Adults Not Living with Children

A seasonal worker smiles while standing at their job site.

Tax credits can be a useful income boost for adults earning lower wages who do not have children living with them. While workers without kids at home are eligible for a small Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), some non-custodial parents may be eligible for a significant Child Tax Credit (CTC) if a divorce or separation agreement allows them to claim a child as a dependent. Outreach messages about both tax credits and free tax help are important to share with adults not living with children.

CONNECT WITH

  • Transitional housing programs
  • Homeless shelters
  • Food banks and soup kitchens
  • Literacy or GED programs
  • Probation offices
  • Half-way houses or mental health or substance abuse service centers
  • Child Support Enforcement agencies
  • Fatherhood Programs
  • Veterans Administration hospitals or service centers

STRATEGIES

1. Contact workers who are employed on-and-off.

Many adults work on-and-off throughout the year. To reach them, distribute tax credit information at:

  • Pick-up and drop-off spots for day laborers
  • Hotel, motel, and other service worksites with seasonal employees
  • General Assistance, SNAP, or unemployment offices
  • Programs serving migrant workers or temporary workers

A temporary worker smiles while operating a vehicle at their job.

2. Provide tax credit information at child support decisions.

Work with a court to help connect parents to tax credit information when child support details are set up. Decisions about which parent claims the child as a dependent for tax purposes are often made at this time. Provide parents with information about the CTC while they’re learning about the process for setting up child support.

3. Enlist employers to reach out to their employees.

Employers are well-positioned to share tax credit information with their employees. A special note about the availability of the CTC may be of particular interest to non-custodial parents whose child support payments are being deducted from their paycheck.

An employer meets with employees to share tax credit information.

4. Reach out to workers in school or training programs.

Share tax credit information at:

  • Community Colleges and universities with non-traditional students
  • English as a Second Language or literacy programs
  • Vocational training or rehabilitation centers
  • Job training programs

These settings can reach many adults who may qualify for the EITC or CTC but are unaware of them.

5. Get information to non-custodial parents.

Work with Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) agencies — which establish and enforce child support orders — to provide non-custodial clients with tax credit information. Fatherhood Programs that help men develop in their role as fathers can also give non-custodial participants tax credit materials. Remind staff to explain that non-custodial parents who are eligible to claim the CTC must submit Form 8332, “Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent,” which requires the custodial parent’s signature, with their tax return and Form 8812.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES