Disadvantaged people in the Hunter can receive free tax advice from the University of Newcastle.
The federal government's National Tax Clinic program will provide $300,000 for a partnership between the university's business and law schools.
The money will be used to establish an independent tax clinic at the university's Greater Bank Finance Lab from 2022 to 2024.
Professor Christina Boedker said it was a critical program.
"The Hunter Region has a high proportion of disadvantaged individuals when compared to the NSW average," Professor Boedker said.
Some people don't have access to the technology needed to complete their tax.
"If you are not tax-compliant, anxiety increases, you experience stress. It has quite negative consequences on your wellbeing and health," she said.
The Australian Tax Office administers the program, with students providing advice to those in need. This can include individuals, small businesses and charities.
The Newcastle tax clinic is among 14 that the ATO has established across Australia.
Some people have not lodged tax returns for years.
"It's not that people want to be non-compliant, they haven't got the knowledge or skills and don't know where to go for help. And they haven't got the financial means to engage a tax agent," Professor Boedker said.
