earned income tax credit

Delayed refunds? Looks like delayed filing, too.

Today could be a big day for many low- and moderate-income families. February 15 is the first day those who claim either an earned income...

February 15, 2017Elaine Maag

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

The IRS Could Improve EITC Compliance by Regulating Tax Preparers

Tax preparers play a critical role helping low income working families collect benefits from the Earned Income Tax Credit. Almost 60 percent of families claiming the EITC in 2010 and 2011 did so with the help of a paid preparer. Unfortunately, preparers can make costly mistakes—errors the taxpayer

November 2, 2015Elaine Maag

Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms: TaxVox

Despite Promises, Jeb Bush’s Tax Plan Wouldn’t Eliminate Marriage Penalties

GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush offered a tax plan last week that he says “eliminates the marriage penalty.” But it may not help many low-income working families. A married couple is penalized if it pays more tax filing a joint return than if each spouse could file individually. Conversely,

September 16, 2015Roberton C. Williams

: TaxVox

"The Long and Winding Road... Will Never Disappear..."

The Senate’s six-year highway bill inches forward, after dropping a Social Security provision. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won 14 Democrats’ votes for the bill after he agreed to drop a $2.3 billion offset. The money would have come from barring people with felony warrants from getting Social

July 24, 2015Renu Zaretsky

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

A Redesigned Earned Income Tax Credit Could Encourage Work by Childless Adults

The earned income tax credit (EITC) lifts millions of working families out of poverty, but provides little support to workers without children and some low-wage workers married to other low-wage workers. Congress could fix this flaw by scaling back the EITC and creating a new worker credit that is

May 20, 2015Elaine Maag

: TaxVox

Tax Season: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over

The IRS and the ACA: Working hard and working well. The IRS, thanks to years of preparation since the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010, has managed the current tax filing season smoothly, according to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen , even with new ACA burdens and IRS budget cutbacks . “It's

April 13, 2015Renu Zaretsky

: TaxVox

Credits, Collections and Refunds

The Department of Homeland Security didn’t shut down, but… fallout remains over the President Obama’s executive orders on immigration and their effect on low-income tax breaks. Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch wants the Administration to say how many immigrants protected from deportation

March 11, 2015Renu Zaretsky

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Will Immigrants Get A Tax Windfall From Refundable Credits?

In the end-of-the-year congressional scramble, lawmakers scuttled an effort to permanently extend a number of tax breaks—largely because many feared it would open the door to widespread use of refundable tax credits by undocumented immigrants covered by President Obama’s recent executive order. But

December 12, 2014Elaine Maag

: TaxVox

Congress Is Back with Much To Do and Consider

On the Hill this week: The House may vote to make bonus depreciation permanent . The Senate Finance Committee may present a transportation funding plan reflecting a compromise with the House Ways and Means Committee. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has scheduled a hearing on

July 7, 2014Renu Zaretsky

Campaigns, Proposals, and Reforms: TaxVox

Mike Lee’s Tax Plan: An Intriguing Idea That Would Add $2.4 Trillion to the Deficit

An ambitious tax reform plan proposed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) would provide generous new tax credits for families with children and repeal the Alternative...

March 12, 2014Howard Gleckman