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Accessing Tax Payments for Massachusetts Families

File Taxes for Free. Get Cash.

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No income required:

  • Child and Family Tax Credit ($440/eligible dependent)
  • Senior Circuit Breaker (up to $2,730)
  • 2021 COVID stimulus payment ($1,400/person)
  • 2021 Child Tax Credit ($3,600/child < 6, $3,000/child aged 6+)

Some income required:

  • Federal Child Tax Credit (up to $2,000/child <17)
  • Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (up to $7,830)
  • MA Earned Income Tax Credit (up to $3,132)

NOTE: Payments do not count impact eligibility for public benefits (e.g. SNAP, MassHealth, housing)

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Didn’t file your taxes between 2021-2023? It’s not too late to get payments you might be owed!

Families can get money missed in 2021-2023 by filing tax returns for those years by April 15, 2025

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Federal: Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit

State: Earned Income Tax Credit, 2023 Child and Family Tax Credit ($310/eligible dependent), 2022 Dependent Tax Credit: up to $240/eligible dependent

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MA Child and Family Tax Credit

NEW refundable family tax credit passed in October 2023

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$440 for each:

  • Child under age 13
  • Disabled dependent
  • Dependent age 65+
  • Spouse who needs care

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Universal (no income minimum or cap)

Immigrant-eligible (need ITIN, can request new MATIN for eligible child)

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A single parent of 2 kids, age 3 and 6, made $8,000 in 2024.

This family is not obligated to file a state or federal tax return.

If they file, they could get:

  • $3,210 in federal EITC
  • $1,283 in MA EITC
  • $4,000 in federal CTC
  • $880 in MA Child and Family Tax Credit

TOTAL: $9,373

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A married couple with 1 child, age 8, made $14,000 in 2024. The household is mixed status, meaning one parent has an SSN and one parent has an ITIN. The child was born in the US and has an SSN.

This family is obligated to file a state but not federal tax return.

If they file, they could get:

  • $0 in federal EITC
  • $0 in MA EITC
  • $2,000 in federal CTC
  • $440 in MA Child and Family Tax Credit

TOTAL: $2,440

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  • You could be owed THOUSANDS of dollars in state and federal tax credits
  • To get the cash, you must file a 2024 tax return
  • You may be eligible even if you did not earn income in 2024
  • You can get FREE help online and in-person
  • Tax payments do NOT impact other benefits
  • Tax payments do NOT impact immigration status
  • Did you miss out on previous tax payments?
    • Can file and claim credits from 2021-2023
    • This is the LAST YEAR you can get missed COVID stimulus and CTC payments

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FREE Tax Filing Resources

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Outreach Materials

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More Outreach Opportunities

Community or staff newsletter

Guest presentation (like this!)

Website banner

Text campaign

Identify existing places you’re connected with clients, families, and community

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Thank you!

Charlotte Bruce, Children’s HealthWatch

charlotte.bruce@bmc.org

C: (617) 733-9760