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Research report

Delaying Tax Refunds for Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit Claimants

Elaine Maag, Stephen Roll, Jane Oliphant
December 7, 2016
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Abstract

The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 requires the IRS to delay tax refunds for taxpayers who claim an earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit on their returns until at least February 15. The delay could help the IRS better check claims for these credits. But this new requirement will delay refunds only for certain low-income tax filers, in particular low-income families with children. Many of these families file their returns early and use refunds quickly to pay down debt or for spending on necessities. Delaying refunds will likely lead to additional financial hardships for some of these families, who in previous years had received and used their refunds before February 15.

Research Area

Individual Taxes Earned income tax credit (EITC) Low-income households Tax credits (individual)
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Meet the Experts

  • Elaine Maag
    Senior Fellow, Research
  • Stephen Roll
    Research Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
  • Jane Oliphant
    Project Manager, Washington University in St. Louis Center for Social Development
Research report

New Evidence on The Effect of The TCJA On the Housing Market

Robert McClelland, Livia Mucciolo, Safia Sayed
March 30, 2022
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