FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 7, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 23
tax guide
Don’t forget to bring these 10 things with you to tax preparer
New York State Taxpayer Advocate
Margaret Neri issued a top 10 list of key
documents and information taxpayers
should bring to their preparer or have
handy when e-fi ling on their own.
Th ese documents are also essential
to receive free assistance at NYS Tax
Department tax-fi ling sites.
“If your income is $66,000 or less, you
qualify to receive free fi ling assistance at
our sites from Tax Department volunteers,”
said Neri. “Our volunteers will
guide you through the tax preparation
soft ware, but you’ll need all the required
information and documents to get started.
You’ll need the same information if
you e-fi le on your own from home or go
to a professional tax preparer.”
What you’ll need:
• email address;
• copy of last year’s tax return or the
amount of your prior year’s federal
adjusted gross income;
• driver license or state-issued ID (for you
and your spouse if fi ling jointly);
• birthdates and Social Security numbers
for you, your spouse, and your dependents;
• income statements (wages, interest, and
dividends), including W-2 and 1099
forms;
• statements related to any property taxes
paid or mortgage interest payments;
• Forms 1095-A, B, or C, Aff ordable
Healthcare Statement;
• information related to any credits
you’re claiming;
• your banking information (account
number and routing number); and
• NY 529 College Savings Plan information
if you have an account.
Free tax assistance sites
Eligible fi lers can take advantage of the
opportunity to safely and effi ciently e-fi le
their returns at free tax assistance sites.
Tax Department experts will be available
at each location to assist low- and middle
income New Yorkers through the fi ling
process at no charge.
At certain locations, they can assist taxpayers
in multiple languages, including
Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole,
Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian,
Spanish, and Urdu.
A schedule of dates, times, and locations
for all free fi ling sessions statewide
is available at Facilitated Self Assistance
(FSA) program, www.tax.ny.gov/fsa.
Want free tax preparation
software?
You don’t need to visit a free tax assistance
site, though: if eligible, you can also
access and use the same free soft ware anytime
from your computer, smartphone,
or tablet at www.tax.ny.gov.
Search Free File on the Tax Department
website, tax.ny.gov, to be directed to the
tax preparation soft ware. Using the soft -
ware can reduce fi ling errors that delay
return processing and refunds. It also prevents
valuable credits from being overlooked.
E-filing is safer and more efficient
than sending paper returns through
the mail. About 92% of all personal
income tax returns in New York State
are electronically prepared and filed.
All returns, whether filed electronically
or on paper, undergo the same systematic
review.
From the New York State Department
of Taxation and Finance
/fsa
/www.tax.ny.gov
/WWW.QNS.COM
/fsa
/www.tax.ny.gov
/tax.ny.gov
