With just one month left until the tax filing deadline, many Chinese readers have been asking us where they can file their taxes for free. As a newsroom dedicated to serving immigrants in New York, Documented has compiled a list of 18 free tax filing locations that offer services in Chinese. If your household income for 2023 is not more than $85,000, or if you are a single person with income not exceeding $59,000 in 2023, you are eligible to use the NYC Free Tax Prep program for free tax filing.
This article is also part of our comprehensive resource guide for Chinese immigrants. As an organization serving New York immigrants, we aim to provide you with as much assistance as possible. If you have any questions about life, work, immigration, or any other aspect, please feel free to contact us! You can follow our WeChat official account (ID: DocumentedNY) and send us a message, or you can add our community correspondent’s WeChat (ID: docunyc), or send an email to april.xu@documentedny.com.
What is NYC Free Tax Prep?
The city program will connect you with an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer, who will help with your tax filing. The deadline for tax filing this year is April 5, 2024.
Through the program, you have four ways to file your taxes for free:
- Virtual Tax Prep: A tax preparer can help you file your tax return through a 60-90 minute call.
- Assisted Self-Prep: Complete your tax return on your own. A preparer will be available by phone or email to answer your questions.
- Drop-off service: Drop off your tax documents at free tax declaration locations and pick up the completed return later.
- In-person: Get your taxes prepared for free at a tax prep location near you.
Taxpayers who choose drop-off and in-person services can log on to this website to check the nearest free tax prep location. The tax documents you need to prepare include:
- Valid photo identification (IDNYC meets this requirement)
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents (Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
- Proof of income (including forms W-2, 1098, 1099, or, if you are self-employed, please provide records of income and expenses)
- Childcare expenses (if applicable), including information about the service provider and their tax registration number
- Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of refunds
- Signatures, if applying for joint filing, both spouses’ signatures are required.
Some institutions in New York City provide free tax filing services in Chinese. If you are Chinese immigrants who are eligible for free tax prep services and need language assistance, you can bring your tax documents to the following locations:
Manhattan
- International Rescue Committee New York field office
Address: 263 West 38 Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Appointment: call 212-377-4728 or visit: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/InternationalRescueCommittee9@INTRescue.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/
Tax filing service hours: From January 31, 2024, to April 15, 2024, every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Grand Street Settlement (Delancy Street)
Address: 175 Delancy Street, 4th Fl, New York NY 10002
Appointment: call 646-201-4286 or visit: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/taxhelp/
Tax filing service hours: From January 16, 2024, to April 4, 2024, every Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tax declaration forms must be obtained or sent via email before the appointment time and filled out at home to avoid traffic in the lobby area. Applicants must have an income limit of less than $65,000 per year.
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Address: 62 Mott Street, 2Fl, New York, NY 10013
Tax filing service hours: February2- April 4, 2024, Saturday: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Eligible for those whose annual income is no more than $60,000.
- Nazareth Housing – Avenue C (Cantonese only)
Address:1 Haven Plaza, New York NY 10009
Appointment: call 646-713-2746 or visit:https://www.nazarethhousingnyc.org/taxes
Tax filing service hours: From January 24, 2024, to April 13, 2024, every Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Tax and Finance Center
Address: 71 St Nicholas Avenue, New York NY 10026
Appointment: call 646-981-6111 or visit: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/taxhelp/
Tax Service Hours: From January 30, 2024, to April 20, 2024, every Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Applicants must have an income limit of less than $65,000 per year.
Brooklyn
- Office of Council Member Aviles
Address: 4417 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From February 6, 2024, to May 15, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
Address: 209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Court Room on the 3rd Floor
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 26, 2024, to April 3, 2024, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Brooklyn College – Flatbush Library
Address: 22 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn NY 11226
Appointment: call 800-290-7189 or visit: https://bit.ly/BPLFLATBUSH
Tax Service Hours: From January 30, 2024, to April 13, 2024, every Tuesday from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Friday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Brooklyn Coney Island Library
Address: 1901 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11224
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From February 8, 2024, to April 11, 2024, every Thursday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Grow Brooklyn at Preparation Hub
Address: 275 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn NY 11201
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From February 20, 2024, to April 15, 2024, Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Homecrest Community Service, Inc.
Address: 6515 15 Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11228
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From February 4, 2024, to April 7, 2024, every Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Reaching Out Community Services Inc.
Address: 7708 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11214
Appointment: call 718-373-4565 ext. 100 or visit: https://www.foodbanknyc.org/taxhelp/
Tax Service Hours: From January 29, 2024, to April 4, 2024, Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Individuals with an annual income of no more than $65,000 are eligible for tax assistance.
- Canarsie Library (Cantonese only)
Address: 1580 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11236
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://urbanupbound.org/
Tax Service Hours: From February 3, 2024, to April 13, 2024, every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Queens
- Shinhan Bank
Address: 13617 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://urbanupbound.org/
Tax Service Hours: From January 31, 2024, to April 12, 2024, every Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- MinKwon Center for Community Action
Address: 133-29 41th Ave, Flushing, NY 11355
Appointment: 718-460-5600
Tax Service Hours: From February 5, 2024, to April 15, 2024, every Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Urban Upbound – Long Island City (including self-employed filers)
Address: 1215 40 Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://urbanupbound.org/
Tax Service Hours: From January 23, 2024, to December 31, 2024, every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, every Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Business expenses of $250,000 or less for all filers.
- Urban Upbound Flushing Tax Center (including self-employed filers)
Address: 136-13 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://urbanupbound.org/
Tax Service Hours: From January 23, 2024, to April 15, 2024, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For all filers, business expenses should not exceed $250,000.
- Flushing Library (Cantonese only)
Address: 41-17 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://urbanupbound.org/
Tax Service Hours: From February 2, 2024, to April 12, 2024, every Monday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Bronx
- Spring Bank
Address: 69 East 167 Street, Bronx NY 10452
Appointment: 718-292-2983
Tax filing service hours: January 17 – April 15, 2024, Tuesdasy to Friday: 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
If your organization provides free Chinese tax filing services but is not listed above, please contact april.xu@documentedny.com and we will add your information to the list.
