Search:

Home : Children's Issues : Family Stability and Child Care : Refund the Credit Campaign

Refund the Credit Campaign

A refundable State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) are powerful tools in helping families work their way out of poverty. The State EITC would provide tax relief to hard-working, low and middle-income families, helping them close the gap between what they earn and what they need to make ends meet. A refundable Child and Dependent Care Credit would provide similar tax relief to families with children. These credits reward work and boost local economies.

Ohio's families deserve what families in dozens of other states have - a refundable State Earned Income Tax Credit and a refundable Child and Dependent Care Credit. Help us Refund the Credit by enacting a refundable state EITC and Child and Dependent Care tax credit.

Learn more about how a refundable state EITC benefits your community. The Ohio Senate Districts and Ohio House Districts map contain links to fact sheets about districts throughout the state.

About the Issues

State Earned Income Tax Credit: A state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for hard-working, low and middle-income families. It is based on the federal EITC, which currently does more to bring working families out of poverty than any other government tax program. An estimated 4.4 million people were lifted above the poverty level because of the federal EITC program. In 2006, 816,000 Ohio households claimed the federal EITC, returning $1.5 billion to low-wage earners. Twenty-four states plus the District of Columbia have enacted State EITCs, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. It is time for Ohio to follow their lead and enact a refundable State EITC.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit:The Child and Dependent Care tax credit (CDCC) is designed to provide relief to low-income families who are face the daily tension of choosing between work and quality care for their children or adult dependents. The CADC rewards work, and those looking for work, by helping families meet the rising costs of quality care. Currently Ohio's CADC is based on a percentage of the federal CADC and provides a maximum benefit of $2,100 for a family with two or more children/dependents. Income eligibility maxes out at $40,000 per year. Unfortunately, Ohio's credit is not refundable. As a result many families at the lowest end of the income scale are not able to claim the credit. Making Ohio's CADC refundable would have a significant impact on struggling families.

• Download fact sheet about the state Earned Income Tax Credit
• Download fact sheet about the Child and Dependent Care Credit
• Download the report "Dollars that Make Sense 2009"
• Download talking points about the these refundable credits
  
  
  • Smart Policy
  • Local Communities See Big Impact from Refundable Tax Credits
  • Tax Why it Matters

Refund the Credit post card

Get involved

The Refund the Credit campaign is a state-wide coalition of community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, research organizations, and elected officials that support enacting a refundable state EITC and Child and Dependent Care tax credit. We invite you to endorse the campaign and be an active member in the coalition.

• Download the interest form
• Contact Ericka Thoms for additional information about attending coalition meetings and getting involved in the campaign.
• Contact your state representative and senator to tell them you support enacting a state EITC and making the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit refundable. Find your representative information

Meeting Agendas and notes