Taxes, Cash & Savings · Surprise rank #167
Volunteer Firefighter or Ambulance Worker All Year? Claim a Refundable $200 NY Credit
New York gives qualifying year-round volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers a refundable state income-tax credit.
Who
Full-year New York residents who were active volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers for the entire tax year and meet the credit rules.
What to do
Start here: Claim the volunteer firefighters’ and ambulance workers’ credit on your New York return and keep proof of qualifying service.
Eligibility: You must be an active qualifying volunteer for the full tax year and a New York resident for the full tax year.
What you get
A refundable personal income-tax credit for eligible active volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.
Benefit: $200 per eligible volunteer; $400 on a joint return when both spouses independently qualify.
Possible value: $200 or $400 depending on whether one or both spouses qualify.
Good to know
Important: You cannot claim this income-tax credit if you receive a real-property-tax exemption that relates to your volunteer service, subject to the multiple-owner rule described by the Tax Department.
Availability: Active
Why people miss it: Volunteers may know about local property-tax relief but not realize there is a separate refundable state income-tax option—and that the two usually cannot be stacked for the same service.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026