Rep. Balint Highlights Impact of Tax Credits on VT Families on National EITC Day

On January 26th, to mark National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day, Rep. Becca Balint was joined by state and local representatives and advocacy groups at Capstone Community Action to raise awareness of the tax credits available to Vermonters.

The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income households. Last year over $66 million in Earned Income Tax Credits were returned to Vermonters from 2022 tax returns.

Rep. Balint was joined by Craig Bolio, Tax Commissioner, State Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Former State Rep. Janet Ancel, Bob Fett, Local IRS Taxpayer Advocate for VT, Sue Minter, Executive Director, Capstone Community Action, Matt Harris, VITA Program Manager, Dr. Julie Lowell, Public Assets Institute and Liz Scharf, Director of Community Economic Development at Capstone Community Action.

“Anti-poverty programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit are essential to ensuring Vermont families can live with dignity and meet their needs. The historic poverty levels we see in this country are an abject policy failure. And we need to give American families the tools to support themselves and their families,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “When we invest in our children and their families we invest in the future of our country.”

“In Vermont, we passed the largest state level CTC in the country— $1000 for each family and refundable, so families can get that magic money back at tax time, and we significantly expanded our EITC,” said VT State Rep. Emilie Kornheiser. “I know taxes aren’t the thing that people think of when grappling with rent, and groceries, but these solutions make space for families, reduce child poverty, and close our rapidly growing wealth gap. We can make a difference in people’s lives, if we focus on what is needed and we make the solutions accessible.”

“For our families living with low incomes, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are essential for their financial well-being. These credits boost income levels to help move people out of poverty, and the influx of cash provides an opportunity to catch up on bills, save money, and offer relief from the stresses of living on a tight budget,” said Sue Minter, Executive Director of Capstone Community Action.

“All over the country, state policy makers are looking to Vermont as an example of how these proven anti-poverty tax credits can be used at the state level to reduce poverty and advance racial, social, and economic justice. This year we have the opportunity to build on our success by increasing the credits and getting them to even more Vermonters so they can better support themselves and their families,” Dr. Julie Lowell, Policy Analyst at Public Assets Institute.

“The VITA Tax Program is delighted to provide free tax services to eligible Vermonters who earned less than 64,000 last year. Free tax appointments are available at 17 different VITA Tax sites across Vermont this filing season. Contact your local Community Action Agency for more info,” said Matt Harris, VITA Tax Program Manager. Also, Vermonters can determine their eligibility and file claims for free using the online EITC Assistant at www.irs.gov and http://tax.vermont.gov for their state taxes.

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Sophie Pollock (she/her)

Communications Director

Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL)

Pictured L to R: State Rep. Emilie Kornheiser; Craig Bolio,Tax Commissioner; Rep. Becca Balint; Sue Minter, Executive Director, Capstone Community Action; Former State Rep. Janet Ancel, Liz Scharf, Director of Community Economic Development, Capstone Community Action; and Dr. Julie Lowell, Public Assets Institute.