It is Monday January 29 the season formally began for declare taxes, that will go until next April 15and New Yorkers like Julio de los Santos, who lives in The Bronx, claims to be more than attentive to complying with his tax obligation. In his own words, the Dominican does not want the same thing to happen to him as in 2022, when he wanted “give it to them alive”trying to evade reporting to the IRS, and ended up with “headaches” that until today they have him sad.
“After years of receiving reimbursements and making small payments, two years ago I decided to listen to a sister-in-law who recommended me to an accountant who supposedly helped one get more chelitos (money), and although he actually made me deposit almost $4,000 back, happiness was short-livedbecause after a few months I received letters from IRS saying that my taxes were done wrong and that I had to return what they had given me, plus $8,000 owed“comments the father of the family. “That was a nightmare and to this day, I pay and pay installments to be able to end that fucking debt. I learned that the best thing is to play fair with those people, because sooner or later they come with you, and from then on they will be with their eyes on me.”
And just when low-, middle- and high-income New Yorkers begin to gather their bills and support to pay accounts to the treasurywhich in the case of the Big Apple includes submitting reports to the Federal Government, the State and the City, The recommendation of the authorities is not only to comply with the obligation to declare, but to do so on time, to tell the truth, not to hide income that may be discovered, but also to have one’s eyes open when deciding with whom to fill out the forms.
Therefore, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)is calling for New Yorkers who use paid tax preparers to carefully read the paperwork they sign through their advisors, and to be alert for predatory tax preparers who overcharge, charge hidden fees, file returns without permission , or promise false benefits and extra money, without taxpayers qualifying.
Likewise, the Municipal Administration is promoting more filers from the five counties to take advantage of the program “NYC Free Tax Prep”, that through more than 130 organizations around the city help prepare tax returns completely free and ensuring the well-being of taxpayers, without them getting into trouble with Uncle Sam.
This was warned this Monday by the commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), Volda Vera Mayugaduring an event at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, which helps taxpayers fill out returns with free, professional services seeking to maintain full refunds.
“NYC Free Tax Prep offers reliable and professional tax preparation services to thousands of New Yorkers each year, helping them obtain the most complete refund possible at no cost to them,” said the official, urging that not only low-income residents of the Big Apple but also media, use that option. “Eligible New Yorkers deserve to claim these credits and file their taxes without having to pay a commercial preparer a portion of their hard-earned money. If you earned $59,000 or less as an individual, or as a family who earned less than $85,000, I urge you to apply for free and claim your refund.”
Emily Cruz, 44, who already has his free appointment to fill out his forms for next February 13, confessed that after years of trusting a tax preparer, in 2023 his mother, Martha Cambranes76, “panicked” after receiving a letter from the IRS informing him that he owed $1,700.
“My mother had had the same accountant since 1980, and every year she paid for him to fill out her taxes, but when the bill came this time, she was very scared, because You have never owed anything to the IRS, And after trying to talk to them without success and they couldn’t find my mother in the system to see if she could be put on a payment plan, just when she was most panicked, we found out about the NYC Free Tax Prep program and we went for help.” says the nursing assistant, who recommends using these services.
“I confess that at first we were doubtful, because When you hear that something is free, you think there is something strange or that they are not going to do things right.“But what was our surprise when we saw that they helped us with great efficiency and patience and discovered that instead of having to pay my mother they owed her $11,000 to which she was entitled and the preparer never claimed it from her,” adds the taxpayer, who also decided to do his taxes with the organization Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. “They helped me do mine and my accounts were clear. Furthermore, they educate one not only about the moment but also about the future so that one understands that with the IRS you have to do things right, because it is ridiculous that there are still people who want to evade taxes. It is an obligation that must be fulfilled.”
Emily Cruz and her mother Martha Cambranes. /Courtesy
Tatiana Ligonde, IRS liaisonpointed out the importance of complying with tax obligations, but at the same time mentioned that New York families today have the opportunity to claim the so-called Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)which has helped low- and moderate-income workers and families with tax breaks and rebates.
“The EITC is one of the federal government’s largest anti-poverty programs, offering financial assistance to working Americans. “People may ask why the IRS promotes EITC Awareness Day every year, and my answer is that 20 percent of eligible taxpayers unknowingly do not claim the credit,” the official said. “Therefore, it is important that we remind families and workers about the EITC, as we understand that lives, incomes and personal circumstances will change over time.”
Blondel Pinnockpresident and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration, warned that in the current climate, when financial stability is paramount, access to free tax preparation services is crucial for economically disadvantaged people.
“We believe everyone should have the opportunity to file their taxes without being charged exorbitant fees. By removing financial barriers, Restoration allows families and individuals to maximize their returns by putting money back in their pockets, boosting the local economy and fostering a sense of financial security,” said Pinnock, who described the program as a way to empower communities, which must pay figures that exceed $200 and up to $400 dollars and more for this service.
Facts about free tax preparation services in NYC:
- 130 of these places will open in the Big Apple this season
- To find out where to find free sites, you can call 311 or visit the online page nyc.gov/taxprep
- In-person services are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Creole, Haitian, Hebrew, Korean, Russian, and Urdu
- In-person tax preparation sites feature IRS-certified Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers who help taxpayers complete an accurate tax return.
- Another way to get help is to drop off your documents at these sites and pick up your tax return later.
- The virtual option is also available, through Virtual Tax Prep, an online service where a volunteer IRS-certified VITA/TCE preparer will video conference with taxpayers to help them prepare their tax return using a digital system.
- The free assisted self-preparation option allows taxpayers to complete tax returns online on their own and a VITA/TCE IRS-certified volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer questions.
- The City of New York warns that the so-called Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), is a new benefit that is available to working families and individuals with low and moderate incomes, which will help 800,000 New Yorkers who qualify
2024-01-30 11:00:00
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