February 1, 2016 – Food Bank For New York City kicked off its annual Free Tax Assistance & Financial Services program on January 28th to ensure that hard-working New Yorkers receive the tax refunds and credits to which they are entitled, and to bring attention to the quarter million eligible NYC residents who fail to file for the income-boosting Earned Income Tax Credit. For tax filers who qualify, EITC can be worth up to $8,427 this year.
Food Bank’s launch took place at Our Children’s Foundation in Harlem, a new tax site that is part of this year’s expansion. During tax season 2015, Food Bank provided 120 full-service and drop-off sites. Food Bank was joined by City Council Member Mark Levine; Department of Consumer Affairs, Office of Financial Empowerment Deputy Director Nicole Smith; Internal Revenue Senior Manager Darrell Weinberg; Managing Director in the Private Bank at JPMorgan Chase Kevin Morrison; and Food Bank For New York City Chief Programs Officer, Brady Koch.
Recognized by the IRS as one of the largest coordinators of civilian tax assistance in the country, Food Bank’s citywide free tax assistance and financial services not only help low-income families and individuals who need it the most but also brings millions of dollars back to New York City’s economy.
With the support of nearly 300 IRS certified volunteer tax preparers who donate their time to Food Bank’s tax program every year, more New Yorkers will be able to receive the refunds and credits to which they are entitled. For the 2015 tax season, Food Bank filed 85,000 tax returns for low-income New Yorkers and returned $141 million in credits and refunds.
For more information about Food Bank For New York City’s Free Tax Assistance & Financial Services Program, visit http://www.foodbanknyc.org/taxhelp.