By Gionna Clift, 2024-2025 Get it Back Campaign Intern

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a vital support that helps reduce poverty and provide financial support for people with low and moderate incomes. The 19th annual EITC Awareness Day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of this credit and help more eligible people learn how they can claim it.

Use these talking points year-round to help spread the word about the EITC!

EITC Impact

• 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Since its enactment in 1975, the EITC has helped hundreds of millions of households pay for necessities and improved the well-being of adults and children. The EITC is an essential tax credit that should be strengthened and protected.
• In 2024, about 23 million families and individuals claimed $64 billion in EITCs. This financial support reduced economic hardship and helped people cover essential expenses like food, housing, and medication.
• Free tax filing services help people with low and moderate incomes maximize their EITC and other refundable tax credits that they qualify for. In 2021, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites generated more than $1.7 billion in refunds, and in 2024, AARP Tax-Aide sites returned $1.3 billion in refunds to tax filers.

EITC & Families

• The EITC reduces poverty for families with children in the United States. Without the EITC, the number of children living below the poverty line in 2018 would have been more than one-quarter higher.
• Children in families that claim the EITC benefit significantly. In 2023, the EITC and the Child Tax Credit lifted 3.4 million children above the poverty line. Research shows that children in families claiming these credits experience stronger health, educational, and economic outcomes.
• When eligible families claim the EITC with other tax credits, like the Child Tax Credit, they experience even greater financial benefits. Together, the EITC and Child Tax Credit lifted 10.6 million people above the poverty line in 2018. These tax credits help households care for their families and reduce financial stress.

EITC & Individuals

• In 2023, 24 million people claimed the EITC. Families claimed an average EITC of $3,338, while the average EITC for individuals without children was only $338.
• There is a significant gap in support for workers without children in their homes who claim the EITC—about 96 percent of all EITC dollars go to families with children. The maximum EITC available that a worker without a child can claim is 12 times less than the highest credit amount for families. This leaves millions of workers without children who earn low wages with little financial support.
• Expanding the EITC would help ensure that more workers don’t live in poverty and can meet the rising costs of essentials. An estimated 14 million working adults without children would benefit from an expansion.

EITC & States

• In 2024, [Number of EITC claims] residents of [state] claimed $[Total amount of EITC] in EITCs. EITC claimants strengthen local economies and neighborhoods in their communities, using the credit to buy groceries and pay bills.
• In addition to the federal EITC, 31 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have state EITCs. State child tax credits and EITCs build on the success of both federal credits by helping families afford the basics and reducing poverty, in turn helping them thrive in the long run through improved child and maternal health, and school achievement.

Call to Action

Remember to adapt these talking points based on your audience. Be sure to include a call-to-action so your audience knows what they can do. Here are some examples depending on who you want to reach:

Media

• Amplify stories of individuals and families who have benefited from the EITC.
• Highlight the impact of the EITC, eligibility, and how to claim the credit.

Elected officials

• Strengthen the EITC to support more individuals and families.
• Support efforts to make the EITC more effective and inclusive.

Funders

• Invest in campaigns that enhance the EITC and programs that help connect eligible taxpayers to the credit.
• Partner with community organizations and free tax filing programs to expand EITC access.

Community organizations and government agencies

• Join efforts to help community members use free tax help and claim tax benefits they are eligible for including the EITC.
• Inform the people you serve about the EITC and how to claim it.

Individuals

If you are communicating directly to tax filers, see our EITC and CTC toolkit for talking points. The toolkit also includes templates for a newsletter, press release, PSA, phone call and voicemail, and text messages. Additionally, there are flyers, mailers, and social media messages that are ready to use.

By Jake Chang, 2024 Get It Back Campaign Intern

Friday, January 26, 2024, is the 18^th annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day! Organized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its partners, EITC Awareness Day is a chance to share information about the EITC through engaging community members and organizations, posting resources online, and hosting events.

The EITC offers working individuals and families with lower to moderate incomes support during tax time. The credit helps boost earnings to provide financial security. In 2023, approximately 23 million workers and families received about $57 billion from the EITC.

When the EITC is claimed with the Child Tax Credit (CTC), the impact increases. In 2018, the EITC and CTC lifted 10.6 million people above the poverty line, and reduced poverty for 17.5 million others.

You can make a difference through promoting the EITC. Here are 6 ways you can help.

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1. Share resources with clients, partners, and media

The 2024 Get It Back toolkit provides a range of materials you can use to reach out to your community about the EITC and CTC, including a press release, call and text scripts, and flyers and mailers. These resources can be useful for both in-person and virtual events, from phone banking to reaching out to local media. Engage different networks to inform individuals, families, and organizations about claiming tax credits and connecting with free tax help.

2. Post graphics on social media

Check out our graphics library to post content on your social media channels.  Make sure to use the tags #EITC and #EITCAwarenessDay!

       

3. Promote free tax filing services

Free tax filing services can help people get the most out of their tax return. With choices to file in-person and online, free tax filing is accessible and reliable. Consider sharing information about the following programs:

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) are IRS-sponsored programs that provide free tax preparation for those who earn less than about $60,000. Find a location near you.
• Get Your Refund is a fully virtual service created by Code for America in partnership with VITA. Filers can connect with an IRS-certified volunteer or file their own taxes. Services are available for those who earn under $66,000 (or under $79,000 if filing on their own).
• MyFreeTaxes helps people file their taxes for free online. The site offers free step-by-step guidance and help through an online chat. There is no income limit to file your own taxes. If one earns less than about $60,000, they can choose to have your taxes prepared by an IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer.

4. Incorporate outreach for IRS Direct File

Direct File is a new free tax filing tool the IRS is piloting in 12 states this tax season. It will allow eligible taxpayers to file their federal 2023 tax return electronically, directly with the IRS beginning March 2024.

If you live in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington state, or Wyoming, you have another free tax service to promote!

5. Post these blogs

Share our blogs on what people need to know about the EITC and tax filing in 2024.

• What You Need to Know to File Taxes in 2024
• How much are the EITC and CTC worth in 2024?
• What to Bring to a Tax Appointment (Tax Checklist)
• Qué documentos llevar a una cita para realizar sus impuestos (lista de verificación para impuestos)

6. Spread the word about other refundable tax credits

Besides the EITC, there are several tax credits that eligible taxpayers can claim during tax season. Include the following credits with your EITC outreach efforts.

• Child Tax Credit (CTC): This credit allows eligible parents and caregivers who earn at least $2,500 to claim up to $2,000 for each qualifying child under 17 on their tax return.
• American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC): The AOTC helps reduce the costs of paying for college. Filers can claim a credit worth up to $2,500. Up to $1,000 of the credit is refundable.
• Recovery Rebate Credits (stimulus checks): People who were eligible for and didn’t get the first, second, or third stimulus checks issued during the COVID-19 pandemic can still claim them. For the first and second stimulus payments (claimed as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit), people must file a 2020 tax return by May 17, 2024.

Need more ideas?

Check out these resources from partner organizations who are working to expand awareness of the EITC. Remember, sharing about the EITC isn’t limited to one day. Use these resources to continue your outreach year-round.

• Prosperity Now’s 2024 EITC Awareness Day Resources include social media messaging, graphics, and state reports.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has EITC Awareness Day resources, a EITC Partner Toolkit, and marketing materials you can use to share about the EITC and get others involved in outreach efforts.
• National League of Cities created an EITC Awareness Day Toolkit for municipal leaders to increase EITC visibility with a sample press release, partner emails, and a city proclamation.

By Tatiana Johnson

Friday, January 27, 2023, marks the 17^th annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day! This is an opportunity for organizations across the country to promote the EITC through hosting events, sharing information online, and engaging the media.

The EITC is a critical opportunity for individuals and families with low and moderate incomes to better afford the rising cost of essentials. In 2022, 31 million workers and families claimed nearly $64 billion from the Federal EITC.

As you help connect your community with the EITC, you can also highlight free tax preparation services and other refundable tax credits, like the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Here are some ways you can celebrate EITC Awareness Day.

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1. Post graphics on social media

We have created a variety of social media graphics that you can share on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

• Social Media Graphics Library

2. Generate media attention

Connecting with the media allows you to spread the word about the EITC beyond your established network! Use these messaging and earned media materials to conduct local media outreach that will encourage reporters and producers to cover tax credits like the EITC and CTC.

You can also use this dashboard to locate data on EITC and CTC claims by state. Reporters and producers may find it useful to hear about the types of taxpayers that claim the tax credits.

3. Share EITC resources with clients and partners

Distribute outreach materials about tax credits to individuals, families, and partner organizations. This can help people to learn who can claim tax credits and to connect with free tax help.

4. Post these blogs

Share these blogs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or repost to your blog. Let us know if you reblog a post.

• How much are the EITC and CTC worth in 2023?
• Six Ways the EITC Helps Kids in Schools
• Ten Facts You Didn’t Know about the EITC
• Will getting the EITC or CTC lower other government benefits?
• Can immigrant workers get the EITC?
• The Earned Income Tax Credit Supports Fathers
• Four Reasons Every Parents Should Know About the Earned Income Tax Credit

5. Promote state EITCs

Beyond the federal EITC, 31 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico have their own state EITCs. This means eligible individuals and families could get even more money back during tax time. Most state EITCs are refundable. Some states allow people with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to claim the credit even though they don’t qualify for the federal EITC.

If your state has a state EITC, be sure to highlight it in your outreach efforts. Learn more about state EITCs here.

6. Incorporate outreach for 2021 expanded tax credits and stimulus checks

The government passed historic expansions to several tax credits for 2021 only to provide relief due to the COVID pandemic. More people than ever before were eligible to receive money back in their tax refund. It’s not too late for people who were eligible for the expansions and didn’t get them to claim them.

Include the 2021 expanded EITC, 2021 expanded CTC, and the Recovery Rebate Credit in your outreach efforts this year.

Need more ideas?

Tax credits like the EITC are available to people well beyond tax season. Some organizations have created useful resources to help promote the EITC and other tax credits all year! Here are a few:

• Prosperity Now: created a 2023 EITC Awareness Toolkit that includes sample social media messages and EITC state reports.
• National League of Cities: released their EITC Awareness Day Toolkit for local leaders that includes a draft press release, a template email, a template city proclamation, and sample tweets and Facebook posts.
• Urban Institute: maintains a Financial Health and Wellness Dashboard. While not specific to tax credits, it provides data on financial health and wellness across cities and states by race and ethnicity.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: has developed several resources to promote free tax filing options including a social media messaging calendar, a sample blog post, a flyer in English and Spanish, a guide to filing taxes, and videos on local free tax preparation and online free tax prep.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): has a Partner Toolkit that includes several resources to incorporate into your outreach activities, including templates, statistics, fact sheets, tips, and social media content.

The 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion provides a historic opportunity to reduce child poverty in the United States. It will lift 4.1 million children above the poverty line — cutting the number of children in poverty by more than 40 percent. It will also lift about 1.1 million children out of deep poverty. The expanded CTC includes five key features:

1. Increased credit amount: The credit is worth $3,000 per child age 6-17 and $3,600 for children under the age of 6
2. Expanded age limit: Children age 17 and under can qualify for the credit
3. Fully refundable: Families with low or no recent earnings will receive the full credit amount
4. Advance payments: Monthly advance payments will be delivered between July to December 2021
5. Lower phase-out rate: The CTC amount starts to decrease at $75,000 for single filers ($150,000 for married couples and $112,500 for heads of households)

While most children in the US are in families that will get advance CTC payments automatically, some  children are in families that are considered non-filers and will need help signing up for them.

What do we know about CTC non-filers?

Many groups want to learn more about who non-filers are and where they are located to reach them. Non-filers eligible for the CTC may include people who:

• Have very low to no income: Many earn less than $2,500
• Have limited internet and technology access
• Participate in SNAP or TANF
• Have a disability
• Are people of color: Black and Latino children have disproportionately benefitted less from the CTC
• Are in immigrant households: People with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) can get the CTC if their child has a valid social security number
• Receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income: While these adults got stimulus payments automatically for themselves, if they have children who don’t receive these benefits, they won’t get the CTC payments automatically

Reaching this population will require additional effort. Last year’s push to reach people who aren’t required to file taxes and are eligible for stimulus checks brought a lot of non-filers into the tax system. Many of the CTC non-filers are likely to not have gotten stimulus checks or may not have received the full amounts for their dependents.

The CTC outreach opportunity

Your efforts to help people get advance CTC payments are essential. Many people will need help to understand their eligibility and to use GetCTC.org. Unfortunately, most typical places for help are under-resourced and don’t have the capacity to provide the support needed. Additionally, the IRS has limited capacity to answer phone calls.

People can continue to sign up for advance CTC payments. While the IRS will begin delivering payments July 15, if someone signs up later, after the IRS processes their information, they will still receive half of their CTC in 2021. People who miss the advance payment window completely can get the full CTC by filing a 2021 tax return in 2022. So, it is never too late to conduct CTC outreach activities.

There are two primary goals for CTC outreach:

1. Raise awareness: inform people about the availability of advance CTC payments, who needs to take action, and how to manage them through the upcoming CTC update portal.
2. Help non-filers get payments: answer questions about eligibility and help people use GetCTC.org to sign up for payments.

The information on this page can help you identify how to participate in CTC outreach efforts. The spectrum of opportunities presented accounts for different capacity levels and includes ideas to contribute to both outreach goals, with an emphasis on supporting non-filers since this is where there is the greatest need.

Developing your outreach plan

There are two key steps when building an outreach plan:

1. Identify local resources. You don’t need to be a tax expert to do CTC outreach. Find out where you can connect people to additional support and what outreach materials you can use that can expand your capacity.
2. Figure out your role and what you can offer. Do you and your organization have the capacity to assist, refer, or notify?

1. What local resources are available?

Finding organizations offering support to help people complete the form on GetCTC.org may be a challenge. Start by contacting your local United Way and Community Action Agency. You can also call your area 211.

In addition to getting support with signing up for CTC payments, some people will need help establishing a bank account for direct deposit or finding free check cashing. Contact financial institutions to learn local options to support people to receive their payments.

Paper checks:

• Are there banks or credit unions that offer free check cashing?
• What are their hours of operation?

Direct deposit:

• Are there local financial institutions that can help people open an account remotely? Use this list as a starting place to identify accounts that meet national standards for affordability and coalitions that work to connect people to bank accounts.

As you learn about any existing outreach efforts underway, ask about what outreach materials are being used. The Get It Back Campaign has a suite of resources for national use. Many are customizable to include local information.

If local materials exist, use those instead or in conjunction. This will help with consistency and allow you to share the most local and relevant sources for help.

2. What is your outreach role?

Once you identify what local resources are available to help non-filers, it’s time to determine your outreach role. The three roles are listed from most involved to least involved.

Assist – As an assistor, you will help connect non-filers to CTC advance payments. There are several ways to serve as an assistor.

• Help people use GetCTC.org. You do not need to be a tax preparer to use GetCTC.org. Read this guide by Code for America to learn how to navigate GetCTC.org and determine the right next steps for families. (Click here for all of Code for America’s navigator resources).
• Provide technology for people to use GetCTC.org. Some people who are comfortable using technology, but do not have internet access may just need access to a secure computer or mobile device.
• Partner with local groups to hold CTC sign-up days. The IRS is organizing sign up events in 12 cities in June and July.
• Answer questions about claiming the CTC and using GetCTC.org. For example, people need to know that they can get CTC payments even if they don’t have a permanent address and that getting the CTC doesn’t impact public benefits. See our expanded CTC FAQs.
• Offer to let people use your organization’s mailing address when they use GetCTC.org. A permanent home address is not required, but address information cannot be left blank on the form. Many organizations provided their addresses last year (including PO boxes) to help connect more people who are unhoused to stimulus payments. If you’re unable to, contact service providers to see who can.
• Help people assess whether it is more beneficial to use GetCTC.org or to file a full tax return. People who have some earned income may want to file a tax return to claim other tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Help people create bank accounts or get reloadable debit cards for direct deposit. Direct deposit is the fastest and safest way to receive payments. People who don’t have or don’t want bank accounts can still receive direct deposit using reloadable debit cards or payment apps like Cash App, PayPal, or Venmo.
• Help people create an email address. People can use a phone number or email address to use GetCTC.org. If people don’t have a phone, they will need an email address. Help people set up an email account using a free service like Gmail or Yahoo.
• Connect immigrants without SSNs to help with ITINs. Some groups can help one apply for or renew an ITIN. Since ITIN applications must be submitted by mail, it can take months for the IRS to process the paperwork. Provide reassurance to people who have already submitted documents and are concerned whether they need to do something else.

Refer – As a referrer, you will directly connect people to support to use GetCTC.org and help them set up an appointment, if needed. Referrers may also make calls for people to confirm operating hours and verify what people need to bring with them. A referrer may use flyers, appointment card reminders, or checklists.

Notify – As a notifier, you will share information about the availability of CTC advance payments, who does and doesn’t need to take action, and direct people to sources for more information. A notifier may share information through emails, texts, social media, flyers, or mailers.

Additional ways you can contribute to CTC outreach efforts:

1. Help get CTC resources translated into languages spoken in your community. The Get it Back Campaign’s toolkit for immigrant outreach is translated into Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
2. Help people understand IRS notices. The IRS started sending letters to people who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return in early June. The IRS will send as many as 4 additional letters which people may need help understanding why they are getting it and whether or not they need to do anything.
3. Answer questions about managing payments and assist people to do so on the Child Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC UP). People can opt out of payments and make changes to their bank account and mailing information. Eventually they will be able to update the number of children they claim, marital status, and income. The Get it Back Campaign has a guide and training for you to assist others with this.
4. Generate positive media coverage on the CTC advance payments. Once people start getting payments in July and August, you can help collect stories and conduct interviews to highlight how the money is helping families.

Let us know what you will do or reach out if you need help developing your plans.

By Janne Huang and Christine Tran, 2020 Get It Back Campaign Intern

Friday, January 29, 2021 marks the 15^th annual EITC Awareness Day. On this day, the IRS encourages organizations across the country to bring attention to the EITC by hosting events and engaging media. This is also a time to highlight free tax preparation and other refundable tax credits like the Child Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit,  the Premium Tax Credit, and the Recovery Rebate Tax Credit (stimulus checks).

Here are some ways you can promote the Earned Income Tax Credit.

1. Post graphics on social media

We’ve created several social media toolkits with images you can share on Facebook and Twitter.

• Social Media Graphics Library

2. Share this EITC video

We made a quick video to explain (in simple terms) what the EITC is, why it matters, and the impact it has on millions of Americans.

English:

Spanish:

3. Post these blogs

Share these blogs on Facebook and Twitter or repost to your blog. Let us know if you reblog a post.

• Six Ways the EITC Helps Kids in Schools
• Ten Facts You Didn’t Know about the EITC
• How much are the EITC and CTC worth in 2021?
• Four Reasons Every Parent Should Know About the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Are Foster Parents Missing Out on the EITC?
• Get the Most Out of Your Tax Refund
• Will getting the EITC or CTC lower other government benefits?
• Can Immigrant Workers Get the EITC?
• Five Ways the Earned Income Tax Credit Can Build Assets
• The Earned Income Tax Credit Supports Fathers

4. Provide EITC resources to clients and partners

Disseminate outreach materials about the tax credits to families and partner organizations. Use flyers in 24 languages and fact sheets to help workers learn eligibility requirements and where to find free tax help.

Need more ideas?

Some organizations have created useful toolkits to help share about the EITC year-round. Here are a few:

• Tax Credits for Workers and Families: created a video to raise awareness of the EITC’s importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Help spread the word using their EITC Video Social Media Toolkit which includes sample tweets and Facebook posts along with a link to download the video.

Courtesy of TCWF’s EITC Video Social Media Toolkit

• National League of Cities: released an EITC Awareness Day Communications Guide that includes press release and city proclamation templates along with sample social media posts.
• Prosperity Now: published a 2021 EITC Toolkit that has sample social media posts, partner materials, state data sheets, shareable images, and more targeted towards practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and taxpayers.

By Sam Park, 2017 Get It Back Campaign Intern

Every working parent should know about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax benefit that can mean extra money back in your tax refund.

The EITC provides up to nearly $7,000 for workers who earn low to moderate incomes. The EITC has tremendous impact beyond helping about 30 million workers and families make ends meet. This incredible tax credit has been proven to have lasting benefits for working parents and their children.

Here are four reasons why you should know about the EITC if you’re a working parent.

1. It’s easy to claim the EITC

If you’re filing your own tax return, fill out the Schedule EIC with your Form 1040. The easiest way to claim the EITC, however, is to go to an IRS-sponsored free tax site, where trained volunteers prepare your taxes and help you claim all the benefits you’re eligible for. You can enter your zip code here to find free tax prep in your area.

This EITC Estimator can help you figure out how much your tax credit may be.

2. It’s good for your kids

In addition to providing relief from poverty, the EITC helps children succeed in multiple stages of life. Research shows that the EITC improves kids’ school performance, increases their chances of attending college, and correlates with higher earnings in adulthood. Children benefitting from the tax credit, which averages $3,000 (in 2005 dollars), improved their educational achievement by an equivalent of two extra months of school.

3. The EITC supports maternal and children’s health

The EITC helps improve the health of mothers, which directly improves children’s health. Children in families that earn higher EITC refunds are likelier to avoid the early onset of disabilities and other illnesses associated with child poverty.

4. Single mothers benefit

The EITC is impactful for single mothers, and encourages single mother employment. Higher employment and earnings also leads to increased social security retirement funds and better financial security for elderly women.