Mayor, Coalition urge Detroiters to claim Earned

Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit for 2022

 Detroiters received millions in tax credits through both programs last year
 Important changes this year with expanded Child Tax Credit families need to know
 Hundreds of volunteers and staff will offer free tax preparation, including Drop & Go locations
 All the information you need available at www.getthetaxfacts.org

DETROIT, January 31st, 2022 - The City of Detroit is working with several community-based organizations
to continue its annual push to encourage Detroiters to file their taxes and claim their refunds. This year,
with both the expanded Child Tax Credit and the increased refunds from the State of Michigan Earned
Income Tax Credit, filing your taxes is even more important.

Mayor Mike Duggan, joined by Accounting Aid Society, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, Wayne
Metropolitan Community Action Agency, University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions and Community
Development Advocates of Detroit, kicked off the 2022 income tax season today and outlined efforts to
urge residents to claim their credits.

“The City of Detroit and its partners are going to make sure every Detroiter has the help and information
they need to claim these funds,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “The expanded Child Tax Credit is a once-in-
a-lifetime opportunity, and the impact can be life changing for many families. But you can’t take part in
this benefit if you don’t file your taxes, so we’re going to help if you need it.”

In most cases, you can file your taxes for free in Detroit, thanks to the help of hundreds of staff and
volunteers from Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro who will assist with tax preparation in person,
virtually, and at “drop & go” locations. Through the generosity of partners at the Skillman Foundation,
Kresge Foundation, Ballmer Group, and W.K Kellogg Foundation these efforts will receive additional
support this year. 

As a result of the City of Detroit’s annual EITC campaign, Detroiters have claimed $56 million more in
EITC refunds each year on average. Prior to 2017, EITC-eligible Detroiters left an estimated $80 million of
potential tax refunds unclaimed each year.

Through last year’s coordinated outreach in the City of Detroit, thousands of Detroit families were able
to take advantage of the expanded Child Tax Credit. Many of these families received monthly payments
of up to $300 per child. Families are eligible for an additional lump sum of up to $1,800 per child when
they file their taxes in 2022, plus any of the monthly payments they may have missed.  

CHILD TAX CREDIT – Who is eligible:

If you have children under 18 in your home, you were eligible for monthly cash payments that began in
July 2021 through the expanded Child Tax Credit, but you must file taxes in 2022 to receive the second
half of your credit.

***If you received any Child Tax Credit payments last year, be on the lookout for a letter from the IRS
detailing how much you received. You will need this letter to file your 2022 taxes and ensure you get
the maximum allowed payment. If you don’t supply this letter with your tax filing, your 2022
payments could be withheld.

If you didn’t receive any monthly payments in 2021, it’s not too late to claim your Child Tax Credit. You
may be eligible even if you are not the child’s biological parent, do not usually file taxes or have low/no
earnings.

“Over the past six months, the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit has helped thousands of Detroit
families pay for food, school supplies, and other necessities — and parents still get the other half of that
credit, plus others, when they file their taxes! We need to ensure all eligible Detroit families file taxes to
claim these credits, so they can continue to receive this critical support,” said Luke Shaefer, director of
University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions initiative and the Hermann and Amalie Kohn Professor of
Social Justice and Social Policy. 

EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT – Who is eligible:

The EITC is available to working families and individuals who meet certain income requirements. The
amount of the refund depends on income, filing status, and number of qualifying children claimed on
tax returns. For example, a single individual with no children who works and makes less than $21,430
could get back as much as $1,502. A married couple with three or more children who files a joint return,
with a combined income of less than $57,414, could receive the maximum EITC of $6,728.

If you worked at all in 2021, you may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Earned Income
Tax Credit provides extra income to workers with low to moderate incomes, up to $57,000. Changes to
tax law mean that more workers are eligible now than ever before.
FREE TAX PREP AVAILABLE:

"Accounting Aid Society recognizes that families and individuals in our community want accessibility,
flexibility, and safety.  Our in-person, virtual, and drop-and-go tax filing options provide just that,
allowing clients to fit tax preparation into their schedules and providing assistance for those without an
existing tax site in their neighborhood. After a hard stop in March of 2020, in-person tax preparation is
back at five locations across Detroit, providing the dependable service our clients deserve,” said Priscill
Perkins, President and CEO of Accounting Aid Society.

With drop-and-go, clients leave their documents with a tax preparer, and can review their completed
return about a week later. Clients can use smartphones, tablets, or a computer’s camera to upload and
sign documents to securely prepare their taxes, all without leaving their homes.  All options are free to
qualified households.  “Additionally, we are adding the support of our Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic to
our existing locations to help clients resolve issues with the IRS,” Perkins said.  “As we continue to
navigate the changing landscape of the pandemic, along with the uncertainties of an economy that has
been brutal to our community, Accounting Aid Society will provide professional, reliable services to our
clients, as we have for the last 50 years."

"This tax season, we continue to utilize several different strategies to safely complete tax returns to
meet the need for families to help them gain access to much-needed resources such as the CTC and
EITC," said Louis Piszker, Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. "All
clients begin the tax prep process with over-the-phone intake. From there, we work with the client to
determine whether the remainder of the tax filing process will be completed virtually or in person,
based on client preference. We continue to balance service and safety with Wayne Metro sites
remaining open to help meet the community needs.”

Through its extensive network of community resources, United Way will lead this coalition - making sure
Detroiters are connected to the help they need. 

“Even in good times, we clearly need to do more to support working households, but in these
challenging economic times, it is absolutely vital. Both the Child Tax Credit and the EITC help working
families make ends meet. For many, these important tax benefits can be the difference between
financial stability and crisis. However, too many people are unaware that they are eligible,” said Dr.
Darienne Hudson, president, and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "We're proud of this
partnership with the City, Accounting Aid Society, Wayne Metro, and others to help ensure everyone
has the opportunity to boost their incomes by securing these credits, especially for those hardest hit by
the pandemic. We know the EITC and Child Tax Credits are among the most effective tools we have to
lift families out of poverty and put them on the path to stability, and we are encouraged that the
legislature and Governor Whitmer will consider providing even more relief to Michigan workers by
increasing the state EITC." 

Make an appointment for tax help today by calling 2-1-1 or going online at GetTheTaxFacts.org