Mayor Mamdani Joins DCWP and NYC Health + Hospitals to Promote Free Tax Preparation Services for New Yorkers
In-person and virtual tax preparation services are available in various languages across the city and at NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth sites Efforts this year will be paired with an expanded crackdown on deceptive practices in the tax preparer industry, ensuring New Yorkers across the city are protected
Feb 03, 2026
New York, NY – Today, Mayor Mamdani joined the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth to kick off the 2026 tax season by announcing free, in-person and virtual tax preparation services for New Yorkers as part of DCWP’s NYC Free Tax Prep initiative. Last year 110,000 returns were completed through NYC Free Tax Prep, saving New Yorkers an average of $346 in tax preparation fees per return and approximately $38.2 million citywide. This year, the administration is focused on pairing the free tax preparation program with compliance in the paid tax preparer industry to protect all New Yorkers from unfair fees, sketchy loan products, and other deceptive corporate activity. This will include a citywide sweep of paid tax preparer locations to ensure they are following the law, as well as compliance notices warning paid tax preparers of the City’s ban on illegal overcharging and hidden fees.
“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops or pay outrageous fees just to file their taxes,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Through NYC Free Tax Prep, our administration is working across agencies to deliver exactly that—helping New Yorkers file for free, receive the tax refunds they’re owed, and avoid hidden fees and tax scams.”
The NYC Free Tax Prep program is available to anyone who lives or works in New York City and who earns $97,000 or less annually and files as a family, or those who earn $68,000 or less annually and file as an individual or couple without a dependent – making half of all New Yorkers eligible for the program. Services are available now at over 140 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites around the city. Volunteer providers are equipped to connect filers with assistance for their questions about managing student loan debt. New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep and use DCWP’s interactive map to search for the most convenient free tax site near them, including at NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth sites.
“To New Yorkers: protect your budget and skip pricey paid tax preparation if you can. Our knowledgeable preparers will ensure you get your full refund and all credits you may be eligible for, like the recently enhanced Empire State Child Tax Credit,” said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. “This tax season, DCWP is ramping up efforts to protect New Yorkers from sketchy tax scams. And, as student loan borrowers face unprecedented confusion due to harmful policies at the federal level, NYC Free Tax Prep has never been more important.”
“Financial stability is a fundamental contributor to overall health and well-being,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer Nichola Davis, MD, MS. “Since 2018, we have scaled our partnership with NYC Tax Prep from a single pilot site to 15 locations in 2026. By helping our patients secure free filing and tax credits, we are reducing some of the financial stress that often stands in the way of good health.”
“New Yorkers should not have to choose between spending money on tax preparation services or rent, food, or childcare,” said Council Member Harvey Epstein. “As Chair of the Consumer and Worker Protection Committee, I applaud the Mayor and the DCWP’s initiatives to help thousands of low income New Yorkers.”
“New Yorkers can once again access free, in‑person tax preparation at select MetroPlusHealth community offices, along with virtual support from trained volunteers,” said Dr. Talya Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetroPlusHealth. “For many working families, no‑cost tax assistance can have a meaningful impact. MetroPlusHealth remains deeply committed to helping provide essential services — from helping individuals enroll in quality health insurance to offering free tax preparation. Whether someone requires comprehensive guidance or just a bit of support, our team stands ready to help them successfully file their taxes.”
“Gotham Health is proud to participate in the NYC Free Tax Prep initiative and to offer this vital service directly in our health centers across New York City. We believe access to high-quality care must also include access to the financial resources that support healthier lives,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “We encourage eligible New Yorkers to schedule an appointment and take advantage of free support to file accurately and claim the credits and refunds they have earned.”
NYC Free Tax Prep services include:
- In-Person Tax Preparation: At in-person tax prep sites, knowledgeable Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers help filers complete an accurate tax return. More than 140 sites across all 5 boroughs will be open throughout the season.
- Drop-Off Service: With drop-off service, filers can drop off their tax documents and pick up the completed return later.
- Virtual Tax Preparation: Virtual Tax Preparation is an online service where an IRS-certified VITA or TCE volunteer preparer will video conference with filers to help prepare their tax return using a secure digital system. Filers can submit photos or scans of tax documents to the preparer, confirm their identity, and complete their return by video call with a preparer. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; and the ability to download secure video conference software.
- Assisted Self-Preparation: Assisted Self-Preparation allows filers to complete their tax return online on their own, and an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer questions. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; an email address; and their 2024 adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.
The IRS began accepting tax returns on January 26 and will accept returns through April 15, 2026, though many NYC Free Tax Prep sites remain open year-round to assist late filers, help with prior-year returns, and support small business owners and self-employed filers with quarterly and annual tax filing requirements. This year taxpayers face fewer no-cost filing options following the elimination of the IRS Direct File program, making access to trusted and accurate free tax assistance more critical than ever.
Select NYC Health + Hospitals sites offer support in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese Russian and Urdu, and virtual tax preparation is available in Spanish as well. When a site does not have on-site language capacity, preparers will use an IRS-approved Over-the-Phone Interpreter (OPI) service, to support the appointment and any language needs.
NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed New Yorkers:
NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed Filers provides free tax preparation services tailored to the needs of gig workers, freelancers and small business owners who often face barriers to filing taxes and managing financial recordkeeping. In addition to providing annual and quarterly estimated tax filling preparation assistance, workshops and one-on-one consultations help the growing number of New Yorkers who perform gig and freelance work to learn the basics of tax filing and recordkeeping best practices as self-employed filers.
To be eligible for tax preparation services for self-employed filers, New Yorkers must have business expenses of $250,000 or below. New Yorkers can find a site with these specially trained tax preparers by selecting “Self-Employed/Schedule C Assistance” on the NYC Free Tax Prep Map site finder.
Paid Tax Preparers:
Consumers should also be on alert for predatory tax preparers that overcharge, charge hidden fees, or file their return without permission. Beware of preparers promising a “rapid refund” or “fast cash” that hide the fact that a Refund Anticipation Loan is a loan. To that end, DCWP is issuing compliance notices to tax preparers across the city this month, warning them to adhere to New York City consumer protection laws that ban overcharging or charging hidden fees.
The City encourages eligible filers to file for free with NYC Free Tax Prep, but consumers who use a paid tax preparer should ask the preparer for the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers (additional languages available) and read it carefully before having their taxes prepared.
Individuals can go to the following NYC Health + Hospitals and MetroPlusHealth sites for in-person free tax preparation:
Bronx:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
1225 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
3rd Floor
Fridays, 10am – 4pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment online here
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Tremont
1920 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457
T2 Area
Saturdays, 9am – 3pm (except 4th and 5th Saturdays of the month)
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 993-8880 or online at bronxworkstaxes.as.me/schedule.php
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
249 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10451
Main lobby
Tuesdays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English, Spanish, and Urdu
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
Brooklyn:
MetroPlusHealth – Brighton Beach
225 Brighton Beach Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235
Mondays, 10am – 6pm
Available in English and Russian
Schedule an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or online at growbrooklyn.org/freetaxes
MetroPlusHealth – Flatbush
2221 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226
Fridays & Saturdays, 10am – 5pm
Available in English, Russian and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or online at growbrooklyn.org/freetaxes
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Broadway
815 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206
1st Floor Conference Room
Fridays, 10am – 5pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or online at growbrooklyn.org/freetaxes
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland
100 N Portland, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Main Lobby
Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30pm – 6:30pm
Fridays, 10:30am – 3:30pm
Available in English, Chinese and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or online at growbrooklyn.org/freetaxes
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York
2094 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207
1st Floor – Room 106
Wednesdays, 9am – 5pm
Saturdays, 9am – 3pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
451 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Main Lobby, E Building
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
Manhattan:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
461 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016
F-Link, Room CD49
Fridays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
227 Madison St, New York, NY 10002
3rd Floor, Pediatric Waiting Area
Tuesdays, 10am – 6pm
Saturdays, 10am – 4pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or online at growbrooklyn.org/freetaxes
Queens:
MetroPlusHealth – Flushing
136-13 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English, Spanish, and Chinese
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
MetroPlusHealth – Jackson Heights
92-14 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Tuesdays, 9am – 5pm
Saturdays, 10am – 5pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373
B1-02
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English, Spanish, and Arabic
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
82-68 164th Street, Queens, NY 11432
Main Building, Conference Room D
Wednesdays, 9am – 5pm
Available in English and Spanish
Schedule an appointment by calling (718) 784-0877 or online at uutaxbooking.org
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.