Your Most Trusted Tax Preparer in the Bronx & New York City
About Our Free Tax Preparation Program
Here at Ariva, we are committed to empowering you with the financial knowledge and resources you need so that economic prosperity can be your reality. Our work is the first step toward long-term wealth building, and we exist to support you on your journey to financial independence.
We are the top free tax preparation community-based organization in the Bronx, with partner locations in Manhattan. We help eligible New York City residents file their tax returns and claim credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. Since 2003, we have prepared free tax returns for more than 100,000 clients.
All of Ariva’s tax program staff and volunteers are IRS-certified, and our tax sites are sponsored by the IRS VITA program.
“The biggest challenges facing the Spanish-speaking community in New York City are being able to work legally, having legal status, and being able to maintain it. Thanks to Ariva, I was able to obtain the ITIN number, and I was able to declare my taxes. I feel calm, and I can give my family a little more stability.” – Gerardo Castrillon, an Ariva client
Tax Preparation Checklist
Identification documents, such as:
- Government picture ID (such as a driver’s license, IDNYC, or passport)
- Your Social Security card or ITIN information (as well as for your spouse, if filing jointly, and all your dependents).
We can help you get an ITIN if you don’t have one and are not eligible for a Social Security number.
Income documents, such as:
- Form W2 (wages from each job)
- Form 1099 (other kinds of income)
- Form W2G (gambling winnings)
- Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
- Form 1099-C (debt cancellation)
- Freelancer documents
- Proof of health insurance for each person listed on the return (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C) or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate (if applicable)
- A copy of last year’s tax return
- Form 1098-T (tuition payments to attend a university or technical college)
- Form 1098-E (interest paid on student loans)
- Documentation of child care payments for your children. (Bring provider’s name, address, and Social Security number or ITIN.)
- Records of cash and non-cash charitable contributions
- Checking account number and/or savings account number and bank routing number for direct deposit of your refund. These numbers are on your paper checks if you have a checking account. (Don’t have a checking or savings account? Tell an Ariva volunteer and we’ll get you one fast!)
- Anything else you have that you think might be a tax form or that you need to do your taxes
““We are about the people; it’s not about the numbers for us. Our clients come in and need help: people share their stories, and you never know what they’re going through. We care about them and take our work personally. We teach our clients how to do better financially each year.”” – Maribel Montilla, our Tax Program Director
Free Tax Preparation
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks to our program partners, we’ve expanded access to our free on-site tax preparation services. Please look at our Locations to find the tax locations nearest you.
If you live in New York City and your income is less than $32,000 a year ($54,000 if you have dependents), we’re here to help!
Our services are open to all income-eligible New Yorkers and centered around underserved communities, such as immigrants, veterans, women, and people of color, as our mission is to create economic justice by removing barriers to access to financial resources and education.
If you don’t have a Social Security number, we can help you apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), so you can file your return. If you haven’t filed in a few years, we can file some prior-year returns for you as well. If you are self-employed, we can probably do your return if you have less than $25,000 in business expenses.
Read our Free Tax Preparation Checklist before you visit us. Trust us. It will save you a lot of time!
You’ll need:
- Government picture ID (such as a driver’s license, IDNYC, or passport)
- Your Social Security card or ITIN information (as well as for your spouse, if filing jointly, and all your dependents). We can help you get an ITIN if you don’t have and are not eligible for a Social Security number.
Income documents, such as:
- Form W2 (wages from each job)
- Form 1099 (other kinds of income)
- Form W2G (gambling winnings)
- Form SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
- Form 1098-T (scholarships and grants)
- Form 1099-C (cancellation of debt)
- Proof of health insurance for each person listed on the return (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C) or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate (if applicable)
- A copy of last year’s tax return, if available
- Form 1098-T (tuition payments to attend a university or technical college)
- Form 1098-E (interest paid on student loans)
- Documentation of child care payments for your children. (Bring provider’s name, address, and Social Security number or ITIN.)
- Records of cash and non-cash charitable contributions
- Checking account number and/or savings account number and bank routing number for direct deposit of your refund. These numbers are on your paper checks if you have a checking account. (Don’t have a checking or savings account? Tell an Ariva volunteer, and we’ll get you one fast!)
- Anything else you have that you think might be a tax form or that you need to do your taxes