Covering Tompkins County and the surrounding area
(Sponsored by Cornell University in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, Tompkins County Public Library, and the Human Services Coalition)
IRS Certified Preparers
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.
Self-preparation with coaching (do it yourself with us there to guide you.
In-person preparation.
Option 1: Self-Preparation with Coaching -- available to taxpayers with income of $87,000 or less in 2024.
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. You may also drop by our live walk-in hours described in Option 3 below.
Ready to get started? Click Here.
Option 2: Face-to-Face (Traditional) at the Tompkins County Public Library (101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850) -- available to taxpayers with income of $65,000 or less in 2024.
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 option does 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, Fridays 1-5 PM, and select Saturdays 12-4 PM in the Digital Lab at TCPL.
Scheduling will become available on or before January 27, 2025.
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.
(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.
Option 3: Live Facilitated Self-Assist at Cornell University -- Warren Hall Room B02 (137 Reservoir Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850) -- available to taxpayers with income of $87,000 or less in 2024.
No appointment required!
Sundays from 1-5PM in Warren Hall Room B02
In this option, you can walk-in during our open hours in Warren Hall (Room B02) on Cornell University's campus at 137 Reservoir Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850 in Room B02. For this option, we will provide you with a computer and access to our self-preparation system, and we will have certified volunteers on site to help you through the preparation and filing of your tax return.
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.