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About Us

Our Mission

Accounting Aid Society provides tax assistance and promotes the economic self-sufficiency of low and middle income families, seniors and others in need through volunteerism and partnerships.

More than 17,260 families received income tax refunds and tax credits in 2010 with the help of nearly 800 trained Accounting Aid Society volunteers. Since 1976, Accounting Aid Society has returned more than $191 million to low and middle income residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties, and in turn into our state's economy.

We partner with local, state and federal government to coordinate customized training for our volunteers.  We then place our volunteers at more than 20 sites in metropolitan Detroit in locations including libraries, community centers, nonprofit and for-profit facilities. We also partner with corporations and other groups who train together and volunteer to "Adopt-A-Site." 

Accounting Aid Society celebrated its 35th year of servce in 2007.

What We Do

Through year-round tax assistance, counseling and related services, Accounting Aid Society makes an immediate impact in our neighborhoods through these initiatives:

Tax Season Tax Sites --  Every January through April, we provide tax preparation, filing and counseling services to low-income people at more than 30 locations in neighborhoods in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties.

Homebound Tax Program -- This is an office-based tax service for seniors and low-income people who are unable to visit a tax site during the regular January through April tax season.

Summer Tax Program -- This is an office-based tax service for low-income people who did not meet current or past year tax deadlines, and those who learned late about possible credits available to them. It runs June through August of each year.

Low-Income Tax Clinic -- For those whose primary language is not English, regardless of income, we provide free information about tax rights and responsibilities through our Low Income Tax Clinic, funded by the IRS. In addition to answering individual questions, we are able to conduct presentations and workshops on federal tax issues including Individual Tax Identification Numbers, filing requirements, and credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

We also offer assistance for low-income taxpayers in resolving tax disputes with the IRS through a partnerhsip with the Legal Aid and Defender Association. Dispute assistance includes audits, Earned Income Tax Credit denials, and collection liens and levies. We can also assist in obtaining innocent and injured spouse relief, installment agreements, and offers in compromise.

Neighborhood Tax Centers -- In addition to offering free tax preparation assistance, these centers incorporate support services and asset-building education offered by community partners. Connecting neighbors with neighborhood resources, they are a best-practice model for efficient, comprehensive and community-driven partnerships. The first Neighborhood Tax Center opened in January of 2007 in southwest Detroit. A second neighborhood tax center opened in northeast Detroit, in the Osborn neighborhood, in 2008. The Brightmoor Neighborhood Tax Center opened Dec. 1, 2009.

History

Board of Directors

Fast Facts

Advisory Council

Staff