ALBANY, N.Y. (WROC/WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — New York residents will be able to file taxes for free next year thanks to a new partnership with Code for America and the IRS.
It’s part of a limited pilot program which will allow New York, Arizona, California, and Massachusetts to merge their state e-filing process with the IRS’s federal E-filing tools.
“New York is taking a major step toward modernizing our tax system and making it even easier for New Yorkers to access their tax benefits,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement released Tuesday. “No one should have to navigate complex processes or pay out of their own pocket to file their taxes, and starting next year, we’re equipping New Yorkers with a new, innovative, free tool to give taxpayers more choices to file.”
According to the governor’s office, eligible residents will be able to electronically file state and federal tax returns for free starting in 2024. Eligibility requirements have not yet been determined. The partnership with Code For America builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment in this year’s State of the State address to improve access to essential government benefits and services.
According to a statement by the Governor’s office, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance will now work in close coordination with Code For America to develop the state’s e-filing tool’s scope, software and capabilities. Eligible taxpayers will have the option to share their federal return information with third-party state filing software after they have finished them. The program will then prepare most of the New York State tax return, with most taxpayers having to answer no more than a few questions to complete the state return.
“IRS Direct File has the power to transform access to the tax system, making filing simpler and more equitable for taxpayers,” Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code For America, said in a statement. “That’s why Code for America is excited to partner with New York – a longtime leader in advancing a fair and equitable tax system for all – to ensure that taxpayers filing with the IRS Direct File pilot have an easy and free solution for their state taxes. This tool will ensure that eligible residents of the Empire State can access the billions of dollars in state tax benefits they are due.”
The e-filing tool is being developed by the tech nonprofit Code for America. Other existing options for free filing will remain in place, according to the Governor’s office.
For more information on available tax filing services, you are encouraged to visit the Department of Taxation and Finance’s website at https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/efile/.
