Detroit Free Tax Prep 2027: Accounting Aid Society Sites, the $69,000 Limit, Fall Help and What to Bring
Most people think of free tax help as something that happens between January and April. In Detroit, it doesn't stop. Accounting Aid Society, the nonprofit that runs most of the city's free tax sites, keeps several locations open through the fall for back taxes, amended returns, IRS letters and Detroit's HOPE property tax exemption, whose 2026 deadline is November 6.
This guide covers who qualifies, where the current sites are, what to bring (the list is longer than most people expect), the free self-filing options for people over the limit, and how to get ready for the 2027 season.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: Accounting Aid Society's No Cost Tax Preparation page, its self-prep options page, its 2026 summer/fall tax site schedule (last updated Sept. 29, 2026) and its tax preparation checklist, plus a 2025 HOPE flyer and IRS pages on VITA and Free File.
The Short Version
Free in-person tax prep through Accounting Aid Society if your household makes less than $69,000 a year.
Call (313) 556-1920 or book online. Appointments are preferred.
Open right now (fall 2026): Detroit Main Library, Fisher Magnet Academy (FCC East), La Sed Senior and Youth Center, the Northwest Financial Hub, plus Dearborn, Ferndale, Ann Arbor and a Zoom option.
Fall services: back-year returns, amended returns, help with IRS and Michigan Treasury letters, and HOPE applications.
HOPE deadline: November 6, 2026.
Over $69,000? Accounting Aid points to free self-filing software for incomes of $89,000 or less.
Who Qualifies
Accounting Aid Society says its no-cost tax preparation is for households making less than $69,000 a year. It runs through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, so every return is prepared by IRS-certified volunteers and quality-reviewed before it's filed.
The IRS describes VITA as generally serving people who make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities and limited English speakers, and it lets each site set its own limit. In Detroit, $69,000 is the number to use.
There's no age requirement, and you don't have to be a Detroit resident. The current site list includes locations in Dearborn, Ferndale and Ann Arbor.
Where to Go This Fall
Accounting Aid's 2026 Summer Tax Site Locations schedule, last updated Sept. 29, 2026, lists these sites:
| Site | Address | Hours | |---|---|---| | Detroit Public Library, Main Branch | 5201 Woodward, Detroit 48202 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | Fisher Magnet Academy (FCC East) | 15491 Maddelein St., Detroit 48205 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | La Sed Senior and Youth Center (Spanish spoken) | 7150 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit 48209 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | Northwest Financial Hub | 7800 W. Outer Dr., LL20, Detroit 48235 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | Henry Ford Centennial Library | 16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn 48126 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | Oakland County Tax Site | 22540 Woodward, Ferndale 48220 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | United Way Ann Arbor Office | 2305 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor 48104 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | | VITA ACE (virtual) | Zoom link sent the morning of your appointment | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
Not every site is open every day. The schedule rotates. A typical week in October looked like this:
Monday: Detroit Main Library, FCC East, Northwest, United Way
Tuesday: La Sed, Northwest, Oakland (some weeks also VITA ACE)
Wednesday: FCC East, Northwest, Oakland
Thursday: Dearborn, Detroit Main Library, La Sed, Oakland
Friday: Northwest, Oakland
The Northwest Financial Hub is open the most, nearly every weekday. Some days have early closings or late openings, and Oct. 26 is listed as closed. The schedule runs through mid-November and says it's subject to change.
Accounting Aid says appointments are preferred. Walk-ins may be possible, but aren't guaranteed.
What You Can Get Done Before January
This is the part most people don't know about. Accounting Aid's fall services include:
Tax returns for 2025 and earlier years. If you never filed for last year, or skipped a few years, you can still catch up. You may be owed refunds or credits.
Amended returns. If you missed a credit or got a form late, a volunteer can fix it.
IRS and Michigan Treasury notices. Got a letter you don't understand? Bring it.
HOPE applications for Detroit homeowners.
HOPE: the November 6 deadline
The Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) can reduce or wipe out your property taxes if you qualify. Accounting Aid says eligibility depends on whether you own and live in the home as your primary residence and on your household income or circumstances. Its 2025 flyer said homeowners with household income under $50,000 "may qualify." We didn't find a 2026 income figure, so check with them.
Accounting Aid lists the 2026 HOPE deadline as November 6, 2026, and helps with the forms for free. Call (313) 556-1920 to schedule.
If you're behind on Detroit property taxes, this is worth a phone call this week.
Credits Accounting Aid Helps You Claim
Accounting Aid says its volunteers help you file for state credits and exemptions along with your federal return. Two Michigan credits come up often:
Michigan Home Heating Credit
This credit helps pay back part of what you spent heating your home. According to Accounting Aid, you may qualify if:
You're a Michigan homeowner or renter
Your household meets the income guidelines
You weren't a full-time student claimed as someone else's dependent
You didn't live in college housing or a licensed care facility all year
Renters qualify too. For your appointment, bring your annual heating cost, the amount you were billed from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31. Accounting Aid says it's usually on your December or January utility bill. If you can't find it, call your provider: DTE at 1-800-477-4747 or Consumers at 1-800-477-5050.
The Home Heating Credit deadline is generally in September, according to Accounting Aid.
Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit
Renters and homeowners can both claim this one too. Renters need their lease, rent receipts and landlord's name and address. Homeowners need their home's taxable value and both property tax bills.
What to Bring
Accounting Aid's checklist is detailed, and it's strict about a few things. Here's what it asks for.
ID and Social Security
Photo ID (driver's license or state ID) for you and your spouse
Social Security card for you, your spouse and each dependent
Married filing jointly? Both spouses must be present and both must sign.
Income
Last year's tax return
W-2s from all jobs. Required.
Your last pay stub of the year, in addition to the W-2
1099-G for unemployment, 1099-R for pensions, SSA-1099 for Social Security
An SSA letter if you get SSI
MDHHS Client Annual Statement if you get state assistance
Child Support Annual Statement
W-2G for gambling or lottery winnings
1099-NEC or 1099-K if you're self-employed, plus a log of business miles and expenses
1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC and any other income records
Expenses
1098 for mortgage interest
Medical or HMO premiums you paid
Dependent care costs
1098-E for student loan interest
1098-T and your school account transcript for tuition
Health insurance
1095-A if you had Marketplace coverage
HSA forms if you have one
Direct deposit
Accounting Aid says direct deposit is required for federal refunds. Bring your bank or credit union's name, routing number and account number, with proof such as a voided check or bank letter.
Helpful numbers
To replace a Social Security card: 1-800-772-1213
To request an IRS transcript: 1-800-908-9946
Book in your legal name
Make the appointment in the taxpayer's legal name, exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. A mismatch can mean rescheduling.
Over the Income Limit? File Free Online
Accounting Aid's self-prep page lists three free, IRS-approved options for people with incomes of $89,000 or less. All three include free federal and state filing:
Online Taxes (OLT): all ages. Also handles prior-year and amended returns going back up to three years.
TaxAct: ages 20 to 60, current year and current-year amendments.
MyFreeTaxes: all ages, current year only.
The IRS's own Free File program also uses an $89,000 adjusted gross income limit for guided software.
Getting Ready for the 2027 Season
Start a folder in January. Every W-2, 1099 and SSA-1099 goes in.
Find your heating total on your December or January bill.
Keep rent receipts all year if you rent.
Book early. Call (313) 556-1920 when the 2027 schedule opens.
Don't pay a refund-advance shop if you're under $69,000. The same return is free here.
What we couldn't confirm: the 2027-season site list, hours and income limit aren't posted yet. The $50,000 HOPE income figure is from Accounting Aid's 2025 flyer. Michigan Home Heating Credit income limits weren't on the pages we checked. United Way's tax portal and a January 2026 Axios report didn't load for us, so we haven't included the Wayne Metro sites or 211 booking details.
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