The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today encouraged eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of its free Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP). 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 $79,000 or less qualify for in-person or virtual assistance through the Taxpayer Assistance Program. Sessions are available at several locations in the Buffalo area up until the income tax filing deadline, April 15. Locations include the Buffalo Central Library, SUNY Buffalo State University, SUNY Niagara County Community College, and Orchard Park Public Library. Eligible taxpayers can sign up at www.tax.ny.gov/tap.

“Our free Taxpayer Assistance Program provides a simple and safe way for eligible taxpayers to get help electronically preparing and filing their federal and state tax returns,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller. “This is an inspiring program that helps taxpayers realize they can file on their own and save on tax preparation costs.”

Getting help through the Taxpayer Assistance Program is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Register for a time slot on the Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP) web page at www.tax.ny.gov/tap.
2. Receive a confirmation email with a link to an intake questionnaire from the Tax Department. Complete the questionnaire to ensure eligibility and have the information ready to complete the returns.
3. Attend the session selected to get help completing and filing online.

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

• basic computer skills
• an active e-mail account
• all your income tax documents
• a copy of your 2022 tax return (if you filed)

Free File tax preparation software also available on the Tax Department’s website

Taxpayers may also be eligible to use Free File software to e-file their federal and state income tax returns—at no cost. Free File provides free tax preparation software options to eligible New Yorkers through the Tax Department’s Free File web page at www.tax.ny.gov/pit/efile/.

To avoid fees, carefully review eligibility criteria for each software provider and access the Free File software directly from our website.