Make less than $58K a year? Get free help filing your taxes in Rochester

The deadline for filing your 2022 tax returns is Tuesday, April 18. Those who make less than $58K a year can have an IRS-certified volunteer prepare their income tax returns for free.

New York provides Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, known as VITA, sites across the state. A VITA site lookup, sorted by ZIP code, is available on the IRS website.

Rochester's local VITA program, CASH (Creating Assets, Savings & Hope), is offered through the Empire Justice Center.

You can schedule your appointment at www.cashtaxprep2022.as.me. All returns before 2022 can only be performed in March.

From USA TODAY:How long it's taking to receive IRS refunds during 2023 tax season

Explainer:Minimum income to file taxes in 2023. Not everyone needs to file

How does free income tax preparation work in New York?

CASH offers financial services to low-income families by providing tax prep that's easy to understand and at no cost. The program also offers year-round financial advice and educational resources that help families plan for their futures.

If you fail to file your federal return by the April 18 deadline, the penalty is 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late; however, the punishment is 25% of your due taxes at most.

If you make over $58K a year and still need financial assistance filing your tax return, you may qualify for Taxpayer Assistance Program (TAP) help.

More information on TAP can be found at tax.ny.gov/tap

Contact Robert Bell at: rlbell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @byrobbell & Instagram: @byrobbell.

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This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Free tax filing help in Rochester NY if you make less than 58K