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Utilization of Income Tax Credits by Low–Income Individuals

Author

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  • Dickert–Conlin, Stacy
  • Fitzpatrick, Katie
  • Hanson, Andrew
Abstract
The Internal Revenue Service––a sub–agency that exists to collect revenue––has the task of administering and enforcing a wide array of social policy: from subsidies for college and child care expenses, to creating jobs in depressed areas, and assisting welfare recipients with employment. While these new or expanded credits represent a new paradigm in the delivery of social policy, little is known about who uses these programs and, equally important, who does not use these programs. Understanding utilization is a key to understanding how effective this means of transferring income is and whether we are reaching the targeted populations. This paper provides a framework for thinking about utilization of tax credits among low–income individuals, supported by existing research on credit utilization. With the existing data, it appears that utilization is by far the largest for the EITC, possibly because it is the oldest of these programs, the only refundable program, and the best targeted at low–income individuals. Utilization is low among low–income individuals in some tax credits because low-income individuals are not eligible. A redesign, including reducing complexity and administrative burdens or making these programs refundable, would result in the programs reaching those that they are ostensibly targeted towards. Conditional on being eligible, one common factor associated with increasing participation in many of these programs is a high benefit to cost ratio and sophistication with the tax system, whether that be through the use of a paid preparer, higher education levels, or experience with the tax system. Policymakers should think creatively about reducing filing burdens to increase participation, such as through wider use of electronic filing.

Suggested Citation

  • Dickert–Conlin, Stacy & Fitzpatrick, Katie & Hanson, Andrew, 2005. "Utilization of Income Tax Credits by Low–Income Individuals," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 58(4), pages 743-785, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:58:y:2005:i:4:p:743-85
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2005.4.07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Currie, Janet, 2004. "The Take-Up of Social Benefits," IZA Discussion Papers 1103, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Altshuler, Rosanne & Schwartz, Amy Ellen, 1996. "On the Progressivity of the Child Care Tax Credit: Snapshot Versus Time-Exposure Incidence," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 49(1), pages 55-71, March.
    3. Burman, Leonard E., 2003. "Is the Tax Expenditure Concept Still Relevant?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 56(3), pages 613-627, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Dowd & John B. Horowitz, 2011. "Income Mobility and the Earned Income Tax Credit," Public Finance Review, , vol. 39(5), pages 619-652, September.
    2. Cullen T. Wallace, 2024. "Who claims the federal adoption tax credit? Those who know about it," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(3), pages 555-565, May.
    3. Goldin, Jacob & Homonoff, Tatiana & Javaid, Rizwan & Schafer, Brenda, 2022. "Tax filing and take-up: Experimental evidence on tax preparation outreach and benefit claiming," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    4. Margaret E. Brehm & Olga Malkova, 2023. "The Child Tax Credit over Time by Family Type: Benefit Eligibility and Poverty," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 76(3), pages 707-741.
    5. Baumgart, Eike & Blaufus, Kay & Hechtner, Frank, 2023. "The tax treatment of commuting expenses and job-related mobility," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 280, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.

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