For most people, tax season is a time of stress and paperwork. But for Will Walker, senior manager, International Tax, it’s a season of giving back — for the company and the community.

At Ford, Walker’s work involves managing the company’s massive international tax obligations. But for nearly 20 years, he has been volunteering his time and accounting expertise through Ford Philanthropy’s nonprofit partner Accounting Aid Society to help eligible Detroit-area residents file their taxes.

“What makes the Ford partnership so unique is the level of professional expertise walking through our doors. We aren't just receiving general help; we are receiving high-level financial talent that directly translates into more financial stability for our clients," said Priscilla Perkins, president and CEO of Accounting Aid Society.

"For decades, Ford has been an incredible partner supporting our ability to serve Southeast Michigan. Their volunteers don't just fill a gap — they elevate the entire program, allowing us to reach more families and secure more life-changing credits and refunds.”

As Walker put it, a tax refund is more than a "bonus" for many Americans. It's a lifeline.

“The individuals we see depend on their tax returns to get by. Whether it’s an overpayment, or a refund through state homestead and home heating tax credits, or federal incentives such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, these are funds that stay in the pockets of those who need them most,” he said.

“We calculate the return in real time, and being able to tell a client they are receiving a significant refund is a highlight of the work. They often walk in unsure and walk out shocked, with a big smile on their face.”

A Million-Dollar Impact

Walker doesn’t work alone. As a leader of this skills-based volunteering project via the Ford Volunteer Corps, he rallies employees from beyond the tax office across all of Ford Finance.

"Volunteering serves the community to meet needs that would not otherwise be met without Ford involvement,” said Walker. “As Ford employees, we have the skills and expertise that help Ford, but we can also help others.”

The scale of the impact is staggering. A team of 30 Ford Finance employees is on track to log more than 500 volunteer hours by Tax Day on April 15.

"It adds up to roughly over $1,000,000 of benefit," Walker explained, noting that the figure accounts for both the tax refunds secured and the savings on professional tax preparation fees. "Typically, I’d say 90% of the time, these individuals are getting a net tax refund that they would not otherwise get unless they filed their return."

Life-Changing Results

While the numbers are impressive, the personal stories are what keep Walker coming back each year.

He recalls one woman he helped early this February — a head of household with two children — who was entitled to nearly $12,000 in refunds.

"I was astounded by how much she was getting back," he said. "The money they get back is often bigger than they would make in not only the next month, but it could be for the next half a year. This is impactful money."

For Walker, the "why" behind his nearly two decades of service is simple.

“It’s really about the people who you’re helping and being able to use your skills,” he said. “I can also take my own passion and then get volunteers to come out and try to instill that same passion in them."

The spirit of community service extends to Walker’s family. For the past few years, his wife and two adult daughters have joined him, volunteering at phone banks to help Detroit residents schedule their tax-filing appointments.

"You’d think a phone bank would be terrible, to cold-call people," said Walker. "But it’s the opposite, because they like and appreciate how much the Accounting Aid Society does for them. They are just the nicest people."

Chris Kassab writes for the Ford Communications team.