On Tuesday, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board (WPWDB) hosted a kickoff event at SUNY Westchester Community College Yonkers for the County’s annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The VITA program helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) file their taxes for free. The program also provides help for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and those for whom English is a second language.
VITA relies on dedicated volunteers to act as greeters, and assist with translation and call-center operations. Tax preparation is done by IRS-certified volunteers with free electronic filing.
The program is operating now through April 15 at nine locations throughout Westchester and the Bronx. Residents can call 211 or 1-800-899-1479 to schedule an appointment at one of nine locations listed below.
In 2023, the Westchester VITA program helped 1,759 residents. A total of $2.2 million federal and state refunds were received by Westchester residents.
This year, students from Mt. Vernon High School are volunteering for the program as part of the VITA Student Initiative, a partnership with students from Ossining High School, Westchester Community College and Mercy University. Eleven students were trained and received IRS certification to prepare returns. New volunteer students work alongside experienced VITA volunteers to provide tax preparation services to members of the community who could not otherwise afford it, providing a learning experience while offering valuable services to the Westchester community.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “What started as a small program in 1969, to help the IRS increase taxpayer education, has evolved into a critical resource for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Today, the VITA program ensures accurate tax returns, equitable access to the tax code, and needed tax refunds for our working families and individuals who most need them. It also serves to boost the local economy; it’s estimated that about 80% of refunds are spent locally, generating sales, wages, and jobs.”
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said: “We are proud to provide our hard-working residents access to free tax prep services they can trust and rely on right in their local community. We’re especially pleased that VITA services will be offered for the first time at the WCC Campus at the Cross County Shopping Center. We thank all the IRS certified volunteers for their time and talent.”
The program is delivered through a collaboration of partners who worked diligently to coordinate the day-to-day operations—2-1-1 Hudson Valley/United Way of Westchester and Putnam; the IRS; Westchester County Government; Westchester Community College, Valhalla and Cross County Campuses; Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry and Bronx Campuses; Ossining High School; Ossining Youth Bureau; Westchester Jewish Community Services; and the Westchester-Putnam Career Center Network.
Call 211 or 1-800-899-1479 to make an appointment at one of the nine locations listed.
VITA Free Tax Prep Program Runs from February 2 through April 15
Volunteer tax preparer and language translator assistance runs from February 2 through April 15 and is available at the sites below. Call 211 or (800) 899-1479 to make an appointment at one of the Westchester County VITA/EITC Tax Assistance locations.
Free Tax Prep Locations
White Plains Career Center, 120 Bloomingdale Road, 2nd Floor, White Plains, NY 10605
Note: Entrance at rear of the building.
Dates/Times: February 12 to April 15 | Mondays: 4 pm –8 pm
Saturdays, beginning February 17, ending April 13: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable Accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Mercy University—Dobbs Ferry Campus
555 Broadway, Victory Hall, Room 100, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10552
Note: The entrance to Victory Hall, Room 100 is the second entrance after Mercy’s main entrance on Broadway. Park in the Lot.
Dates/Times: Saturdays: February 3 to April 13 | 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Last Day: April 13
- Language translation available.
- Appointments and walk-ins welcomed.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Mercy University - Bronx Campus
1200 Waters Place (1st Floor, Room 1380), Bronx, NY 10461
Dates/Times: Fridays: February 2 to April 12 | 11:30 am–5:30 pm
Last Day: April 12
- Language translation available.
- Appointments and walk-ins welcomed.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Mount Vernon Career Center
130 Mount Vernon Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Note: Entrance on Macquesten Parkway. Parking is available in lot on Mt. Vernon Ave.
Dates/Times: Fridays, starting February 16 to April 12 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Saturdays, starting February 17 to April 13: 9 am–3 pm
Last Day: April 13
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Ossining Youth Bureau
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Dates/Times: Saturdays, starting February 17 to April 13 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Last Day: April 13
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Ossining High School
29 South Highland Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562
Dates/Times: February 12 to April 15
Mondays: 3:30 pm–8 pm |
Last Day: April 15
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Westchester Community College (Gateway Center, Valhalla Campus)
75 Grasslands Road, Room G144, Valhalla, NY 10595
Note: Entrance is across from parking lot 1.
Dates/Times: February 12 to April 15
Mon. & Wed.: 9 am–4 pm
Last Day: April 15
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Westchester Community College (Cross County Campus)
843 Kimball Avenue (Learning Commons),
Yonkers, NY 10704
Dates/Times: Saturdays, starting February 17 to April 13 | 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Last Day: April 13
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Westchester Jewish Community Services – Hartsdale
141 North Central Avenue, Hartsdale, NY 10530
Note: Parking/Entrance is in the rear. The Verizon Store is an outstanding marker that you have arrived at the correct shopping center. It is the shopping center before the Trader Joe’s.
Dates/Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting February 13 to April 11 | 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Last Day: April 11
- By appointment only.
- Language translation available.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided, upon request.
Who Qualifies for EITC?
The potential maximum tax credit includes federal, state and New York City credits and depends on income, marital status and number of qualifying children in the household. Qualifying children can be a son, daughter, grandchild, adopted child, step child or foster child as long as the child is under 19 years of age, under the age of 24 if a full-time student, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year. The child must have the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half the tax year and not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year.