20 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 15, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
tax tips
Find out how you can fi le your income taxes for free
If you earned $66,000 or less last year,
you can fi le your income taxes this year
for free.
Th e city’s Department of Consumer
Aff airs (DCA) launched last month
its 16th-annual tax season campaign,
encouraging eligible New Yorkers to take
advantage of the NYC Free Tax prep program.
“Since 2015 we have helped New
Yorkers fi le more than 425,000 returns
for free and claim refund-boosting tax
credits that can be pivotal in helping them
pay bills, get out of debt and save for their
future,” said DCA Commissioner Lorelei
Salas. “Th is year, we are committed to
helping connect even more New Yorkers
with our trusted and professional free tax
prep services because working
New Yorkers deserve
to get every penny of their
hard-earned refund.
NYC Free Tax Prep services
include more than
200 Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA)/Tax
Counseling for the Elderly
(TCE) and AARP Tax-
Aide sites citywide, as well
as online self-preparation at
nyc.gov/taxprep.
Th is year, the city’s network
of free tax preparation
providers expanded to 20 new sites, with
new locations in every borough, including
Elmhurst and Corona in Queens. Many
of these sites are opening in collaboration
with other City agencies, including NYC
Health + Hospitals and the Department
of Youth and Community Development
(DYCD) through their Cornerstone program
sites.
DCA is also collaborating with the city’s
library systems and other City agencies
to make it easier for library patrons and
other computer lab users to access the
online NYC Free Tax Prep’s self-prep
service.
For most sites, New Yorkers with an
annual income of $54,000 or less with
children or $30,000 or less without children,
can visit one of more than 200 free
tax sites in the fi ve boroughs. At the sites,
returns can be prepared in-person by an
IRS certifi ed VITA/TCE volunteer preparer
or dropped-off to be completed by
the preparer.
At the convenient drop-off sites, fi lers
can drop off their tax documents and
return later to pick up the completed
return or receive it by email.
New Yorkers earning less than $66,000
can fi le their taxes online for free at
nyc.gov/taxprep. Th e City partners with
Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation and
MyFreeTaxes, powered by H&R Block
and in partnership with United Way
Worldwide, to off er these services.
New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.
gov/taxprep and use DCA’s interactive
map to search for the most convenient
free tax site, and now text “Taxes” to
42033 (message and data rates may apply)
to fi nd the nearest location and receive
tax season updates and reminders.
A checklist of what is needed to fi le is
available at nyc.gov/taxprep.
Louis Carino Year
Round
Service
TAX ACCOUNTANT- FINANCIAL PLANNER
"Over 20 Years Of Personalized Service"
• Preparation of all business
& personal returns
• Bookkeeping & payroll
services available
• E-file provider
Tel. (718) 767-6597
Fax. (718) 747-6149
Cell (917) 373-5975
LJC@loucarino.com
166-26 Powells Cove Blvd. • Ste 4D • Beechhurst, NY 11357
NEW TAX LAW
CONFUSING?
WE CAN HELP!
25%
+ a free review of your last 3 years’ tax returns
OFF
your 2017 tax preparation fee*
Call 718-539-3800
35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd., Ste. 205
Flushing, NY 11358
*Discount off what you paid your tax preparer last year for a similar return. New Clients only. Minimum charge of $125.
www.nhldcorp.com