Top officials from the New York State Tax Department met today with representatives from Ulster County non-profit, community and government groups.  

The event was led by New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox and New York State Taxpayer Rights Advocate Camille Siano Enders at the Ulster County Community College Small Business Development Center in Kingston.  

Among the topics discussed was the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is available to low- and middle-income working individuals and families.   The credit, provided directly to the taxpayer, is worth hundreds – even thousands of dollars - yet estimates are that as many as one in four eligible taxpayers fail to claim the credit.  

 “New York's EITC is one of the most generous of any state in the nation, but too many taxpayers are unaware that they qualify for it, even though many of them may be struggling to make ends meet,” Commissioner Mattox said. "Don’t miss out on this program to help you achieve the financial stability you work for.”

EITC is a refundable federal and state income tax credit available to working individuals and families with an adjusted gross income less than $51,567. EITC benefits vary by income, family size, and filing status.  Eligible families with three or more qualifying children may receive up to the maximum benefit outside of New York City – more than $7,800. 

Last year, EITC was claimed by 1.8 million New Yorkers who received nearly $5 billion in combined federal, state and New York City benefits. 

Expanded Outreach Effort

The Ulster County Summit is one of dozens of such events statewide building on the Tax Department’s initiative to more than triple its already robust outreach effort.   Statewide, agency leadership and outreach specialists are working to raise awareness by participating in dozens of meetings with nonprofit groups, human service agencies, the IRS, and government leaders across the state - all with the goal to promote services for under-served low- and middle-income taxpayers.

“It’s terrific having the New York State Tax Department come to our community for this Tax Summit,“ said Peter Freiermuth, who lives in Hyde Park and chairs the national Tax Training Committee for the AARP Foundation.  “Nationally, New York’s community outreach is a model for how state tax departments can work with local organizations to improve services for taxpayers.”  

New Office of Professional Responsibility

Deputy Commissioner for Professional Responsibility Richard Ernst introduced Summit participants to the Department’s new initiative to further protect New Yorkers from illegal or unethical practices by tax preparers.   Noting that 70% of New York taxpayers hire a paid preparer, he advised New Yorkers to call 518-530-HELP if they’re aware of unscrupulous activities by tax preparers.

“Roughly 7 million income tax returns are done by paid preparers each year, and most of those preparers are upright professionals,” Ernst said.   “Where there are practices that victimize taxpayers, however, we want to investigate and protect them.”

Services of the Taxpayer Rights Advocate

In addition to helping community groups understand available tax credits, the Office of the Taxpayer Rights Advocate, created in 2009, also works directly with individual taxpayers who are having difficulty resolving a tax issue through the Tax Department’s regular channels. 

“The office acts as a liaison between the Department and the taxpayer to help mediate disputes,” Siano Enders said.  “We’ve resolved nearly 10,000 cases; the majority of those resolutions provided taxpayers with full or partial relief.”

The Office backed legislation, for example, that modified the Offer in Compromise Program.  Under the original rules, an individual or business had to be insolvent or bankrupt to qualify for the program.  Now, however, individuals who are not insolvent or bankrupt may qualify when payment in full of their tax liabilities would create “undue economic hardship.”

“This is an example of change that better serves the taxpayer,” Siano Enders concluded.  “We’re constantly seeking ways to make sure the tax laws are fairly and reasonably applied.”

To contact the Taxpayer Advocate’s Office, taxpayers should call 518-53-HELP.