Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Zade Haobsh, Program Director of Grow Brooklyn, on DCWP and NYC Free Tax Prep
2:28:40
ยท
163 sec
Zade Haobsh, Program Director of Grow Brooklyn's free tax prep program, testified in support of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and the Office of Financial Empowerment. He emphasized the importance of DCWP's partnership in providing free tax preparation services to low and middle-income New Yorkers, especially self-employed individuals and small business owners.
- Grow Brooklyn offers both traditional IRS volunteer income tax assistance and specialized services for self-employed workers and small businesses under DCWP's NYC Free Tax Prep program.
- DCWP has helped Grow Brooklyn expand its reach, offer multilingual services, develop expertise for self-employed filers, and provide year-round tax education and resources.
- The partnership between DCWP and Grow Brooklyn was praised as an example of effective government collaboration to meet community needs and ensure access to tax credits while avoiding penalties.
Zade Haobsh
2:28:40
Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the Office of Financial Empowerment.
2:28:52
My name is Zaid, and I serve as the program director for Grow Brooklyn's free tax prep program.
2:29:01
Based in Brooklyn, we encompass both traditional IRS volunteer income tax assistance services for individuals and families as well as specialized tax preparation services for self employed workers, small business owners, and gig workers, all under DCWP's NYC free tax prep banner.
2:29:26
The complexity of our tax code creates significant barriers for low to middle income New Yorkers, for self employed individuals like freelancers, gig workers, childcare providers, and small business owners, these challenges are even more pronounced, facing confusing requirements around quarterly estimated payments, self employed taxes, proper record keeping, often without access to professional affordable guidance.
2:29:56
The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has been an important ally in our mission through financial support, technical assistance, and collaborative outreach efforts.
2:30:06
DCWP has helped us expand our geographic reach to serve more Brooklyn neighborhoods, offer multilingual tax preparation services to immigrant communities, many of whom you've heard the testimony before me, develop specialized expertise for self employed filers and provide year round a year round presence for tax education, resources and additional services.
2:30:33
TCWP's commitment to consumer protection perfectly aligns with our goal of ensuring that cost is not a barrier for providing every New Yorker access to high quality expatriation In closing, I want to emphasize that the partnership between DCWP and Grow Brooklyn represents government at its best, responding to community needs through strategic collaboration and delivering direct action.
2:31:03
By investing in these services
Julie Menin
2:31:05
I'm just gonna ask you to wrap up, please.
Zade Haobsh
2:31:08
Sure.
2:31:09
And DCWP helps ensure that working families and small business owners can access the tax credits they've earned while avoiding unnecessary penalties and fees.
Julie Menin
2:31:21
Okay.
Zade Haobsh
2:31:21
Thank you very much for your time.
Julie Menin
2:31:23
Thank you very much.