Free tax preparation is available for anyone in northwest Michigan who makes less than $100,000 a year.
The program is administered across the 10-county region by Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency.
It previously served taxpayers who made $75,000 a year or less, but that threshold has been increased to $100,000 this year.
“Most of the clients that we serve are not in that $100,000 range,” said Dave Wynne, a volunteer tax preparer in Benzie County. “They're mostly low-income and elderly, and the money that they get back, in many cases, will be what they use to pay their winter tax bill and things like that.”
Volunteers across the region are trained directly by the IRS. Wynne said their goal is to help people maximize their returns.
“One of the things we've found is in our area, Benzie County, there are fewer tax preparers available, and what they charge is often almost as much as people are getting back,” he said.
That’s where volunteer preparers like Wynne come in.
He said even taxpayers who technically don’t need to file federal taxes, like those whose only income is from Social Security, can still benefit.
For one, the process automatically rolls in necessary state tax returns, and preparers can help some people qualify for Michigan-specific tax credits.
Plus, at the federal level, it can help prevent identity theft, Wynne said.
“Because when you do file [federal taxes] using your Social Security number … a fraudster can't come in and prepare a return using your Social Security number — because you've already filed taxes,” Wynne said.
Free tax prep is available to eligible taxpayers across northern Michigan, with locations in Traverse City, Benzonia, Honor, Cadillac, Kalkaska, Petoskey and Charlevoix.
Locations are now scheduling appointments for help with filing 2024 taxes, and volunteers can help taxpayers file for previous years as well.
Learn more about the program here, and find a participating location near you with this IRS tool.
