Accounting Aid Society

What Accounting Aid Society does

Accounting Aid Society is a 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that provides free tax preparation and related financial services to low- and moderate-income residents of southeast Michigan. The organization operates through three integrated program lines: (1) the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offering no-cost tax return preparation to eligible households, (2) the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) providing IRS representation and tax dispute resolution, and (3) the Accounting Aid Academy delivering bookkeeping, tax planning, and financial education to small business owners. Service delivery combines in-person VITA sites across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston Counties with the hybrid VITA Tax ACES model that connects clients remotely to IRS-certified preparers while on-site facilitators handle document upload and electronic signatures.

The organization's revenue model is entirely grant- and donation-based, with all services provided free of charge to end users. Funding flows from foundations, corporate donors (including board-affiliated firms such as EY, PwC, Deloitte, PNC, and Masco Corporation), and individual contributions. Technology infrastructure is lightweight and operational rather than differentiated: IRS-certified tax preparation software and a QuickBase-powered online appointment scheduling system underpin service delivery. The organization maintains active partnerships with Wayne State University, which provides a pipeline of accounting student volunteers and staff — 11 current staff members are Wayne State alumni.

The organization has secured $455 million in cumulative tax refunds since 1972 and returns over $30 million annually to working families in the region, while saving clients an estimated $7 million+ per year in tax preparation fees. It has earned recognition including Crain's Best Managed Nonprofit (2008, 2020), Michigan Governor's Service Award (2017), Bank of America Neighborhood Builder (2016), and Corp! Magazine Diversity Champion (2022). Priscilla Perkins has served as President and CEO since January 2022.

Name

Accounting Aid Society

Legal name

Accounting Aid Society

Website

https://accountingaidsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Accounting Aid Society is a Detroit-based nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides free tax preparation, IRS representation, and small business financial services to low-to-moderate income residents and entrepreneurs across four southeast Michigan counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Preparation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Taxes & Filing Basics (Withholding, Deductions, Credits) (EDAAAJAG)

Keywords

• Free tax preparation
• VITA tax services
• Taxpayer representation
• Nonprofit accounting services
• Small business tax help

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations and grants from partners, donors, and foundations to support free tax preparation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Accounting Aid Society is a nonprofit organization providing free tax preparation services through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for low- to moderate-income individuals and families in southeast Michigan. It also operates a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) for IRS representation and tax dispute resolution, and the Accounting Aid Academy offering small business bookkeeping, tax planning, and financial education. All core services are delivered at no cost to eligible taxpayers.

Product overview

Accounting Aid Society operates a unified service model offering three interconnected programs: (1) No-Cost Tax Preparation through the VITA program for individual taxpayers, (2) the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) providing IRS representation and legal support, and (3) the Accounting Aid Academy delivering small business financial services. The organization returned over $30 million to taxpayers annually and has secured $455 million in tax refunds since 1972. The VITA Tax ACES program combines virtual preparer access with in-person site facilitation for hybrid tax preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Accounting Aid Academy: Small business services and financial education programs for entrepreneurs

Products and services

• No-Cost Tax Preparation (VITA Program)
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Provides expert IRS representation, legal support, and tax dispute resolution for qualifying low-income taxpayers facing audits, collections, or other IRS actions, protecting taxpayer rights.
• Accounting Aid Academy Provides small business owners in southeast Michigan with bookkeeping, tax planning, financial management, and accounting education services delivered by Enrolled Agents and small business accountants.
• VITA Tax ACES Hybrid tax preparation offering that connects taxpayers virtually with IRS-certified preparers while in-person facilitators at VITA tax sites assist with uploading documents and capturing electronic signatures.

Quantifiable outcome

• $455 million in tax refunds secured since 1972
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wayne State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Wayne State University accounting students volunteer through Accounting Aid Society during tax season, providing free tax preparation services to Detroit-area residents while gaining hands-on professional experience.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GreenPath Financial Wellness: Michigan-headquartered nonprofit providing financial counseling, debt management, housing counseling, and financial education to individuals. Comparable as a regional nonprofit offering personal financial services to underserved populations, including free tax-time support.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: The largest national VITA program operator, providing free tax preparation to low-to-moderate-income taxpayers, with a focus on adults aged 50+. Directly comparable as the dominant federal VITA partner delivering identical volunteer-driven free tax services.
• Code for America - GetYourRefund: Nonprofit technology organization operating GetYourRefund, a virtual VITA platform offering free online tax filing for low-income households. Directly comparable in mission and adoption of hybrid virtual/in-person delivery models.
• National Disability Institute: National nonprofit focused on financial education and asset building for people with disabilities, including free tax preparation services and tax-time savings initiatives. Comparable as a peer VITA operator and VITA+ financial empowerment provider.
• Tax-Aid: National nonprofit providing pro bono tax preparation and representation for low-income taxpayers, including IRS controversy work. Directly comparable as a peer free tax service and taxpayer advocacy organization, with overlapping LITC-equivalent functions.

Regional players

• Cinnaire: Michigan-headquartered Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) supporting affordable housing, community development, and small business finance. Comparable as a peer Michigan-anchored nonprofit financial services organization serving similar underserved markets.
• Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit delivering workforce development, financial literacy, and community services to underserved populations. Comparable as a regional community nonprofit serving the same low-income demographic with overlapping financial empowerment programs.
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: Regional umbrella nonprofit funder and service coordinator serving the same southeast Michigan footprint as Accounting Aid Society. Comparable as a similarly positioned community-based nonprofit likely funding complementary programs and sharing donor networks.
• Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency: Wayne County-based Community Action Agency providing emergency assistance, financial education, and tax-time support to low-income households. Comparable as a regional antipoverty nonprofit offering free tax preparation and similar social services in the same service area.

Emerging players

• Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan: Detroit-area nonprofit delivering financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship education to youth and adults. Comparable as a peer financial education nonprofit operating in southeast Michigan with similar mission alignment around financial empowerment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/accountingaid
• Facebookfacebook.com/Accounting-Aid-Society-204431461941
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/533610
• Instagraminstagram.com/accountingaid
• TikToktiktok.com/@accountingaidsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accounting Aid Society