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CRS Provides Overview of Earned Income Tax Credit

DEC. 3, 2014

R43805

DATED DEC. 3, 2014
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Falk, Gene
    Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
  • Institutional Authors
    Congressional Research Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Areas/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2014-28682
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2014 TNT 234-17
Citations: R43805

 

Gene Falk

 

Specialist in Social Policy

 

 

Margot L. Crandall-Hollick

 

Analyst in Public Finance

 

 

December 3, 2014

 

 

Congressional Research Service

 

7-5700

 

www.crs.gov

 

R43805

 

 

Summary

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit available to eligible workers earning relatively low wages. Because the credit is refundable, an EITC recipient need not owe taxes to receive the benefit. Eligibility for and the amount of the EITC are based on a variety of factors, including residence and taxpayer ID requirements, the presence of qualifying children, age requirements for childless recipients, and the recipient's investment income and earned income. Tax filers with income above certain thresholds -- these thresholds are based on marital status and number of qualifying children -- are ineligible for the credit.

The EITC varies based on a recipient's earnings. Specifically, the EITC equals a fixed percentage (the "credit rate") of earned income until the credit amount reaches its maximum level. The EITC then remains at its maximum level over a subsequent range of earned income, between the "earned income amount" and the "phase-out amount threshold." Finally, the credit gradually decreases to zero at a fixed rate (the "phase-out rate") for each additional dollar of adjusted gross income (AGI) (or earnings, whichever is greater) above the phase-out amount threshold. The specific values of these EITC parameters (e.g., credit rate, earned income amount) vary depending on several factors, including the number of qualifying children a tax filer has and his or her marital status. For 2014, the maximum EITC for a tax filer without children is $496 per year. In contrast, the 2014 maximum EITC for a tax filer with one child is $3,305 per year; for two children, $5,460 per year; and for three or more children, $6,143 per year.

The EITC is provided to individuals and families once a year, in a lump sum payment after individuals and families file their federal income tax return. The credit may be received in one of three ways: (1) a reduction in federal tax liability; (2) a refund from the Treasury if the tax filer has no income tax liability; or (3) a combination of a reduced federal tax liability and a refund. The amount of the credit a tax filer receives is based on the prior year's income, earnings, and family composition (marital status and number of qualifying children). That is, the EITC paid in 2015 will be based on factors from 2014.

The EITC cannot be counted as income in determining eligibility for or the amount of any federally funded public benefit program. An EITC refund that is saved by a tax filer does not count against the resource limits of any federally funded public benefit program for 12 months after the refund is received.

In 2012, a total of $64.1 billion was claimed by 27.8 million tax filers (19% of all tax filers), making the EITC the largest need-tested anti-poverty cash assistance program. In that year, 97% of all EITC dollars were claimed by families with children. However, there was considerable variation in the share of returns claiming the EITC by state, with a greater share filed in certain southern states compared to other regions of the country.

                            Contents

 

 

 Introduction

 

 

 Eligibility for the EITC

 

 

      Filing a Federal Income Tax Return

 

 

      Earned Income

 

 

      Residency and Identification Requirements

 

 

      Qualifying Children

 

 

      Age Requirements for EITC Recipients with No Qualifying Children

 

 

      Investment Income

 

 

      Disallowance of the EITC Due to Fraud or Reckless Disregard of

 

      Rules

 

 

 Calculating the EITC

 

 

      Income Limits for the EITC

 

 

 Payment of the EITC

 

 

      Interaction with Other Tax Provisions

 

 

      Treatment of the EITC for Need-Tested Benefit Programs

 

 

 Modifications to the EITC Set to Expire

 

 

 Participation and Benefits

 

 

      Trends in Participation and EITC Benefits

 

 

      Participation and EITC Amounts Claimed for 2012

 

 

           Number of Qualifying Children

 

 

           Income Level

 

 

           Filing and Marital Status

 

 

           Region

 

 

 Figures

 

 

 Figure 1.  Maximum EITC by Number of Qualifying Children: 2014

 

 

 Figure 2.  Amount of the EITC for an Unmarried Tax Filer with One

 

            Child, 2014

 

 

 Figure 3.  Number of Tax Filers Claiming the EITC: 1975 to 2012

 

 

 Figure 4.  EITC Claimed on Federal Income Tax Returns: 1975-2012

 

 

 Figure 5.  Average EITC Claimed: 1975 to 2012

 

 

 Figure 6.  Total EITC Dollars Claimed for 2012, by Number of

 

            Qualifying

 

 

 Figure 7.  Number of Tax Returns with EITC Claims for 2012, by Number

 

            of Qualifying Children

 

 

 Figure 8.  Average EITC Claimed by Tax Filers in 2012, by Number of

 

            Qualifying Children

 

 

 Figure 9.  Number of Returns Claiming the EITC and Average EITC

 

            Claimed for 2012, by Adjusted Gross Income

 

 

 Figure 10. Estimate of EITC Dollars Claimed by Marital Status, 2015

 

 

 Figure 11. Percentage of Tax Returns Claiming the EITC by State, 2012

 

 

 Tables

 

 

 Table 1.   EITC Tax Parameters by Marital Status and Number of

 

            Qualifying Children for 2014

 

 

 Table 2.   Maximum AGI to Qualify for the EITC, by Number of

 

            Qualifying Children and Filing Status in 2014

 

 

 Table A-1. EITC Tax Filers and Dollars Claimed: 1975-2012

 

 

 Table A-2. Average EITC, Number of Returns with EITC Claimed, and

 

            Total EITC Benefits for 2012, by Adjusted Gross Income

 

 

 Table A-3. Total EITC Returns and Amounts for 2012, by State

 

 

 Appendixes

 

 

 Appendix. Additional Tables.

 

 

 Contacts

 

 

 Author Contact Information

 

 

 Acknowledgments

 

 

Introduction

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit available to eligible workers with relatively low earnings. Because the credit is refundable, an EITC recipient need not owe taxes to receive the benefit. The credit is authorized by Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and administered as part of the federal income tax system. In 2012, a total of $64.1 billion was claimed by 27.8 million tax filers, making the EITC the largest need-tested anti-poverty cash assistance program.

Under current law, the EITC is calculated based on a recipient's earned income, using one of eight different formulas, which vary depending on several factors, including the number of qualifying children a tax filer has (zero, one, two, or three or more) and his or her marital status (unmarried or married). All else being equal, the amount of the credit tends to increase with the number of eligible children the EITC claimant has. Indeed, most of the benefits of the EITC -- 97% of EITC dollars in 2012 -- go to families with children.

This report provides an overview of the EITC, first discussing eligibility requirements for the credit, followed by how the credit is computed and paid. The report then provides data on the growth of the EITC since it was first enacted in 1975. Finally the report concludes with data on the EITC claimed on 2012 tax returns, examining EITC claims by number of qualifying children, income level, tax filing status, and location of residence. For a discussion of legislation introduced in the 113th Congress to change the EITC, see CRS Report R43763, The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Legislation in the 113th Congress, by Margot L. Crandall-Hollick.

Eligibility for the EITC

A tax filer must fulfill the following requirements to claim the EITC:

 

1. The tax filer must file a federal income tax return.1

2. The tax filer must have earned income.

3. The tax filer must meet certain residency and identification requirements.

4. The tax filer's children must meet relationship, residency, and age requirements to be considered qualifying children for the credit.

5. Childless workers who claim the credit must be between ages 25 and 64. (This age requirement does not apply to EITC claimants with qualifying children.)

6. The tax filer's investment income must be below a certain amount.

7. The tax filer must not be disallowed the credit due to prior fraud or reckless disregard of the rules when they previously claimed the EITC.

 

Additionally, a tax filer with income above a certain dollar amount (labelled as "income where credit=0" in Table 1) will be ineligible for the credit. Given that this income level is dependent on the number of qualifying children and marital status of the tax filer, this requirement is discussed in greater detail in the section of the report entitled "Calculating the EITC."

Requirements (1) through (7) are discussed in detail below.

Filing a Federal Income Tax Return

To be eligible for the EITC, a person must file a federal income tax return. Those who do not file a federal income tax return cannot receive the EITC.

The EITC can be claimed by taxpayers filing their tax return as married filing jointly, head of household, or single.2 Tax filers cannot claim the EITC if they use the filing status of married filing separately. If the tax filer has a qualifying child, the tax filer must include the child's name and Social Security number on a separate schedule (Schedule EIC) filed with the federal tax return.3

Earned Income

A tax filer must have earned income to claim the EITC. Earned income for the EITC is defined as wages, tips, and other compensation included in gross income. It also includes net self-employment income (self-employment income after deduction of one-half of Social Security payroll taxes paid by a self-employed individual).

In addition, service members may elect to include combat pay in their earnings when calculating the EITC. All income earned by a member of the Armed Forces while in a designated combat zone is considered combat pay and is normally not included in taxable income. However, a tax filer may elect to include combat pay as earnings for the purpose of calculating the EITC.4 Generally, service members will make this election if it results in a larger credit. (Using combat pay to calculate the EITC does not make the combat pay taxable income.)

Certain forms of income are not considered earnings for the purpose of the EITC. These include pension and annuity income, income of nonresident aliens not from a U.S. business, income earned while incarcerated for work in a prison, and TANF benefits paid in exchange for participation in work experience or community service activities.

Finally, tax filers who claim the foreign earned income exclusion (i.e., they file Form 2555 or Form 2555EZ with their federal income tax return) are ineligible to claim the EITC.5

Residency and Identification Requirements

Under current law, an EITC recipient must be a resident of the United States, unless the recipient resides in another country because of U.S. military service. To be eligible for the credit, the tax filer must provide valid Social Security numbers (SSNs) for work purposes6 for themselves, spouses if married filing jointly, and any qualifying children. (U.S. citizenship is not required to be eligible for the credit. SSNs do not indicate U.S. citizenship.) Nonresident aliens -- those that do not spend sufficient time in the United States -- are generally ineligible for the EITC.7

Qualifying Children

An EITC recipient's qualifying child must meet three requirements.8 First, the child must have a specific relationship to the tax filer (son, daughter, step child or foster child,9 brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step brother, step sister, or descendent of such a relative). Second, the child must share a residence with the taxpayer for more than half the year in the United States.10 Third, the child must meet certain age requirements; namely, the child must be under the age of 19 (or age 24, if a full-time student) or be permanently and totally disabled.

As a result of these three requirements, a child may be the qualifying child of more than one tax filer in the same household. For example, a child who lives with a single parent, grandparent, and aunt in the same home could be a qualifying child of all three of these individuals. But only one of these individuals can claim the qualifying child for the EITC, and the others cannot. Indeed, it appears that under current law, the other individuals are also ineligible to claim the childless EITC.11 In the case where the tax filers cannot agree on who claims the child, there are "tie-breaker" rules for who can claim the child for the EITC.12

Age Requirements for EITC Recipients with No Qualifying Children

If a tax filer has no qualifying children, he or she must be between 25 and 64 years of age to be eligible for the EITC. There is no age requirement for tax filers with qualifying children.

Investment Income

A tax filer with investment income over a certain dollar amount is ineligible for the EITC. The statutory limit -- $2,200 -- is adjusted annually for inflation. For 2014, the limit on investment income is $3,350. Investment income is defined as interest income (including tax-exempt interest), dividends, net rent, net capital gains, and net passive income. It also includes royalties that are from sources other than the filer's ordinary business activities.

Disallowance of the EITC Due to Fraud or Reckless Disregard of Rules

A tax filer is barred from claiming the EITC for a period of 10 years after the IRS makes a final determination to reduce or disallow a tax filer's EITC because that individual made a fraudulent EITC claim. A tax filer is barred from claiming the EITC for a period of two years after the IRS determines that the individual made an EITC claim "due to reckless and intentional disregard of the rules" of the EITC, but that disregard was not found to be fraud.13

Calculating the EITC

The EITC amount is based on formulas that consider earned income, number of qualifying children, marital status, and adjusted gross income (AGI). In general, the EITC equals a fixed percentage (the "credit rate") of earned income until the credit reaches it maximum amount. The EITC then remains at its maximum level over a subsequent range of earned income, between the "earned income amount" and the "phase-out amount threshold." Finally, the credit gradually decreases in value to zero at a fixed rate (the "phase-out rate") for each additional dollar of earnings or AGI (whichever is greater) above the phase-out amount threshold. The specific values of these EITC parameters (e.g., credit rate, earned income amount, etc.) vary depending on several factors including, the number of qualifying children a tax filer has and his or her marital status, as illustrated in Table 1.

          Table 1. EITC Tax Parameters by Marital Status and

 

                Number of Qualifying Children for 2014

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Number of Qualifying Children      0         1         2    3 or more

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 unmarried tax filers (single and head of household filers)

 

 

 credit rate                      7.65%       34%       40%       45%

 

 earned income amount            $6,480    $9,720   $13,650   $13,650

 

 maximum credit amount             $496    $3,305    $5,460    $6,143

 

 phase-out amount threshold      $8,110   $17,830   $17,830   $17,830

 

 phase-out rate                   7.65%    15.98%    21.06%    21.06%

 

 income where credit = 0        $14,590   $38,511   $43,756   $46,997

 

 

 married tax filers (married filing jointly)

 

 

 credit rate                      7.65%       34%       40%       45%

 

 earned income amount            $6,480    $9,720   $13,650   $13,650

 

 maximum credit amount             $496    $3,305    $5,460    $6,143

 

 phase-out amount threshold     $13,540   $23,260   $23,260   $23,260

 

 phase-out rate                   7.65%    15.98%    21.06%    21.06%

 

 income where credit = 0        $20,020   $43,941   $49,186   $52,427

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-35 and Internal Revenue Code (IRC)

 

 Section 32.

 

 

As illustrated in Table 1, the EITC's earned income amounts, credit rates, phase-out rates, and maximum credit amounts vary by the number of qualifying children a tax filer has. The EITC ranges from a maximum credit of $496 for a tax filer without a child to $6,143 for a tax filer with three or more qualifying children, as illustrated in Figure 1.

 

Figure 1. Maximum EITC by

 

Number of Qualifying Children: 2014

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service based on IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-35 and Internal Revenue Code(IRC) Section 32

The phase-out amount threshold varies by both the number of qualifying children a tax filer has and his or her marital status. The phase-out amount threshold for those who are married filing joint returns is $5,430 greater than for unmarried filing statuses with the same number of children. (Tax filers who file as married filing separately are ineligible for the EITC.) This higher phase-out amount threshold for married tax filers reduces (but generally does not eliminate) potential "marriage penalties" in the EITC whereby the credit for a married couple is less than the combined credit of two unmarried recipients.

Figure 2 illustrates the EITC amount by earnings level for an unmarried taxpayer with one child for 2014. It shows the three distinct ranges of EITC for this family:

  • Phase-in Range: The EITC increases with earnings from the first dollar of earnings up to earnings of $9,720. Over this earnings range, the credit equals the credit rate (34% for a tax filer with one child) times the amount of annual earnings. The $9,720 threshold is called the earned income amount and is the earnings level at which the EITC ceases to increase with earned income. The income interval up to the earned income amount, where the EITC increases with earnings, is known as the phase-in range.

  • Plateau: The EITC remains at its maximum level of $3,305 from the earned income amount ($9,720) until earnings exceed $17,830. The $3,305 credit represents the maximum credit for a tax filer with one child in 2014. The income interval with the EITC fixed at its maximum value represents the plateau on Figure 2.

  • Phase-out Range: Once earnings exceed $17,830, the EITC is reduced for every additional dollar over that amount. The $17,830 threshold is known as the phase-out amount threshold for a single taxpayer with one child in 2014. For each dollar over the phase-out amount threshold, the EITC is reduced by 15.98%. The 15.98% rate is known as the phase-out rate. The income interval from the phase-out income level until the EITC is completely phased out is known as the phase-out range.

 

The EITC is completely phased out (EITC = $0) once the tax filer's AGI (or earned income, whichever is greater) reaches $38,511. The earned income amounts and the phase-out amount thresholds are adjusted each year for inflation.

 

Figure 2. Amount of the EITC for

 

an Unmarried Tax Filer with One Child, 2014

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on information in IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-35 and Internal Revenue Code Section 32

In practice, EITC claimants use tables published by the IRS to calculate their credit amount. A tax filer can look up the correct amount of his or her EITC based on income, marital status, and number of qualifying children. The instructions for the federal income tax form14 show the EITC amounts in tables by income brackets (in $50 increments).

Income Limits for the EITC

As previously discussed, the amount of the EITC is reduced for each dollar of AGI (or earnings, if greater) above a certain dollar threshold, referred to as the phase-out amount threshold. That threshold combined with the phase-out rate, results in a specific income level (referred to as "income where credit=0" in Table 1) above which a tax filer is ineligible for the credit. This income level, where the credit reaches zero, is sometimes referred to as the eligibility threshold.

As illustrated in Table 1, there are eight eligibility thresholds for the EITC depending on the number of qualifying children a taxpayer has and his or her marital status. The eligibility thresholds vary every year given that they are based in part on a parameter of the credit -- the phase-out amount threshold -- that is explicitly adjusted for inflation. Table 2 shows the EITC eligibility thresholds for 2014. An EITC claimant's AGI (or earnings, if higher) must be below these thresholds for the claimant to qualify for the EITC. In 2014, these thresholds range from $14,590 for an unmarried tax filer with no qualifying child to $52,427 for a married tax filer filing jointly with three or more qualified children.

Table 2 expresses these eligibility thresholds as a percentage of the 2014 poverty guidelines. For example, the poverty guideline for a family of four in 2014 was $23,850. Families of four with income at or below this amount are considered poor. The EITC eligibility threshold of $49,186 for a married couple filing jointly with two qualifying children was more than twice (206.2%) the poverty guideline for a family of that type.

Table 2 also expresses these eligibility thresholds as a percentage of the earnings of one worker who works a minimum wage job ( $7.25 per hour) 40 hours per week, 52 weeks a year ($15,080 annually). For the purposes of the calculations in Table 2, married EITC recipients are assumed to have the same aggregate annual earnings as unmarried recipients -- $15,080. The EITC was available in 2014 to all families at this earnings level except an unmarried taxpayer with no children. The EITC was available to families with children who had earnings between 2.5 to 3.5 times the annual earnings from a minimum wage job (255.4% to 347.7% of $15,080).

             Table 2. Maximum AGI to Qualify for the EITC,

 

      by Number of Qualifying Children and Filing Status in 2014

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

                                                            Three or

 

                        No          One         Two         More

 

                        Qualifying  Qualifying  Qualifying  Qualifying

 

                        Children    Child       Children    Children

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

                              In dollars

 

 

 Unmarried                 14,590      38,511      43,756     46,997

 

 Married Filing Jointly    20,020      43,941      49,186     52,427

 

 

               As a percentage of the poverty threshold

 

 

 Unmarried                  125.0       244.8       221.1      197.1a

 

 Married Filing Jointly     127.3       222.0       206.2      187.8b

 

 

         As a percentage of work at the federal minimum wage,

 

                 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

 

 

 Unmarried                   96.8       255.4       290.2      311.7

 

 Married Filing Jointly     132.8       291.4       326.2      347.7

 

 _____________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Source: Congressional Research Service calculations based on

 

 IRS Revenue Procedure 2013-35, Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 32

 

 and the 2014 Poverty Guidelines available at

 

 http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm

 

 

                              FOOTNOTES TO TABLE 2

 

 

      a Represents the EITC AGI threshold divided by the

 

 poverty guidelines for a family of 4.

 

 

      b Represents the EITC AGI threshold divided by the

 

 poverty guidelines for a family of 5.

 

 

                          END OF FOOTNOTES TO TABLE 2

 

 

Payment of the EITC

The EITC is provided to individuals and families annually in a lump sum payment after a taxpayer files a federal income tax return.15 It may be received in one of three ways:

 

1. a reduction in federal tax liability;

2. a cash payment from the Treasury if the tax filer has no tax liability, through a tax refund check; or

3. a combination of reduced federal tax liability and a refund.

 

The majority (88%) of the aggregate amount of the EITC -- $64 billion in 2012 -- is received as a refund.16 In other words, $56 billion of the EITC was received as a refund in 2012, while approximately $8 billion offset tax liabilities.

The EITC is taken against all taxes reported17 on the federal individual income tax return (Form 1040) after all nonrefundable credits have been taken. On the tax form, the EITC can be found in the payments section after the lines for withholding and estimated tax payments.

The EITC benefits families when they file their income taxes. Thus, payments are generally based on the prior year's income, earnings, and family composition. That is, the EITC paid in 2015 is generally based on earnings, income, and family composition in 2014.

Interaction with Other Tax Provisions

On the tax return, the EITC is calculated after total tax liability and all nonrefundable credits. Nonrefundable tax credits, which are taken against (reduce) income tax liability, include credits for education, dependent care, savings, and the nonrefundable portion of the child credit.18 If an EITC-eligible family has a tax liability and can use one or more of these credits, the total amount of their EITC will remain unchanged, but how they receive the credit will change. If nonrefundable tax credits can reduce a family's tax liability, a greater amount of their EITC will be received as a refund, and less will offset their tax liability since their tax liability is smaller.

For tax filers whose income places them in the "phase-out range" of the credit, reducing their income (all else being unchanged) will result in a larger EITC. (As illustrated in Figure 2, reducing income when a tax filer is in the phase-out range results in the tax filer increasing the amount of the credit they receive.) A variety of forms of income can be excluded from both AGI and earned income, reducing a taxpayer's AGI or earned income for purposes of calculating the credit. For example, pre-tax contributions to savings accounts for retirement or medical expenses are not included in either AGI or earned income. Hence, by making these contributions, EITC claimants whose pre-contribution income places them in the phase-out range of the credit will reduce their AGI or earned income for purposes of calculating the EITC and thus receive a larger credit.19

In contrast, for tax filers whose income places them in the "phase-in range" of the credit, reducing their income (all else unchanged) will result in a smaller EITC. (As illustrated in Figure 2, reducing income when a tax filer is in the phase-in range results in the tax filer reducing the amount of the credit they receive.) Generally, non-taxable income cannot be included in earned income for purposes of calculating the EITC. However, as previously discussed, service members may elect to include their nontaxable combat pay as earnings, for purposes of calculating the EITC. Generally, service whose income (excluding their combat-pay) places them in the phase-in range will elect to include their combat pay in earned income for purposes of calculating the EITC in order to receive a larger credit.

Treatment of the EITC for Need-Tested Benefit Programs

By law,20 the EITC cannot be counted as income in determining eligibility for, or the amount of, any federally funded public benefit program including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance, low-income housing, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). An EITC refund that is saved by the filer does not count against the resource limits of any federally funded public benefit program for 12 months after the refund is received.

Modifications to the EITC Set to Expire

Two temporary modifications to the EITC were enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA; P.L. 111-5). First, ARRA enacted a temporary larger credit for families with three or more children by creating a new higher credit rate of 45% (previously, these tax filers were eligible for a credit rate of 40%). Second, ARRA expanded marriage penalty relief by increasing the earnings level at which the credit phased out for married tax filers in comparison to unmarried tax filers with the same number of children. Before ARRA, the EITC for married tax filers would begin to phase out for earnings $ 3,000 (adjusted for inflation) greater than the level for unmarried recipients with the same number of children. ARRA increased this differential to $5,000 (adjusted for inflation). In 2014, this marriage penalty relief was equal to $5,430.

These two changes were originally scheduled to be in effect only for 2009 and 2010. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) extended these ARRA provisions for two years (2011 and 2012). The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA; P.L. 112-240) extended the ARRA provisions for five more years (2013-2017). Hence, under current law, beginning in 2018, the larger credit for families with three or more children will expire and the marriage penalty relief will be reduced from $5,000 (adjusted for inflation) to $3,000 (adjusted for inflation). (Families with three or more children can claim the credit for families with two or more children beginning in 2018.)

Participation and Benefits

The EITC was first enacted in 1975 as a temporary measure meant to encourage economic growth in the face of the 1974 recession and rising food and energy prices. It was also originally intended to "assist in encouraging people to obtain employment, reducing the unemployment rate, and reducing the welfare rolls."21 Over time the list of EITC objectives has grown to include poverty reduction. Today the EITC is the largest need-tested, cash benefits anti-poverty program. This section first provides a historical overview of the growth of the EITC from 1975-2012; it then examines information on EITC participation for 2012.

Trends in Participation and EITC Benefits

When originally enacted by the Tax Reduction Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-12), the EITC was a temporary refundable tax credit in effect for 1975. For that year, 6.2 million tax filers claimed the EITC and the total EITC amount claimed was $1.25 billion (in constant 2012 dollars, this equals $5.3 billion). The credit was extended several more times on a temporary basis and made permanent by the Revenue Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-600). Legislation enacted in 1986 (P.L. 99-514), 1990 (P.L. 101-508), 1993 (P.L. 103-66), 2001 (P.L. 107-16), and 2009 (P.L. 111-5) increased the amount of the credit by changing the credit formula.

Before 1990, the credit amount was calculated as a percentage of earnings ("the credit rate") up until the earned income amount. The credit then remained at its maximum level before gradually decreasing in value as earnings increased. Legislative changes to the credit made during this time generally increased the amount of the credit in a variety of ways including increasing the credit rate, increasing the earned income amount, increasing the phase-out amount threshold, and decreasing the phase-out rate. Nonetheless, the credit amount depended on earned income.

Beginning in 1990 and more substantially in 1993, the credit formula was revised such that the credit amount varied based on earnings and, to a certain extent, the number of qualifying children. This essentially increased the credit by family size. In addition, for the first time in 1993, Congress made workers without qualifying children eligible for the EITC, although the credit was smaller than the credit for claimants with qualifying children.

In 2001, the credit formula was revised again so that it also varied based in part on marital status. As a result of this change, often referred to as "marriage penalty relief," certain married tax filers would receive a larger credit than unmarried tax filers with the same number of children. In 2009, the marriage penalty relief was expanded further and a larger credit was created for families with three or more children. These 2009 changes were extended several times (most recently by P.L. 112-240) and are currently set to expire at the end of 2017.

Figure 3 shows the number of tax filers claiming the EITC from 1975 to 2012. Figure 4 shows the amount of the EITC claimed on these returns, with dollar amounts adjusted for inflation to represent 2012 dollars. The figures show the effects of the legislative expansions of the EITC, with the credit experiencing growth in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s and then again in the 2000s. As shown on Figure 4, throughout the history of the EITC, most credits have been paid in the form of refunds, with a relatively small share of the EITC reducing regular federal income tax liability.

 

Figure 3. Number of Tax Filers Claiming

 

the EITC: 1975 to 2012

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service. For pre-2003 data, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means, 2004 Green Book, Background Material and Data on Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means, 108th Congress, 2nd session, WMCP 108-6, March 2004, pp.13-41. For 2003 and later data, Internal Revenue Service, Total File, United States, Individual Income and Tax Data, by State and Size of Adjusted Gross Income, 2003 through 2012, expanded unpublished version, Table 2.5.

Note: For a tabular display of this information, see Table A-1.

 

Figure 4. EITC Claimed on Federal

 

Income Tax Returns: 1975-2012

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service. For pre-2003 data, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means, 2004 Green Book, Background Material and Data on Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means, 108th Congress, 2nd session, WMCP 108-6, March 2004, pp.13-41. For 2003 and later data, Internal Revenue Service, Total File, United States, Individual Income and Tax Data, by State and Size of Adjusted Gross Income, 2003 through 2012, expanded unpublished version, Table 2.5.

Notes: Constant 2012 dollars were computed using the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). For a tabular display of this information, see Table A-1.

The growth in the total amount of EITC claimed in the late 1980s to the mid-1990s was due to not only increases in participation, but also in the average credit received by tax filers. Figure 5 shows the average EITC claimed for 1975 to 2012, in inflation-adjusted (2012) dollars. Before the 1986 Tax Reform Act (P.L. 99-514), EITC thresholds were not indexed for inflation, and the average credit lost value each year. However, the 1986 act increased the monetary parameters of the credit for prior inflation and adjusted the threshold amounts and maximum credits annually for inflation in future years. The credit formula was also revised in 1990 and then again in 1993 such that the amount of the credit depended to a certain extent on family size. These changes resulted in an increasing average credit between the late 1980s and late 1990s. Since then, the average credit has largely maintained its real value. However, increases in the average credit amount in 2001 and 2009 were likely due to legislative changes that included larger credits for some married claimants and for families with three or more children.22

 

Figure 5. Average EITC Claimed: 1975 to 2012

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service. For pre-2003 data, U.S. Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means, 2004 Green Book, Background Material and Data on Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means, 108th Congress, 2nd session, WMCP 108-6, March 2004, pp.13-41. For 2003 and later data, Internal Revenue Service, Total File, United States, Individual Income and Tax Data, by State and Size of Adjusted Gross Income, 2003 through 2012, expanded unpublished version, Table 2.5.

Notes: Constant 2012 dollars were computed using the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). For a tabular display of this information, see Table A-1.

Participation and EITC Amounts Claimed for 2012

For 2012, $64.1 billion of the EITC was claimed on 27.8 million tax returns.

Number of Qualifying Children

Most tax filers claiming the EITC, and those who received the most EITC dollars, were families with children. Figure 6 shows total EITC dollars claimed for 2012 by number of qualifying children. For 2012, 3% of all EITC dollars were claimed by tax filers with no qualifying children and 97% were claimed by tax filers with qualifying children. Of this 97%, 36% were claimed by tax filers with one qualifying child, 40% were claimed by tax filers with two qualifying children, and 21% were claimed by tax filers with three or more qualifying children.

 

Figure 6. Total EITC Dollars Claimed for 2012,

 

by Number of Qualifying Children

 

 

Dollars in Billions, Total EITC Claimed = $64.1 Billion

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, SOI Tax Stats -- Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 1304, Table 2.5.

Though childless tax filers claimed 3% of all EITC dollars for 2012, they accounted for close to one-fourth of all tax filers that claimed the EITC. Thus, their small share of total EITC dollars reflects, in part, the lower credit amount available to childless filers.

Figure 7 shows the number of returns claiming the EITC for 2012 by number of qualifying children. Figure 8 shows the average EITC claimed for 2012 by number of qualifying children, with the overall average amount of the EITC claimed being $2,303. The average EITC for 2012 increased with the number of qualifying children a tax filer claimed:

  • The EITC was claimed by 6.9 million tax filers with no qualifying children, with an average claim of $267.

  • The EITC was claimed by 10.2 million filers with one qualifying child, with an average claim of $2,245.

  • The EITC was claimed by 7.3 million filers with two qualifying children, with an average claim of $3,547.

  • The EITC was claimed by 3.5 million filers with three or more qualifying children, with an average claim of $3,872.

Figure 7. Number of Tax Returns with EITC Claims for 2012,

 

by Number of Qualifying Children

 

 

Number in Millions, Total Number of

 

Returns Claiming the EITC = 27.8 million

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Services, SOI Tax Stats -- Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 1304, Table 2.5.

Notes: Detail does not add to total because of rounding. For detail on returns claiming the EITC by AGI and number of qualifying children, see Table A-2.

 

Figure 8. Average EITC Claimed by Tax Filers in 2012,

 

by Number of Qualifying Children

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Services, SOI Tax Stats -- Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 1304, Table 2.5.

Notes: For detail on returns claiming the EITC by AGI and number of qualifying children, see Table A-2.

Income Level

Though the EITC is targeted toward lower-income earners, tax filers with children may receive the EITC even with income well above the poverty level. (The 2012 federal poverty level for a family of three was $19,090 in 2012.) However, the largest EITC benefits are focused on low-income earners near the poverty line, with those with greater earnings receiving reduced benefits.

Figure 9 shows the number of tax returns with EITC claims in 2012 by adjusted gross income level. Figure 9 shows that the most typical (modal) EITC tax return had an AGI between $10,000 and $14,999, with 5.9 million returns including an EITC in that income range for 2012. For that year, close to half of all returns with EITC claims had AGIs below $14,999. This AGI is equivalent to earnings less than the $15,080 earned by a full-time (40 hour per week) full-year (52 weeks per year) worker earning the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour).

Figure 9 also shows the average EITC claimed by AGI category. Average EITC benefits first increase with AGI, then decline. This outcome reflects the formula for determining the EITC, which provides an increasing credit up to a maximum amount, then ultimately a reduced credit as it is phased out above a certain income threshold (see Table 1 and Figure 2). It also reflects a difference in the mix of family types claiming the EITC in the various AGI categories. For example, two-thirds of all filers claiming the EITC with AGIs of less than $5,000 had no qualifying children. All those claiming the EITC at AGIs above $20,000 in 2012 had qualifying children, and hence were eligible for a larger maximum EITC benefit than filers without children. For detail on returns claiming the EITC by AGI and number of qualifying children, see Table A-2.

 

Figure 9. Number of Returns Claiming the EITC and

 

Average EITC Claimed for 2012, by Adjusted Gross Income

 

 

Numbers in Millions and Dollars in 2012 $

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Services, SOI Tax Stats -- Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 1304, Table 2.5.

Notes: For detail on returns claiming the EITC by AGI and number of qualifying children, see Table A-2.

Filing and Marital Status

The Internal Revenue Service does not provide data on EITC dollars claimed by filing status. The Tax Policy Center (TPC), however, projects that in 2015, 70% of all EITC dollars will be claimed by unmarried tax filers (head of household and single filing statuses), with most (60% of all EITC dollars) claimed by those filing as heads of household. (The TPC projections are likely similar to the actual amounts of the EITC claimed by filing status in 2013 and 2014, given that they are based on the same credit formula.) Figure 10 shows projections for EITC dollars claimed by filing status for 2015.

 

Figure 10. Estimate of EITC Dollars Claimed

 

by Marital Status, 2015

 

 

Dollars in Billions

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on estimates from the Urban-Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center Table T13-0274, available at http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/index.cfm. Estimates are for tax year 2015.

Region

In 2012, the EITC was claimed on 19.2% of all tax returns. However, the rate at which the EITC is claimed by tax filers varies considerably by state. In 2012, the state with the highest percentage of returns claiming the EITC was Mississippi, with the credit claimed on 32.4% of all returns. In contrast, the EITC was claimed on 12.2% of all returns in New Hampshire that year.

Figure 11 provides a map showing the percentage of all tax returns claiming the EITC by state. In addition to considerable state variation, the map shows that there is a regional pattern to EITC receipt. A greater share of returns filed in certain southern states claimed the EITC than returns in other regions of the country. The EITC was claimed on the smallest percentage of returns in New England as well as some states in the northern Midwest.

 

Figure 11. Percentage of Tax Returns Claiming

 

the EITC by State, 2012

 

 

 

 

Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Note: For detail on EITC returns by state, see Table A-3.

 

* * * * *

 

 

Appendix. Additional Tables

 

 

           Table A-1. EITC Tax Filers and Dollars Claimed: 1975-2012

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

                      In Millions                    In Millions of    Constant

 

                      of Nominal $     Nominal $     Constant 2012 $    2012 $

 

                   ___________________ _________   __________________  ________

 

       Tax Filers

 

       Claiming

 

       the EITC      Total   Refunded    Average     Total   Refunded   Average

 

 Year  (Millions)    EITC    EITC        EITC        EITC    EITC       EITC

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 1975     6.215     $1,250       $900      $201     $5,334     $3,841     $858

 

 1976     6.473      1,295        890       200      5,225      3,591      807

 

 1977     5.627      1,127        880       200      4,270      3,334      758

 

 1978     5.192      1,048        801       202      3,690      2,821      711

 

 1979     7.135      2,052      1,395       288      6,489      4,412      911

 

 1980     6.954      1,986      1,370       286      5,534      3,817      797

 

 1981     6.717      1,912      1,278       285      4,829      3,228      720

 

 1982     6.395      1,775      1,222       278      4,223      2,907      661

 

 1983     7.368      1,795      1,289       244      4,138      2,971      562

 

 1984     6.376      1,638      1,162       257      3,620      2,568      568

 

 1985     7.432      2,088      1,499       281      4,455      3,199      600

 

 1986     7.156      2,009      1,479       281      4,209      3,098      589

 

 1987     8.738      3,391      2,930       388      6,853      5,922      784

 

 1988    11.148      5,896      4,257       529     11,443      8,262    1,027

 

 1989    11.696      6,595      4,636       564     12,211      8,584    1,044

 

 1990    12.542      7,542      5,266       601     13,249      9,251    1,056

 

 1991    13.665     11,105      8,183       813     18,720     13,794    1,370

 

 1992    14.097     13,028      9,959       924     21,320     16,297    1,512

 

 1993    15.117     15,537     12,028     1,028     24,687     19,111    1,633

 

 1994    19.017     21,105     16,598     1,110     32,696     25,714    1,720

 

 1995    19.334     25,956     20,829     1,343     39,103     31,379    2,023

 

 1996    19.464     28,825     23,157     1,481     42,180     33,886    2,167

 

 1997    19.391     30,389     24,396     1,567     43,471     34,898    2,242

 

 1998    20.273     32,340     27,175     1,595     45,553     38,277    2,247

 

 1999    19.259     31,901     27,604     1,656     43,963     38,041    2,282

 

 2000    19.277     32,296     27,803     1,675     43,060     37,070    2,233

 

 2001    19.593     35,784     29,043     1,826     46,391     37,652    2,367

 

 2002    21.574     37,786     33,258     1,751     48,224     42,445    2,235

 

 2003    22.112     39,186     34,508     1,772     48,896     43,059    2,211

 

 2004    22.270     40,024     35,299     1,797     48,646     42,903    2,184

 

 2005    22.752     42,410     37,465     1,864     49,857     44,044    2,191

 

 2006    23.042     44,388     39,072     1,926     50,552     44,498    2,193

 

 2007    24.584     48,540     42,508     1,974     53,749     47,070    2,186

 

 2008    24.756     50,669     44,260     2,047     54,032     47,198    2,183

 

 2009    27.041     59,240     53,985     2,191     63,398     57,774    2,345

 

 2010    27.368     59,562     54,256     2,176     62,714     57,127    2,291

 

 2011    27.912     62,906     55,350     2,254     64,208     56,495    2,301

 

 2012    27.848     64,129     56,190     2,303     64,129     56,190    2,303

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Source: Congressional Research Service. For pre-2003 data, U.S.

 

 Congress, House Committee on Ways and Means, 2004 Green Book, Background

 

 Material and Data on Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways

 

 and Means, 108th Congress, 2nd session, WMCP 108-6, March 2004, pp.13-41.

 

 For 2003 and later data, Internal Revenue Service, Total File, United States,

 

 Individual Income and Tax Data, by State and< Size of Adjusted Gross Income,

 

 2003 through 2012, expanded unpublished version, Table 2.5.

 

 

 Notes: Constant 2012 dollars were computed using the Consumer Price Index

 

 for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

 

 

       Table A-2. Average EITC, Number of Returns with EITC Claimed, and

 

             Total EITC Benefits for 2012, by Adjusted Gross Income

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

                                                                     Three or

 

                                 No          One         Two         More

 

                                 Qualifying  Qualifying  Qualifying  Qualifying

 

         AGI            Totals   Children     Child       Children   Children

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

                                 Average Credit

 

 

 Less than $5,000          $576        $213      $1,189      $1,530      $1,921

 

 $5,000 to $9,999         1,556         391       2,696       3,015       3,364

 

 $10,000 to $14,999       2,600         177       3,061       4,816       5,339

 

 $15,000 to $19,999       3,949         153       2,983       4,999       5,695

 

 $20,000 to $24,999       3,480           0       2,400       4,280       5,150

 

 $25,000 to $29,999       2,676           0       1,681       3,345       4,160

 

 $30,000 to $34,999       1,818           0         953       2,378       3,168

 

 $35,000 to $39,999       1,289           0         461       1,421       2,155

 

 $40,000 to $44,999         884           0         151         790       1,291

 

 $45,000 and higher         413           0           0         233         541

 

 Totals                   2,303         267       2,245       3,547       3,872

 

 

                            Total Returns with EITC

 

 

 Less than $5,000     2,719,962   1,861,313     525,562     236,562      96,525

 

 $5,000 to $9,999     5,034,896   2,619,274   1,704,317     514,144     197,161

 

 $10,000 to $14,999   5,857,902   2,141,826   1,880,398   1,348,810     486,868

 

 $15,000 to $19,999   3,948,005     252,887   1,654,402   1,439,950     600,766

 

 $20,000 to $24,999   2,974,327           0   1,493,992     987,724     492,611

 

 $25,000 to $29,999   2,568,970           0   1,239,825     905,408     423,737

 

 $30,000 to $34,999   2,155,201           0   1,045,183     751,737     358,281

 

 $35,000 to $39,999   1,504,188           0     500,027     619,798     384,363

 

 $40,000 to $44,999     795,285           0     125,419     360,640     309,226

 

 $45,000 and higher     289,528           0           0     120,318     169,210

 

 Totals              27,848,264   6,873,296  10,169,124   7,285,091   3,518,749

 

 

                      Total EITC Claimed ($ in thousands)

 

 

 Less than $5,000     1,567,791     395,924     624,644     361,832     185,391

 

 $5,000 to $9,999     7,831,839   1,022,956   4,595,499   1,550,146     663,238

 

 $10,000 to $14,999  15,231,655     379,584   5,756,226   6,496,441   2,599,404

 

 $15,000 to $19,999  15,592,358      38,705   4,934,283   7,197,775   3,421,595

 

 $20,000 to $24,999  10,349,383           0   3,585,622   4,227,050   2,536,711

 

 $25,000 to $29,999   6,874,789           0   2,083,753   3,028,379   1,762,657

 

 $30,000 to $34,999   3,918,956           0     996,354   1,787,582   1,135,020

 

 $35,000 to $39,999   1,939,214           0     230,292     880,532     828,390

 

 $40,000 to $44,999     703,080           0      18,899     285,023     399,158

 

 $45,000 and higher     119,563           0           0      28,013      91,550

 

 Totals              64,128,627   1,837,168  22,825,570  25,842,774  13,623,115

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S.

 

 Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Services, SOI Tax Stats --

 

 Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 1304, Table 2.5.

 

 

          Table A-3. Total EITC Returns and Amounts for 2012, by State

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

                                        Percent-

 

                                        age of

 

                                        Total

 

                                        Returns  Total EITC            Percent-

 

                             Returns    with     Claimed               age of

 

                   Total     with EITC  EITC     ($ in        Average  EITC

 

 State or Area     Returns   Claimed    Claimed  thousands)   EITC     Refunded

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 U.S. Totala    145,025,450  27,788,100   19.2%  $64,221,884   $2,311    87.8%

 

 

 Alabama          2,050,890     537,470    26.2    1,417,969    2,638    90.0

 

 

 Alaska             363,090      51,800    14.3      101,907    1,967    90.5

 

 

 Arizona          2,761,490     582,750    21.1    1,409,991    2,420    89.1

 

 

 Arkansas         1,219,480     312,090    25.6      764,025    2,448    90.0

 

 

 California      16,909,110   3,209,680    19.0    7,289,949    2,271    84.9

 

 

 Colorado         2,450,150     372,800    15.2      775,244    2,080    87.7

 

 

 Connecticut      1,741,480     222,010    12.7      453,493    2,043    87.7

 

 

 Delaware           434,150      74,540    17.2      165,527    2,221    91.1

 

 

 District of

 

 Columbia           327,730      55,410    16.9      122,917    2,218    87.0

 

 

 Florida          9,226,420   2,160,410    23.4    5,099,789    2,361    86.7

 

 

 Georgia          4,335,320   1,124,330    25.9    2,900,740    2,580    88.1

 

 

 Hawaii             665,320     114,580    17.2      240,483    2,099    90.3

 

 

 Idaho              679,220     140,040    20.6      308,166    2,201    89.0

 

 

 Illinois         6,077,090   1,048,420    17.3    2,451,585    2,338    86.8

 

 

 Indiana          3,029,600     564,020    18.6    1,273,387    2,258    89.8

 

 

 Iowa             1,426,710     216,730    15.2      452,305    2,087    89.4

 

 

 Kansas           1,323,740     221,240    16.7      487,372    2,203    90.5

 

 

 Kentucky         1,879,100     415,170    22.1      940,851    2,266    89.2

 

 

 Louisiana        2,011,770     541,930    26.9    1,422,469    2,625    89.5

 

 

 Maine              631,380     105,710    16.7      205,791    1,947    86.6

 

 

 Maryland         2,860,930     425,080    14.9      930,605    2,189    86.6

 

 

 Massachusetts    3,264,490     413,580    12.7      809,976    1,958    88.0

 

 

 Michigan         4,631,040     846,240    18.3    1,942,605    2,296    87.4

 

 

 Minnesota        2,619,920     354,700    13.5      718,338    2,025    88.5

 

 

 Mississippi      1,250,140     405,570    32.4    1,096,524    2,704    90.4

 

 

 Missouri         2,728,430     536,500    19.7    1,222,335    2,278    89.7

 

 

 Montana            485,250      85,000    17.5      169,861    1,998    88.6

 

 

 Nebraska           871,940     139,270    16.0      303,218    2,177    89.8

 

 

 Nevada           1,289,360     244,230    18.9      553,790    2,267    88.8

 

 

 New Hampshire      679,910      82,990    12.2      153,548    1,850    86.7

 

 

 New Jersey       4,307,560     599,320    13.9    1,302,425    2,173    86.4

 

 

 New Mexico         905,340     222,270    24.6      511,475    2,301    90.9

 

 

 New York         9,363,750   1,797,030    19.2    3,989,000    2,220    85.1

 

 

 North Carolina   4,287,590     950,320    22.2    2,249,232    2,367    89.3

 

 

 North Dakota       353,830      44,410    12.6       87,796    1,977    89.9

 

 

 Ohio             5,507,560     982,370    17.8    2,236,340    2,276    89.2

 

 

 Oklahoma         1,618,460     350,380    21.6      822,032    2,346    89.4

 

 

 Oregon           1,768,810     292,600    16.5      586,432    2,004    88.7

 

 

 Pennsylvania     6,134,120     942,080    15.4    1,976,028    2,098    89.7

 

 

 Rhode Island       512,930      84,090    16.4      181,446    2,158    88.4

 

 

 South Carolina   2,077,310     507,210    24.4    1,222,899    2,411    90.1

 

 

 South Dakota       414,950      67,060    16.2      138,866    2,071    90.8

 

 

 Tennessee        2,882,040     673,000    23.4    1,612,235    2,396    87.9

 

 

 Texas           11,573,440   2,702,180    23.3    6,923,938    2,562    87.4

 

 

 Utah             1,174,090     202,600    17.3      456,422    2,253    89.6

 

 

 Vermont            321,250      47,360    14.7       85,885    1,813    85.4

 

 

 Virginia         3,811,070     624,030    16.4    1,373,900    2,202    89.0

 

 

 Washington       3,244,400     464,370    14.3      957,018    2,061    89.2

 

 

 West Virginia      788,490     159,830    20.3      341,134    2,134    91.5

 

 

 Wisconsin        2,778,100     400,280    14.4      833,561    2,082    89.2

 

 

 Wyoming            301,660      41,380    13.7       81,641    1,973    90.3

 

 

 Other Areas        674,050      29,660     4.4       67,421    2,273    96.8

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 Source: Congressional Research Service, based on data from the U.S.

 

 Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Individual

 

 Income and Tax Data, by State and Size of Adjusted Gross Income.

 

 

                             FOOTNOTE TO TABLE A-3

 

 

      a Totals in this table differ slightly from total shown in

 

 Table A-2. While the figures in Table A-2 and Table A-3

 

 are both based on data from the IRS, thee data in Table A-3 includes

 

 "substitutes for returns"in which the IRS constructs tax returns for certain

 

 non-filers.

 

 

                          END OF FOOTNOTE TO TABLE A-3

 

 

Author Contact Information

 

Gene Falk

 

Specialist in Social Policy

 

gfalk@crs.loc.gov, 7-7344

 

 

Margot L. Crandall-Hollick

 

Analyst in Public Finance

 

mcrandallhollick@crs.loc.gov, 7-7582

 

Acknowledgments

CRS graphics specialist Jamie Hutchinson created the figures in this report.

 

FOOTNOTES

 

 

1 A tax filer who is claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return is ineligible for the EITC.

2 There is an additional filing status that may claim the EITC -- "qualifying widow(er) with dependent child." Generally, tax filers may file their tax return as married filing jointly in the year their spouse died. A tax filer may be eligible to use qualifying widow(er) with dependent child as his or her filing status for two years following the year his or her spouse died. This filing status entitles the tax filer to use joint return tax rates and the highest standard deduction amount (if he or she does not itemize deductions). It does not entitle the tax filer to file a joint return. The tax filer calculates the EITC using the formula for other unmarried tax filing statuses (head of household and single). The eligibility rules for this filing status can be found on page 10 of IRS Publication 501, available at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf.

3 The 2013 version of this form can be found at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sei.pdf.

4 For more information, see http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Special-EITC-Rules.

5 See Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 32(c)(1)(C) and http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC,-Earned-Income-TaxCredit,-Questions-and-Answers.

6 For more information on Social Security numbers valid for work purposes, see CRS Legal Sidebar WSLG823, Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for Tax Credit? That is the Question, by Emily M. Lanza, Erika K. Lunder, and Kathleen S. Swendiman and CRS Legal Sidebar WSLG723, They've Got Your Number: Who Can Get A Social Security Card, by Kathleen S. Swendiman.

7 For more information, see CRS Report RS21732, Federal Taxation of Aliens Working in the United States, by Erika K. Lunder and http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Determining-Alien-Tax-Status. In addition, for the EITC, a nonresident alien may be eligible to claim the credit if they are married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien, make the election to be treated as a resident alien, and file a joint return.

8 If an individual is the qualifying child for the purposes of the EITC of another person, that individual cannot themselves claim the EITC. For more information, see http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC,-Earned-Income-Tax-Credit,-Questions-and-Answers.

9 If placed by an authorized agency or court order.

10 Qualifying children who reside with a service member who is stationed outside the United States while serving on extended active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces are considered to reside in the United States for the purposes of the EITC.

11 Currently, there is no Federal regulation which states that taxpayers with a qualifying child who do not claim that qualifying child for the EITC are ineligible for the credit. However, the website of the Internal Revenue Service does state that such individuals are ineligible for the childless EITC. For more information, see http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Qualifying-Child-of-More-Than-One-Person.

12 The tie-breaker rules are: (1) if both tax filers are parents of the child, the parent with whom the child resided the longest during the year claims the child for the EITC; (2) if the child resided with each parent for the same amount of time during the year, the parent with the highest adjusted gross income (AGI) claims the child for the EITC; (3) if only one tax filer is the parent of the child, the tax filer who is the parent claims the child for the EITC; and (4) if neither tax filer is the parent of the child, the tax filer with the highest AGI claims the child for the EITC.

13 See IRC § 32(k).

14 The tables can be found, for 2013 returns, beginning on page 59 of the Form 1040 general instructions, at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf.

15 Before 2011, any persons with a qualified child eligible for the EITC could elect to receive advance payment of the credit through the employer's payroll withholding system by filing an eligibility certificate (Form W-5) with his or her employer. The option was little used and eliminated by P.L. 111-226.

16 For more information, see IRS Statistics of Income, Table 2.5 at http://www.irs.gov/uac/SOI-Tax-Stats--Individual-Statistical-Tables-by-Size-of-Adjusted-Gross-Income.

17 These taxes include the regular income tax and alternative income tax, as well as self-employment taxes. Less common taxes, like unreported Social Security and Medicare taxes and certain taxes on IRAs, are also included. For an example of these taxes, see lines 56 through 60 on the 2013 IRS Form 1040, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf.

18 For more information on the nonrefundable (and refundable) portion of the child tax credit, see CRS Report R41873, The Child Tax Credit: Current Law and Legislative History, by Margot L. Crandall-Hollick.

19 In contrast, if the pre-contribution income places them in the plateau or the phase-in range, decreasing their earned income by making certain pre-tax savings contributions may either have no impact or result in a smaller credit.

20 The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) included a provision which made tax refunds, including those resulting from the EITC, disregarded in the administration of federal programs and federally assisted programs. At the end of 2012, this provision was made permanent by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240).

21 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Finance, Tax Reduction Act of 1975, Report to Accompany H.R. 2166, 94th Cong., 1st sess., March 17, 1975, S. Report 94-36, p. 33.

22 The increase in the value of the credit in 2009 is likely due to the changes made by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5) which expanded the credit for families with three or more children and increased marriage penalty relief.

 

END OF FOOTNOTES
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Falk, Gene
    Crandall-Hollick, Margot L.
  • Institutional Authors
    Congressional Research Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Areas/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2014-28682
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2014 TNT 234-17
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