NYS Tax Department offers free tax filing help in Niagara County for eligible taxpayers

Sign up for a taxpayer assistance program session at www.tax.ny.gov/tap

Submitted by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance encouraged eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of its free Taxpayer Assistance Program. Certified NYS Tax Department staff will guide eligible taxpayers as they electronically prepare and file their basic federal and state tax returns themselves for free.

Taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less, and investment income of $11,600 or less, qualify for assistance through the Taxpayer Assistance Program.

Three Taxpayer Assistance Program sessions are available at two locations in the Niagara Falls area:

√ Niagara Falls Culinary Institute: Wednesday, March 26, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 28 Old Falls St., Room 305, Niagara Falls

√ SUNY Niagara Library: Wednesdays, April 2 and 9, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lewis Library D-303, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn

To register for a session at either location, call the SUNY Niagara Library reference desk at 716-614-6786.

To participate in the Taxpayer Assistance Program, you must have:

√ Basic computer skills;

√ An active email account;

√ All your income tax documents; and

√ A copy of your 2023 tax return (if you filed).

File for free

If you are not eligible to participate in the Taxpayer Assistance Program, you may be eligible to e-file your personal income tax returns for free with Direct File, Free File, or other free e-filing options. Check your eligibility to see which free filing option is right for you.

√ New York State Direct File is a free, easy-to-use e-file option to file your federal and state income tax returns. Direct File can be accessed from a smartphone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer – in English or Spanish. If your 2024 wages were less than $200,000 – or $250,000 if you’re filing a joint return – you may qualify to use Direct File. To check eligibility, go to New York eligibility for Direct File.

√ You may be eligible to use Free File software to e-file your federal and state income tax returns at no cost through the Tax Department website. Information about Free File is available in multiple languages.

√ If you don't qualify for Direct File or Free File, you may be eligible for other free filing options. See other e-file options for personal income tax to learn more.