BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tax Day is April 18 this year and many folks are filing their tax returns hoping for a refund.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz are raising awareness about available tax credits and how to avoid tax scams.
New Yorkers can file their taxes through the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Free Filing program. If you need help filing your taxes, New York residents can utilize the state's Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP), which offers free virtual tax assistance from the state’s Department of Taxation and Finance.
There are also several sites available through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) where you can get your tax returns prepared free of charge.
The WNY Regional VITA Network offers free tax preparation to eligible residents through the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.
They remind everyone that uses a tax preparer to do their taxes to check qualifications and history through the Better Business Bureau and consult New York’s Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers.
"Tax season may feel overwhelming to many New Yorkers, but thankfully there are resources available to lighten the load,” said Attorney General James in a release. “I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of the organizations dedicated to helping out during the tax preparation process, and to utilize all of the tax breaks for which you qualify. Additionally, please stay vigilant against bad actors trying to take advantage, and you can always report concerns and complaints to my office. I am proud to partner with County Executive Poloncarz and Mayor Brown to help raise awareness and ensure New Yorkers have all the information they need for a less stressful tax season.”
“Tax season is here and it’s important to know how to file properly so that taxpayers are aware of all possible tax relief and are taking advantage of it, as well as avoiding unscrupulous tax preparers and scams,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “I urge people preparing their taxes to check with the Attorney General’s office to ensure that everything is correct, and I thank Attorney General James for this outreach effort.”
“These resources will help Buffalo residents get their taxes done properly,” said Buffalo Mayor Bryon Brown. “I am proud to partner with Attorney General James and County Executive Poloncarz to help spread the word and ensure our constituents know about the support that is available for them. I urge Buffalo tax filers to utilize this information and take advantage of the tax credits they qualify for. And, I encourage everyone to spread the word so more of our neighbors can benefit from these services.”
There are many tax credit New York State resident may qualify for. Here are just a few major credits available:
For more information on tax credits, you can visit New York state’s Department of Taxation and Finance income tax credit page.
