FREE tax filing help in Brooklyn

POSTED BY
Evelyn Kanter

The Brooklyn Public Library is offering FREE assistance to prepare and file your 2016 taxes online, through Tuesday, April 18th. But don’t wait that long, since tax help is first come, first served, and the lines inevitably get longer the closer we get to mid-April.

There is free tax filing assistance at branches throughout the borough, for individuals and for couples filing jointly.

Depending on the branch, you will be working with experts from the NYC Dept. of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment Tax Assistance, NY State Dept. of Taxation and Finance with Urban Outbound. There also are specific sessions for older taxpayers, including retired taxpayers with tax experts from AARP.

To use this FREE program, you must:

earn less than $64,000 (per tax return)
have a valid e-mail address and basic computer skills
bring all your relevant tax documents to the site

Click here for the list of relevant tax documents you’ll need to file your taxes electronically, at the Brooklyn Public Library or elsewhere.

Here’s the schedule:

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza (Room 216 – Balcony Conference Room on 2/17, 4/11)

Mondays, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM (no session 2/20);
Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM;
Wednesdays, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM;
Fridays, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM;
Sundays, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (no session 4/16)

New Lots Library, 665 New Lots Avenue

Mondays, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (no session 2/20);
Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM;
Thursdays, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM;
Fridays, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (no session 4/14);
Sundays, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (no session 4/16)

Macon Library, 361 Lewis Ave.

Wednesdays, 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM;
Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Washington Irving Library, 360 Irving Ave.

Mondays, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (no session 2/20);
Saturdays, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Jamaica Bay Library, January 23rd – April 13th

Mondays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (no session 2/20)
Thursdays, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

BPL branches also are offering free AARP tax preparation for low and middle income taxpayers:

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza (Trustees Room, 3rd Floor)

Mondays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (no session 2/20)

Bedford Library, 496 Franklin Avenue

Wednesdays, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM;
Fridays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (no session on 4/14)

Leonard Library, 81 Devoe St.

Fridays, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM (no session on 4/14)

Brooklyn College & the IRS (VITA) in coordination with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke are sponsoring Free Income Tax Preparation at the Flatbush and Kings Bay Libraries.

Please note the income limits:

Individuals – $35,000/Year and Families – $70,000/Year.
Note that they do not prepare the following schedules: C – Business Income, D – Capital Gains & Losses and E – Rental Property Income.

What to Bring:

Picture Identification Card;
Social Security Card for taxpayer, spouse and all dependents claimed;
Voided Check if requesting direct deposit.
All income and expense statements (W2s, 1099, SSI, SSA, tuition statements, mortgage interest statements, student loan interest & all other tax documents.

Flatbush Library