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Delegate Wilkins urges expansion of earned-income tax credit to help adults without qualifying children
Summary
House Bill 708 would expand Maryland's state Earned Income Tax Credit by raising income eligibility for single filers and allowing certain individuals without qualifying children to claim the credit; the credit would be indexed for inflation. Advocates said the EITC is a proven poverty-reduction tool and that every dollar delivered to recipients
Delegate Janelle Wilkins presented House Bill 708, which would expand eligibility for Maryland’s state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by raising the maximum income for single filers and allowing certain individuals without qualifying children to claim the credit. The bill also would require the comptroller to index the credit to inflation.
Wilkins said the EITC is highly effective at reducing poverty and supporting local economies: research and sponsor testimony cited multipliers — every dollar of EITC yielded additional local spending — and benefits for food, housing and transportation security among low-income workers.
Committee members had no extensive questions during the short sponsor-only presentation. Wilkins asked the committee for a favorable report to move the bill forward in time for consideration in the state budget cycle.
