What are the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits?

The EITC and CTC are tax credits for low- to moderate-income working families and individuals. The refund amount depends on many factors, including income level, marital status, and the number of children in your care.

If you qualify, you’ll owe less in taxes and you may get cash back. If you don’t owe any income tax, you'll receive the entire amount. But, in order to receive these credits, you must file a federal tax return.

Who can get the EITC and CTC?

For the Earned Income Tax Credit:

§          Workers who raised two or more children in their homes and who earned less than $36,348 in 2006 (or less than $38,348 if married, filing jointly);

§          Workers who raised one child and earned less than $32,001 in 2006 (or $34,001 if married, filing jointly); and,

§          Workers between the ages of 25 and 64 who were not raising children who earned less than $12,120 in 2006 (or $14,120 if married, filing jointly).

For the Child Tax Credit:

§          Workers providing more than half the support for a child in their care under the age of 16; and,

§          Workers earning more than $11,300 in 2006.

How much can I get?

Some filers may be eligible to receive an EITC refund of up to $4,536!  This is the maximum credit amount for Tax Year 2006.  The CTC is worth up to $1,000 per child.

What if I have more questions?

If you have any problems, questions, or would simply like to speak to someone about claiming the EITC, call the toll-free IRS Helpline at (800) 829-1040 to receive free tax assistance.

Download CDF-OH’s EITC and CTC Fact Sheets.  Tailored to our work in the greater Cleveland area, these fact sheets offer every bit of information you need to know in order to claim the credits.

§          EITC Fact Sheet

§          CTC Fact Sheet

Outreach Initiatives

In an effort to help raise public awareness about the Earned Income and Child Tax Credit, CDF-Ohio is taking requests from agencies in Franklin and Cuyahoga counties to give in-depth presentations on the EITC and CTC.  Presentations will last approximately 20-30 minutes—depending upon the event and circumstances—and can be tailored to fit your agency's needs.If you are interested in having representatives from CDF-Ohio at your next meeting to discuss the EITC, send us an e-mail with the details of your meeting and we'll respond right away.