The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today encouraged the more than 238,700 eligible taxpayers in Monroe County to file both their federal and state tax returns for free from the Tax Department’s website: www.tax.ny.gov.

"More than 238,744 taxpayers in Monroe County are eligible to prepare and file their returns for free,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone. “Yet most taxpayers hire a tax preparer or purchase tax software. We encourage Monroe County residents with income under $62,000 to take advantage of our free, easy, and secure filing options.”

File online or at a free tax assistance site

The Tax Department’s "e-file for free" initiative allows taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income under $62,000 to save the cost of hiring a preparer by filing both their federal and state income tax returns at no cost. User-friendly software available on the Tax Department website walks the taxpayer through the simple filing process one step at a time.

Taxpayers can only be sure that they won’t be charged unexpected fees if they use the software options available from our website.

Monroe County taxpayers with incomes under $62,000 are also eligible to visit one of the three free tax assistance sites in the area:

• Brighton Library
  2300 Elmwood Avenue, Brighton 14618
  
  
• Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
  115 South Avenue, Rochester 14604
  
  
• Rochester CASH Partnership—Volunteers of America
  214 Lake Avenue, Rochester 14608
  
  

Tax Department volunteers are available to answer questions as taxpayers use the same straightforward software available on the department’s website. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted at many locations on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For more information:

• E-file for free
• Check your refund status