Filing doesn’t have to be hard. We can help. 

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Schedule an appointment

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Prepare your documents and plan your transportation

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meet with a trusted tax expert, at no cost to you

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file your taxes and claim your payments

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Documents you need to file

All filers should plan to bring their:

Have questions about these documents? We have answers. See below.

Once you schedule an appointment to file your taxes, our tax prep partners at Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro will send you a confirmation email or text message. It will include a detailed list of documents that you need to file your taxes.

Please make sure to bring ALL the documents that apply to you to your appointment. You may have to schedule a second appointment to finish filing your taxes if you do not have all the documents with you at the first appointment.

Optional: Bring your bank account information if you would like to receive your payments via direct deposit (bank name, address, routing number and account number). If you have a checking account, bring along a check that has all of the necessary information to set up a direct deposit. You do not have to pay for tax preparation services. This is only to help you receive your payment.

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Common Questions

We know life situations change—sometimes more than once during the year. It can be confusing to know how everything fits into the tax guidelines. And getting the required documentation can be tough. Here is some information to help you.

I had a baby in 2024. Can I claim the Child Tax Credit for my new child?

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Yes! You are eligible for the Child Tax Credit for the new child, so long as you earned at least $2,500 from working in 2024. To claim your credit, you must file a 2024 tax return in early 2025. We can help you file your taxes and claim your payment.

Someone else claimed my child on their taxes last year, or I expect someone else to claim my child on their taxes in 2025. What should I know?

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If someone else claimed your child on their taxes last year and you expect that person to claim your child again on their taxes in 2025:
  • If the child does not live with you at least six months out of the year, you are likely not eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit for that child.
  • If the child lives with you more than six months out of the year but someone else usually claims them on their taxes, talk to a tax professional for advice. Make a no-cost appointment with one of our tax prep partners to get help.
If someone else claimed your child on their taxes last year but you expect to claim your child on your taxes in 2025:
  • If you claim the child on your tax return in 2025, and no one else does, you will be eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit for that child. Only one person or family can claim a particular child at the same time.
  • If you and someone else both claim your child in the same year, your refund may be delayed. Ask a tax professional for advice. Make a no-cost appointment with one of our tax prep partners to get help.

What’s the difference between a W2 and 1099? How do I know which one I need?

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The forms are similar. Both show how much money you earned from an organization for tax purposes. The important thing is that any organization that paid you money for work in 2024 should give you either a W2 or a 1099. You might also receive a 1099 for unearned income, such as unemployment income and lottery or gambling winnings, which are taxable. You should collect all your W2s and 1099s and bring them with you to your tax appointment.

Really want to know the details? A W2 is a form that you receive from your employer showing how much money you made for tax purposes. If you are hired as an employee under federal employment law, you will receive a W2. A 1099 is a similar form that you receive from an organization that paid you money as an independent contractor. Many gig jobs, like driving for Uber or Lyft or freelancing, are technically independent contracting arrangements and will provide a 1099.

I do not know where my W2 (or 1099) is. Can you help me find the form?

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Only your employer or the organization you contracted with can provide you with your W2 and 1099 forms. Organizations will usually mail the correct form to you so that you have it in mid to late January. Make sure your employer or the organization you contracted with has your current address! The form may be available to download and print from your employer’s online HR system. If you didn’t receive yours, you will need to contact your employer or the organization you contracted with for help.

My household and/or dependents have changed in the last year. How do I know if I’m still eligible?

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The Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit count dependents based on whether the child lives with you at least half of the year and how old they are on December 31 of the tax year. If you had a baby born in 2024, you can claim that baby for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit if you meet the income guidelines.

Children under age 17 are eligible for the Child Tax Credit. If your child turned age 17 before December 31, 2024, that child is no longer eligible for the Child Tax Credit.

For the Earned Income Tax Credit, children under age 19 are eligible. If your child turned 19 before December 31, 2024, that child is no longer eligible—unless the child is a full-time student. Children who are full-time students are eligible until they turn 24.
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