Frequently Asked Questions

Even if you have not filed taxes in a while, you can still benefit from filing your tax return. You may have thousands of dollars waiting for you in unclaimed cash payments!

You won’t know whether, and how much, you owe until you actually file. It’s possible you might get a pleasant surprise and have a refund instead!

If you do owe, it’s better to file before the deadline and set up a payment plan with the IRS rather than not file at all. Back taxes will pile up, and the longer you have gone without filing, the more you may owe in penalties and fees. You may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit, which could offset up to $2,200 per child of back taxes owed.

We’ve got your back. Our non-profit, IRS-certified tax experts at Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro have higher accuracy rates than the big for-profit tax prep companies.

If you have received an audit letter from the IRS, we can help! The Accounting Aid Society has a special service just for helping people deal with the IRS. To get help with an IRS letter, just make a regular tax appointment with the Accounting Aid Society and we’ll pair you with the right tax expert.

Yes! After April 15, we offer appointments to file prior year tax returns and claim any cash benefits you’re eligible for from previous years. Schedule now for a no cost appointment with our expert tax preparers.

More and more, the federal government is using the IRS to distribute benefits. When you file your taxes, you may find that you are owed cash benefits! If you worked even a little bit, you may be eligible to receive extra money through the Earned Income Tax Credit. And the Child Tax Credit provides up to $2,200 per child to parents, guardians and caregivers of dependent children, so long as you earned at least $2,500 in the last year. Even people who did not earn much in 2025 can still receive a big refund. You may also qualify for Michigan tax credits, which do not require any earned income.

If you have no income from work, you may qualify for tax-time benefits through the State of Michigan to help you cover the cost of heating and owning or renting your home. If you have even a little bit of income from work—from a part-time job or self-employment—you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. If you are a parent or guardian and earned at least $2,500 from work in 2025, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit, worth up to $2,200 per child. Our tax experts at Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro can help you figure out your eligibility and claim your cash payments.

Yes! There’s no penalty for filing late if you receive a refund. Even if you do owe money, it’s best to file as soon as possible to minimize penalties. We offer appointments after April 15 and throughout the summer and fall to file late returns for the current year as well as tax returns from previous years. Register to get expert help filing your taxes at no cost to you.

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 2025. To claim your credit, you must file a 2025 tax return in early 2026. We can help you file your taxes and claim your cash benefits.

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 2026:

• 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 2026:

• If you claim the child on your tax return in 2026, 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.

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 2025, 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, 2025, 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, 2025, 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.

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 2025 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.

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.

It’s true that changes to tax law have reduced taxes on tips and overtime.  As a result, most people who earn tips and overtime should get a larger tax refund this year.  However, the rules are not quite as simple as they sound.   The rules are also new, so some employers and neighborhood tax preparers may not fully understand them.  The best way to make sure that you get the refund you deserve is to work with our IRS-certified tax experts.  Schedule now for an appointment to file your taxes in 2026. 

Really want to know the details?   

• TIPS:  If your employer requires a certain tip amount (for example, on parties of 6 or more), that income is still taxed.  Only tips that are truly the customer’s choice are tax-free.   

• OVERTIME: Your base pay for the overtime hours worked is still taxed.  Only the bonus portion of your overtime hourly rate is tax-free.  For example, suppose you earn $20 an hour and get time-and-a-half for overtime.  You’ll still pay taxes on your base pay of $20 per hour for overtime hours worked.  Only the $10 per hour overtime bonus is tax-free. 

If you don’t have a bank account on file with the IRS, your payment will be sent to you in the mail. It may take several weeks to arrive. Direct deposit into your bank account is the fastest way to get payments. Check your tax return to see whether you gave the IRS your bank account information and, if so, that it is the correct bank account.

If you received the Earned Income Tax Credit, the IRS starts sending refunds in mid-February. By law, the IRS is not allowed to send EITC refunds during the first few weeks of tax season.  You can track your refund online with the IRS at: https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund .  To track your State of Michigan refund, visit: https://etreas.michigan.gov/iit/p/iittWMR

BankOn offers safe, low cost banking options. If you want local or one-on-one assistance, the City of Detroit’s Financial Empowerment Center can help you in setting up a bank account.