As tax season kicks off, many Chinese readers have been asking us where they can file their taxes for free. As a newsroom dedicated to serving immigrants in New York, Documented has compiled a list of 20 free tax filing locations that offer services in Chinese. If your household income for 2024 is not more than $93,000, or if you are a single person with income not exceeding $65,000 in 2024, you are eligible to use the NYC Free Tax Prep program for free tax filing.
What is NYC free tax prep?
The city program will connect you with an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer, who will help with your tax filing. The deadline for tax filing this year is April 15, 2025.
Through the program, you have four ways to file your taxes for free:
- Virtual Tax Prep: A tax preparer can help you file your tax return through a 60-90 minute call.
- Drop-off service: Drop off your tax documents at free tax declaration locations and pick up the completed return later.
- Assisted Self-Prep: Complete your tax return on your own. A preparer will be available by phone or email to answer your questions.
- In-person: Get your taxes prepared for free at a tax prep location near you.
Taxpayers who choose drop-off and in-person services can log on to this website to check the nearest free tax prep location. The tax documents you need to prepare include:
- Valid photo identification (IDNYC meets this requirement)
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents (Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
- Proof of income (including forms W-2, 1098, 1099, or, if you are self-employed, please provide records of income and expenses)
- Childcare expenses (if applicable), including information about the service provider and their tax registration number
- Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of refunds
- Signatures, if applying for joint filing, both spouses’ signatures are required.
Free tax preparation in Chinese
Some institutions in New York City provide free tax filing services in Chinese. If you are Chinese immigrants who are eligible for free tax prep services and need language assistance, you can bring your tax documents to the following locations.
Manhattan
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
Address: 62 Mott Street, 2Fl, New York, NY 10013
Walk-in only. No appointment accepted.
Tax filing service hours: February 1, 2025,- April 5, 2025. Every Saturday: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Eligible for those whose annual income is no more than $670,000.
- Nazareth Housing
Address:200 Ave C, New York, NY 10009
Appointment: call 646-713-2746 or visit:https://nazarethhousingnyc.org
Tax filing service hours: From January 29, 2025, to April 12. 2025. Every Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Bloomingdale Library
Address: 150 West 100 Street, New York, NY 10025
Appointment: call 800-290-7189 or schedule online
Tax filing service hours: February 1, 2025, – April 12, 2025. every Thursday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Eligible for individuals with an annual income of $56,000 or less and families with an annual income of $80,000 or less.
- Roosevelt Island Senior Center
Address: 56 Main Street, New York, NY 10044
Appointment: call 800-290-7189 or visit https://singlestop.org/how-to-make-an-appointment/
Tax filing service hours: February 4, 2025- April 15, 2025. every Tuesday: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Eligible for individuals with an annual income of $56,000 or less and families with an annual income of $80,000 or less.
- Center on the Square
Address: 20 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10011
Appointment: call 800-290-7189 or visit https://singlestop.org/how-to-make-an-appointment/
Tax filing service hours: February 7, 2025 – April 11, 2025. Every Friday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Eligible for individuals with an annual income of $56,000 or less and families with an annual income of $80,000 or less.
- Chatham Square Branch Library
Address: 33 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Appointment: call (212) 498-8983
Tax filing service hours: February 1, 2025, – April 12, 2025. Every Saturday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Brooklyn
- Office of Council Member Aviles
Address: 4417 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 21, 2025, to April 15, 2025. Tuesday: 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday: 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Saturday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
Address: 209 Joralemon St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Court Room on the 3rd Floor
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 22, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Brooklyn Coney Island Library
Address: 1901 Mermaid Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 21, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Friday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Grow Brooklyn at Hub
Address: 509 Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 23, 2025, to October 15, 2025, Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Homecrest Community Service, Inc.
Address: 6515 15 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11228
Appointment: call 347-682-5606 or visit: https://growbrooklyn.org/appointments/
Tax Service Hours: From January 26, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Council of Jewish Organizations in Flatbush
Address: 1523 Ave M, 4th Fl, Brooklyn, NY 11230
Appointment: call (718) 377-2900
Tax Service Hours: From January 21, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and every Friday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Closed February 17th for Presidents Day, March 14th for Purim, and April 13 and 14 for Pesach. Eligible for individuals with an annual income of $59,000 or less and families with an annual income of $85,000 or less.
- Center for Family Life
Address: 443 39th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Appointment: call (929) 480-7175 or schedule online
Tax Service Hours: From January 27, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- NYU Langone
Address: 550 59th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220
Appointment: call (929) 480-7175 or schedule online
Tax Service Hours: From January 28, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
- Black Chamber of Commerce of New York City- VITA
Address: 3810 Church Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Appointment: call (718) 255-3322 or schedule online
Tax Service Hours: From February 3, 2025, to April 15, 2025, every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Eligible for individuals with an annual income of $65,000 or less and families with an annual income of $80,000 or less.
Queens
- Shinhan Bank
Address: 13617 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://go.oncehub.com/UrbanUpbound
Tax Service Hours: From January 31, 2025, to April 11, 2025, every Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- MinKwon Center for Community Action
Address: 133-29 41th Ave, Flushing, NY 11355
Appointment: Call 718-460-5600
Tax Service Hours: From January 27, 2025, to April 15, 2024, every Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Closed for the following holidays: 2/17/25 (President’s Day). Saturday clinics are also planned for every other week.
- Urban Upbound – Long Island City (including self-employed filers)
Address: 1215 40 Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://go.oncehub.com/UrbanUpbound
Tax Service Hours: From January 28,2025, to December 31, 2025, every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, every Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Business expenses of $250,000 or less for all filers.
- Metro Plus Flushing (including self-employed filers)
Address: 136-13 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Appointment: call 718-784-0877 ext. 7 or visit: https://go.oncehub.com/UrbanUpbound
Tax Service Hours: From January 28, 2025, to April 12, 2025, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For all filers, business expenses should not exceed $250,000.
- Flushing Library
Address: 41-17 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355
Appointment: Call (718) 661-1200 or schedule online
Tax Service Hours: From February 3, 2025 to April 14, 2025, every Monday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
If your organization provides free Chinese tax filing services but is not listed above, please contact april.xu@documentedny.com and we will add your information to the list.
