Consumers Energy on Wednesday announced a $150,000 grant created to help Michigan residents prepare and file their income taxes for free.
The grant was awarded to the Michigan Economic Impact Coalition, a program of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan which provides information and tips for ways Michigan taxpayers can save money while preparing and filing their taxes.
“Thousands of Michigan taxpayers may overlook valuable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or Michigan’s Home Heating Credit. As a result, millions of dollars in tax relief could be left in Lansing or Washington D.C. instead of coming back to Michigan communities,” said MEIC Program Director Ross Yednock, in a statement. “Thanks to Consumers Energy, we are getting the word out about these credits and the quality services available to help Michigan taxpayers keep more of what they earn by preparing and filing both state and federal tax returns for free.”
Residents who earned $54,000 or less from wages, self-employment or farming in 2015 may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, according to MEIC. If eligible, they could receive up to $6,645 in federal and state tax relief in addition to state tax credits like the Homestead Property Tax Credit or the Home Heating Credit.
The $150,000 grant contribution comes from a donor-advised fund established by Consumers Energy’s parent company, CMS Energy, the report said.
To learn more about the services MEIC has to offer, go to www.MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org.
