Who We Are

The Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition is a statewide nonpartisan network of advocates working to improve the health and well-being of Massachusetts children and families by expanding the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child and Family Tax Credit (CFTC). Our growing coalition is led by Children’s HealthWatch at Boston Medical Center and consists of community-based agencies, legal advocates, researchers, professional associations, social service providers, tax preparers, health providers, and Massachusetts workers and their families. A list of partnership and supporting organizations of the Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition can be found at the bottom of this page under the “supporting organizations” section.

Since 2015 our network has successfully advocated to increase the state EITC, expand eligibility to survivors of domestic violence and abandoned spouses, pass a robust and inclusive CFTC, and invest state dollars to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The coalition also maintains FindYourFunds.org, a site for Massachusetts residents with information on available tax credits and ways to file.

POLICY PRIORITIES

1. Increase the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 40% to 50% of the value of federal EITC.
2. Extend eligibility for the EITC to immigrants who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
3. Expand Child and Family Tax Credit (CFTC) eligibility to all children under the age of 18.
4. Index the CFTC to inflation, thereby protecting its value over time.
5. Increase the CFTC to at least $600 per dependent.
6. Improve access to refundable family tax credits through sustained funding for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and a robust communications and outreach campaign.

• H.3073/S.1957: An Act Supporting Families through Enhanced Tax Credits, filed by Representative Decker, Representative Vargas, and Senator DiDomenico
• S.1975: An Act to Reduce Poverty by Expanding the EITC and Child and Family Tax Credit, filed by Senator Eldridge
• Click here to read our testimony to the Committee on Revenue in support of these bills.
• Click here to watch our oral testimony to the Committee on Revenue in support of these bills.

1. Extend the EITC to immigrant and mixed-status families who pay and file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
2. Level fund Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) at $1.5 million (line item 1201-0100)

Read our FY2027 budget testimony.

Watch our FY2027 budget briefing, featuring remarks from Representative Domb, Senator Eldridge, Representative Decker, and Senator DiDomenico

Read our letter to the Conference Committee.

The Earned Income Tax Credit

The Massachusetts EITC is a refundable tax credit for working individuals and families that piggybacks on the federal credit. The amount of the EITC depends on an individual’s income, marital status, and number of children. Currently, the Massachusetts EITC supports more than 400,000 workers and provides a 40% match to the federal EITC. In 2023, the average state EITC was $940, with the maximum credit amount ranging from $253-$3,132. By bolstering families’ incomes, these credits help to reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, and boost local communities and state economies.

The Child and Family Tax Credit

The Massachusetts CFTC is a refundable tax credit to support the cost of raising children and supporting other dependents. The credit provides $440 per eligible dependent (children under age 13, disabled dependents, senior dependents 65+, and/or spouses who are unable to care for themselves) and supports 565,000 families across Massachusetts. The CFTC is available to families of all income levels, as well as working immigrants who file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). There is no limit on the amount of dependents that can be claimed, ensuring families of all sizes are fully supported.