The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today announced that its Income Tax Call Center will be open until 7 p.m. ET on Monday, May 17, to assist last-minute filers.

Representatives will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at (518) 457-5181. Standard hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on weekdays.

Before you call, however, consider that the most efficient way to obtain tax filing guidance and information, including answers to common questions, is to visit the Tax Department’s website, www.tax.ny.gov.

Visit our Filing season resource center for online resources to help you electronically prepare and file an accurate return on time—without the wait.

Since the filing season began in February, Tax Department representatives have answered more than 130,000 tax return filing-related questions. They expect to assist an additional 4,700 callers on Tax Day alone.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminds taxpayers that the deadline to file personal income tax returns is Monday, May 17. Resources to help you file an accurate and on-time return are available anytime online at www.tax.ny.gov.

"The Tax Department website is an essential resource that allows taxpayers to efficiently fulfill their filing obligations,” said Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller. “You can access everything from free filing software to answers to frequently asked questions. I encourage all New Yorkers to visit www.tax.ny.gov to ease the stress of last-minute filing."

Our Filing season resource center can help you complete a range of tasks, including filing your tax return, responding to a request for additional information, or checking the status of your refund.

E-file for free. Free File software is accessible from the Tax Department website at Free File your income tax return. Taxpayers with incomes of $72,000 or less in 2020 can electronically complete and submit their federal and New York State income tax returns online at no cost. More than 192,000 New York taxpayers have used our Free File software so far this year. It’s easy, fast, and secure.

To ensure you're not charged a fee, you must go to the Tax Department’s website to complete your return. You’ll save on preparation fees, prevent costly errors, and ensure that you receive any refund you’re owed in the most efficient way possible.

By e-filing your return and choosing direct deposit you’ll receive your refund up to two weeks sooner.

To use direct deposit, simply check direct deposit on your tax return, then enter your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. For checking accounts, this information is available on your checks; for savings accounts, contact your bank.

Check your refund online. Taxpayers can also quickly view the status of their New York State tax refund anytime using the Check Your Refund Status tool on the Tax Department website (visit www.tax.ny.gov and search: refund). It’s the fastest and most convenient way to know when to expect your refund. It’s updated daily and provides the same information available to our phone representatives—only without the wait!

You can also sign up to receive an email about your refund issue date. Visit the Tax Department homepage at www.tax.ny.gov, select Subscribe under the Connect With Us heading at the bottom of the page, then choose Sign up for alerts.

Communicate directly with the Tax Department. If you receive a letter asking for documentation to support entries on your return, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. It's one of several steps the Tax Department takes to ensure that returns are accurate and refunds amounts are correct. The goal is to stop questionable returns and refund claims, not to delay refunds.

Create an Individual Online Services account. If you have an Online Services account, you can review your Account Summary homepage for important information about your tax account. You can view any payments you already made toward your income tax to confirm the total amount you paid, so it’s easy to report on your tax return when filing. These payments include estimated tax payments made throughout the year, any overpayment carried forward from the previous year, as well as payments made with your extension of time to file.

Request an extension of time to file. You can obtain an automatic extension of time to file if you’re unable to submit a completed income tax return by the May 17 deadline. The extension request is due Monday, May 17 at 11:59 p.m. You must also make your extension payment by May 17. Personal income tax returns with an extension are due on or before Friday, Oct. 15.

Get your questions answered. Tax Department representatives are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET at (518) 457-5181 on weekdays. Additionally, representatives will be available until 7 p.m. on the filing deadline Monday, May 17 to answer last minute questions.

Before you call, however, consider that the most efficient way to obtain tax filing guidance and information, including answers to common questions, is to visit the Tax Department’s website, www.tax.ny.gov. Our Filing season resource center is a good place to start.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today encouraged eligible taxpayers to register for a free virtual tax filing assistance session.

If your federal adjusted gross income in 2020 was $72,000 or less, you qualify to receive free virtual tax assistance from the Tax Department. We can guide you through the process of electronically preparing and filing your 2020 federal and state income tax returns at no cost.

During a prescheduled virtual webinar session using WebEx or Zoom, our department representatives will guide you step by step as needed through the free tax preparation software as you complete and file your own tax return.

The NYS Tax Department extended the filing due date for New York State personal income tax returns to May 17 to match the extended due date for federal income tax returns.

“The Tax Department is offering New Yorkers more time to file because of the ongoing pandemic and free filing services for those eligible,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt. “We encourage New Yorkers to save on tax preparation costs for their federal and state returns by taking advantage of this free assistance.”

Register for a Session

You can register to attend a session directly with the Tax Department or through one of our partners.

Once you register, you will receive an email with a link to the webinar session. You will also receive a link to the free tax software and an intake questionnaire. Please review and fill out the intake questionnaire to ensure you have all the documents needed to complete your return during the session.

To register, see Register for a virtual FSA session.

How to Have a Successful E-filing Experience

Four steps to ensure a quick and easy filing experience:

1. Have all tax documents and personal information for each person on the return available for the webinar session.
2. Use the software link to set up an account in the free software.
3. Plan to spend up to two hours in the webinar session.
4. Follow up by checking your email within 48 hours once you submit your return.

You can review the documents to have on hand and an explanation of how to create an account to use the free software at www.tax.ny.gov/fsa.

Free File Software

If you’re confident enough to file on your own, you don’t need to attend a virtual session. You can use your own computer, tablet, or mobile device to prepare and e-file your income tax returns whenever and wherever you want using the same secure software at no cost. To learn more and determine if you qualify for Free File, please visit our Free File your income tax return (Spanish, Chinese, Russian) page.

For related information, please see the two-minute video Tax Department response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

With one month to go before the April 15 tax return filing deadline, The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of the free resources available 24/7 at www.tax.ny.gov, including the Free File program.

Taxpayers with income of $72,000 or less in 2020 can electronically complete and submit their federal and New York State income tax returns online for free.

“Nearly 100,000 taxpayers have already taking advantage of our free filing services through the Tax Department website,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt. “Free File is fast, safe, secure, and will help ensure you don’t overlook any beneficial credits or deductions.”

To be directed to the free filing options, simply click Free File your income tax return on the Tax Department’s website.

To ensure you're not charged a fee, you must go to the Tax Department’s website to complete your return. You’ll save on preparation fees, prevent costly errors, and ensure that you directly receive any refund you’re owed in the most efficient way possible.

The Tax Department has produced a series of video tutorials to assist New Yorkers with the tax return filing process. Topics range from gathering the necessary documents to choosing the right software. You can view the videos at our Get ready to e-file your income tax return webpage.

Filing your return electronically is safer and more efficient than sending paper returns through the mail. About 95 percent of all personal income tax returns in New York State are electronically prepared and filed. All returns, regardless of how they’re filed, undergo the same systematic review.

You’ll also receive your refund faster if it’s directly deposited into your bank account rather than mailed as a paper check.

To use direct deposit, simply choose the “direct deposit” option on your tax return, then enter your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. For checking accounts, this information is available on your checks; for savings accounts, contact your bank.

Need individual assistance?

If you need assistance in filing your tax return, free help is available. If your federal adjusted gross income in 2020 was $72,000 or less, Tax Department representatives can guide you through the free tax preparation software to help you electronically prepare and file your 2020 federal and state income tax returns at no cost.

To register, see Register for a virtual FSA session.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded taxpayers that they can receive the refunds they’re owed up to two weeks sooner by e-filing their return and choosing direct deposit.

E-filing is safer, faster, and more efficient than sending paper returns through the mail. And you’ll receive your refund faster if it’s directly deposited into your bank account rather than mailed as a paper check.

“Combining the power of electronic filing and direct deposit is the most secure and efficient way to submit your tax return and receive any refund due,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt.

“We strive to issue refunds as quickly as possible, and you can help by filing an accurate return and choosing to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account.”

To use direct deposit, simply check direct deposit on your tax return, then enter your bank’s nine-digit routing number and your account number. For checking accounts, this information is available on your checks; for savings accounts, contact your bank.

If you forgo the simplicity and convenience of direct deposit, make sure your mailing address is correct when requesting a refund check by mail. Any error can delay your refund.

Prepare and file your income tax returns for free

Free File software is now available at the Tax Department website, www.tax.ny.gov. Taxpayers with income of $72,000 or less in 2020 can electronically complete and submit their federal and New York State income tax returns online at no cost.

Nearly 255,000 New York taxpayers used our Free File software last year, saving themselves a combined $51 million in the process. To be directed to the free filing options, simply click Free File your income tax return on the Tax Department’s website. It’s easy, fast and secure.

To ensure you're not charged a fee, you must go to the Tax Department’s website to complete your return. You’ll save on preparation fees, prevent costly errors, and ensure that you receive any refund you’re owed in the most efficient way possible.

Check your refund status

Taxpayers can also quickly view the status of their New York State tax refund anytime by using the Check your Refund application on the Tax Department website: www.tax.ny.gov. It’s the fastest and most convenient way to know when to expect your refund. It’s updated daily and provides the same information available to our phone representatives—only without the wait!

You can also find out when your refund will be issued by signing up for Tax Department email alerts. Visit the Tax Department homepage at www.tax.ny.gov and select Subscribe under the Connect With Us heading at the bottom of the page.