Answers to your frequently asked tax questions.
Questions about filing your taxes
Not everyone is required to file a tax return. The IRS has an easy-to-use online tool to help you determine if you must file a federal return. However, even if you don’t have to file a federal return, you might want to file a state tax return to collect refundable state credits such as the Home Heating Credit and Homestead Property Credit.
If you have a federal filing requirement, your return must be filed by Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Your state of Michigan income tax return must also be filed by that date.
You can get some information, such as your adjusted gross income, by requesting a tax transcript. A tax transcript is free, but it is NOT the same as a photocopy of your tax return. If you need a photocopy, check with your tax preparer or the tax software you used. If you can’t get a copy from these sources, you can fill out the IRS Form 4506.
September 30, 2023
The time it takes to receive your refund depends on how you file your return. If your return is complete and accurate, you can estimate the wait using this chart.
| If you filed | You should receive your refund |
| By mail | In 6-8 weeks |
| Electronically | In about 3 weeks |
| Electronically, with direct deposit | Less than 3 weeks |
Want to check the status of your refund?
While it’s best to pay the full amount you owe by the deadline, if you can’t, try to pay as much as possible. The IRS will charge you interest and a penalty on any money you still owe past the deadline.
The IRS offers different payment options, including payment plans that allow you to pay over time. Learn more by visiting irs.gov/payments.
Questions about IRS notices or letters
The IRS only sends notices in the mail. The IRS will NOT contact you through email, social media, or text message to request personal information. If you receive something through these channels claiming to be the IRS or Treasury, do not respond. Instead, report it to phishing@irs.gov.
If you received a letter that looks or sounds suspicious, you can find out if it’s really from the IRS by clicking the button below and entering the number on the letter.
If nothing comes up, you can contact the IRS at 800-829-1040.
First, make sure it’s a real notice and not a scam (see above). If it’s real, there will be instructions on how you should respond.
If you get a notice, don’t panic! Not all notices are bad news. You might even find out you’re getting a bigger refund than you thought, and you don’t need to do anything. Most notices are about your tax return or account. If the letter requests a response by a specific date, you’ll want to comply.
If you disagree with the notice, can’t comply or still aren’t sure how to respond, we may be able to help you. Click below to find out.
Questions about volunteering for the Accounting Aid Society
Most volunteers help our clients file their tax returns. This is a basic service, but an ongoing and desperate need. We are also looking for volunteers with specialized skills to help in our Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics. If you believe your skillset, mindset, and heart are a match for these positions, let us know on your volunteer interest form.
No! We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, including college students, stay-at-home parents, and retirees. The only requirements are basic computer skills, a desire to help underserved families take control of their financial futures, and a willingness to complete tax training courses.
You can take training at several locations in southeast Michigan. Both new and returning volunteers take training courses to learn more about tax issues, credits, and changes in the tax law.
Training also includes a computer workshop so that new volunteers can learn how to use our tax preparation software. Returning volunteers use this training to become familiar with any software updates that have gone into effect since the previous tax season.
Because training volunteers is an investment for everyone, we ask volunteers to pledge to work a minimum of 30 hours during the January – April tax season. To make it easier to fit volunteering into your schedule, our tax sites have flexible hours. All sites are open on Saturdays, and many are also open on weekdays and evenings.
Yes, volunteers can choose from any of our locations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties. Our tax sites are in public spaces such as libraries, community centers, and human resource agencies.
