,000 in combined federal, state, and city EITC benefits, with the average New Yorker receiving approximately $2,300.

“Many New Yorkers are unaware of the critical financial resources available to them, and we want to change that,” said Adrienne Lever, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit. “Through our proactive outreach, we’re ensuring that eligible individuals and families can access the full tax benefits they deserve, keeping more money in their pockets and strengthening our city’s economy.”

“For New Yorkers of all walks of life, tax season can evoke a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, but an array of services is available to help working-class residents file accurate tax returns and avail themselves of every benefit to which they are entitled, including the EITC,” said HRA Administrator Scott French. “Every dollar counts for New York City families, and we are proud to collaborate with our partners at PEU and DCWP to directly engage New Yorkers and ensure that they are aware of the services and benefits that can help them hold onto more of their hard-earned income during tax season.”

“NYC Free Tax Prep offers trusted and professional tax preparation services to thousands of New Yorkers each year, helping them get the fullest refund possible at no cost to them,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Last year, NYC Free Tax Prep helped file over 100,000 tax returns, saving New Yorkers more than $33 million in tax preparation fees and keeping their full refund. If you earned $65,000 or less as an individual or a family that earned less than $93,000 in 2024, I urge you to file for free through NYC Free Tax Prep.”
About NYC Free Tax Prep:
NYC residents who earned $65,000 or less and families with dependents must have earned $93,000 or less in 2024 to file with NYC Free Tax Prep. NYC Free Tax Prep provides free, professional tax preparation services that help New Yorkers keep their full refund, including valuable tax credits, like the enhanced NYC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):
In-Person Tax Prep. At an NYC Free Tax Prep site for in-person tax prep, an IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparer will sit down with you to complete an accurate tax return. Sessions take a minimum of 30 minutes and there are more than 130 sites across the city.
Drop-off Service. At an NYC Free Tax Prep site for drop-off service, you can drop off your tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
Virtual Tax Prep is a safe and reliable online tax prep service. An IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will help you file your tax return during a 60-90 minute virtual call; using a secure digital system to manage your tax documents; and answer your tax questions.
Self-Prep with Help (or Assisted Self-Prep) is a safe and reliable online tax prep service. Do your own taxes with easy-to-use tax filing software but phone or email a volunteer for help when needed.
The deadline to file a tax return for your 2024 taxes is April 15, 2025.  Go to www.nyc.gov/TaxPrep to learn more.

About the NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit:

The NYC Public Engagement Unit (PEU) was created to develop a new model for government outreach, using community organizing principles to re-envision how the city provides services to its most vulnerable communities. Rather than expecting constituents to navigate a complex City bureaucracy to get the help they need, PEU adopts grassroots tactics to meet residents where they are– at their doors and on their phones, in their social media feeds, and in their communities. We marry this proactive outreach with comprehensive case management to provide New Yorkers with personalized, passionate care. GetCoveredNYC is a PEU program that provides free assistance for New Yorkers seeking to enroll in health care, regardless of immigration status or income. Our specialists speak more than 20 languages and conduct outreach to proactively identify uninsured New Yorkers and help them get access to health care and other health-related benefits.
Stay connected:
www.nyc.gov/PEU
Facebook: Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit
X/Twitter: @MayorsPEU

(Press release)