Downriver Today

Mayor Mike Duggan (D-Detroit ) is urging citizens who qualify to make sure they claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit on their federal income tax returns.

"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," Duggan said, according to the city's website. "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."

The city is working with community-based organizations in order to encourage citizens to file their taxes and claim their refunds, the website said. The city stressed the importance of filing taxes this year, due to an expanded Child Tax Credit and higher refunds from the state's EITC. 

Joined by the 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, Duggan "kicked off the 2022 income tax season and outlined efforts to urge residents to claim their credits," the website said.

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