Why File - United Way for Southeastern Michigan

It’s not too late! File your taxes in 2025 to claim your cash benefits.

If your total income is less than $67,000 you likely have one or more cash benefits waiting and tax prep services are at no cost to you.

Our tax experts at Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro can help claim your cash payments that are available through the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and many more!

Exact details vary based on the specific tax credit, your tax filing status and the number of people in your household. Some, but not all, tax credits require that you or your children have a Social Security Number.

Here are some examples of situations that qualify for cash payments:

You earned at least some money from work in 2024.
You are a parent, guardian or caregiver of a child who lives with you at least half of the year, and you earned at least
$2,500 from work in 2024.
You care for a child or adult who is disabled.
You paid money in 2024 for rent, property taxes, or for gas/electric to heat your home.
You haven’t filed taxes in previous years and need to claim past benefits.

If your total income is more than $67,000, you may qualify for valuable tax credits. However, you do not qualify for a no- cost tax preparation appointment.

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How to file

Common questions

Worried about filing your taxes? Find answers to some of the most common concerns we heard from Detroit filers.

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 $2,000 per child of back taxes owed.

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 free tax appointment with our expert tax preparers.

More and more, the federal government is using the IRS to distribute benefits. When you schedule a free tax appointment, 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 $2,000 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 2024 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 2024, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit, worth up to $2,000 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. Get expert help filing your taxes at no cost to you.

Get The Tax Facts is made possible thanks to the support of a coalition of partners and funders.