Welcome! We're glad you're here. Cornell University is partnering with the Internal Revenue Service, Tompkins County Public Library, and Human Services Coalition to provide free tax preparation services to qualified taxpayers. 

Why use our services?

• Our program is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, and all of our tax preparers are certified by the IRS.

• Our services are 100% FREE (no preparation or e-filing fees) to make sure that your entire refund goes back to you.

We have three convenient options to serve you. Please read through the options below and select the one that best works for you and your schedule.

1. Self-preparation with coaching (do it yourself with us there to guide you.

2. Remote drop off with in-person pickup (only requires a quick trip to the library to pick things up!).

3. In-person preparation.

Option 1: Self-Preparation with Coaching -- available to taxpayers with income of $79,000 or less in 2023.

We recommend this option for...

• taxpayers with relatively simple tax situations (just a W-2 (or a few W-2s) and a few other items).

• taxpayers who are familiar with their tax situations and want the most efficient and convenient   option available. 

• taxpayers with limited ability to travel (you can do it all from your home!).

In this option, you'll use software to prepare your tax return by yourself with our guidance along the way. Our software is 100% FREE and is provided by the Internal Revenue Service to prepare and file your tax return at no cost to eligible taxpayers. If you get stuck or have questions along the way, you can email us at cornellfreetax@gmail.com . We're happy to look over your return after you prepare it to make sure everything looks good. We'll also have some Zoom sessions throughout the season to help coach you through preparation. Please click here to view our dates and times as well as how to access.

Ready to get started? [closed for this year -- please check back next year for link] (Password: taxes).

Option 2: Virtual Drop-Off (Drop-Off)  -- available to taxpayers with income of $63,000 or less in 2023.

We recommend this option for...

• taxpayers who are tight on time (only a quick walk-in required to review and sign your tax return).

• taxpayers who have a relatively simple tax situation (just a W-2 (or a few W-2s) and a few other items).

• taxpayers who have access to a cell phone or other device that can be used to upload pictures of their tax documents to a secure online system.

In this option, you will use a secure online system to electronically upload your tax documents and answer some questions about your tax situation, which usually takes our clients 20-45 minutes. We will prepare your tax return and call you when it is ready to pick up (usually 7-10 days or less after submission). You can come to our site at the Tompkins County Public Library during any time we're open to review your return and sign it. Please be sure that your submission is complete; failure to provide a complete submission may limit our ability to prepare your tax return. Please note that we are not able to prepare tax returns for non-resident aliens at this time, but our friends at Ithaca College specialize in those returns.

Ready to get started? Complete the Secure Online Intake Form by Clicking Here.

Option 3: Face-to-Face (Traditional) at the Tompkins County Public Library  (101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850) -- available to taxpayers with income of $55,000 or less in 2023.

We recommend this option for...

• taxpayers who have a relatively complex tax situation (self-employed earnings or tax credits like the Earned-Income Tax Credit or Education Tax Credits).

• taxpayers who don't understand their tax situations well (taxes can be tough for a lot of people!).

• taxpayers with limited access to technology.

In this option, you will schedule an appointment during our open hours at the Tompkins County Public Library (around 1 hour long) at 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850 in the digital lab. You will bring your tax documents, photo identification, and social security cards for all individuals on the tax return, and we will prepare your tax return while you wait. Be sure to bring all documents with you to the appointment. Please use this option only if the first two options do not work well for you, as space in this option is the most limited. Please note that we are not able to prepare tax returns for non-resident aliens at this time, but our friends at Ithaca College specialize in those returns.

Ready to get started? Call 211 within Tompkins County to make an appointment. You can also call 877-211-8667. 

Our site is open Tuesdays 12-4 PM, Thursdays 2-7 PM, and select Saturdays 12-4 PM in the Digital Lab at TCPL.

Scheduling will become available on January 29, 2024.

Please download and complete 2 intake forms BEFORE your appointment if possible (click on links below to download). Click on each of the links below in RED.

Federal Intake Form

New York Intake Form 

(Please download and complete BOTH)

Please also review WHAT TO BRING with you by clicking here

If you're unsure about any answers on the forms, don't worry, we'll guide you through them when you get to the site.

If you are self-employed, please click here for a helpful worksheet to organize your income and expenses.

Questions? Call 211 in Tompkins County or email us at cornellfreetax@gmail.com. 

Please note that our email is only regularly monitored from January through April.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented on this website and linked websites are intended only as a guide and do not guarantee accurate tax return preparation. The taxpayer assumes all liability for tax returns prepared using these resources. By using this site, the taxpayer is asserting that he/she/they meet all requirements to be covered within the scope of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program administered by the Cornell University. All advice, services, etc., are provided on a volunteer basis. Consistent with Public Law 105-19, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 protects volunteers from liability, including tax services as explained in Internal Revenue Service Publication 4961.