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House Finance Committee holds informational hearing on state earned income tax credit
Summary
Lawmakers and anti-poverty groups discussed a proposed refundable state earned income tax credit for Pennsylvania, its potential costs and benefits and plans for a follow-up hearing with fiscal estimates from the Department of Revenue.
Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee held an informational hearing Feb. 26 on legislation to create a refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC) aimed at low- and moderate-income working households.
Representative Chris Sappy, the bill sponsor from Chester County, opened the hearing saying the panel would gather information on a proposal “that would establish a state earned income tax credit for working families.” He and presenters said the measure is intended to supplement the federal EITC and provide direct cash relief to households that earn income but still struggle to pay basic needs.
The United Way of Pennsylvania, represented by Kristen Rotz, president, framed the proposal around the organization’s ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) research and testimony that many households earn above the federal poverty line yet cannot meet a locally calculated “survival budget.” Rotz told the committee roughly 802,000 Pennsylvania tax-filing households claimed the federal EITC in tax year 2023 and that the average federal EITC benefit that year was about $2,600. She said state-level refundable EITCs provide…
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