Mass. groups tell families to claim refundable tax credits, point to free VITA help and a statewide resource site
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Summary
Children's Healthwatch and partners urged Massachusetts families to file returns to claim refundable state and federal tax credits (including the EITC and a $440 child/family credit), highlighted free VITA tax-prep and the findyourfunds.org toolkit, and offered immigrant taxpayer guidance.
Children's Healthwatch and partner organizations urged Massachusetts families during an online webinar to file tax returns this season to claim refundable state and federal tax credits and pointed participants to free tax-preparation help and a new statewide resource site.
"They actually are the largest anti-poverty benefit for children and working people and people 65," said Charlotte Bruce, director of policy for Children's Healthwatch, describing refundable credits that can produce refunds larger than what a family owes.
The webinar walked through two main credits. The federal and state earned income tax credit (EITC) depends on income, filing status and family size; Charlotte Bruce said federal eligibility rises to roughly $69,000 in 2025 and Massachusetts matches 40% of the federal credit. Bruce and colleagues said families in Massachusetts receive, on average, more than $3,500 when federal and state EITC amounts are combined. The state's child and family tax credit is a flat $440 per qualifying dependent under age 13 (and also covers certain disabled or older dependents); presenters said the state credit has no income cap and is immigrant-inclusive.
Presenters emphasized that claiming refundable credits generally does not affect eligibility for MassHealth, SNAP or WIC. "You can file your taxes for a previous year for up to three years after the original due date," Carly Remley, a research and policy analyst with Children's Healthwatch, said, noting some families who did not previously file can still claim past credits.
To help people claim money the state owes them, organizers highlighted the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax-preparation by IRS-certified volunteers for many filers making $69,000 or less, and pointed to an online free-filing option with a higher income threshold. Carly Remley demonstrated findyourfunds.org, a single-page site that lists credits, links to mass.gov guidance, provides a ZIP-code search for local VITA sites (including language availability), sample outreach flyers available in 11 languages, and a communications toolkit for partners.
Angela Devares, an attorney with Greater Boston Legal Services' Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, described legal help available when disputes arise with the IRS or the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and advised attendees to contact low-income taxpayer clinics for complex problems.
The organizers asked attendees who work in schools, child-care programs or community groups to share the findyourfunds.org flyers and toolkit with families and clients, and they provided contact emails for follow-up and language assistance. The webinar closed with an offer to answer further questions and links to the resources demonstrated.
Next steps: visit findyourfunds.org for links to VITA locations, FAQs, and outreach materials; contact the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic for legal help with IRS or state tax disputes.
