Get Your Refund
File a tax return to get the money you deserve. You could be eligible for thousands of dollars in your tax refund when you claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Child and Dependent Care Credit.
Do I Qualify?
For the first time, more people than ever before will qualify for federal tax credits and could get money back at tax time.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): If you worked in 2021, you may qualify for the EITC even if you didn’t in the past.
- Child Tax Credit (CTC): Almost every family with kids at home qualifies for the CTC in 2021. You can get this credit even if you are retired, on disability, or were not eligible in the past. File a tax return to get the full credit even if you got advance CTC payments in 2021.
- Child & Dependent Care Credit (CDCTC): Millions of families paying for child and adult care qualify for CDCTC.
You could qualify for the EITC if:
Age
- You are 19 years old and up. You cannot claim the credit if you were a student for more than 5 months in 2021 and are 19-23.
2021 Income:
- You earned less than $21,430 ($27,380 if married), you could receive an EITC up to $1,502.
You could qualify for any of the three tax credits if:
EITC:
- You, your spouse, and any child you claim have a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
CTC:
- Any child you claim has a SSN, even if you don't have a SSN yourself.
CDCTC:
- Any child you claim has a SSN, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or Adoption Identification Number, even if you do not have a SSN yourself.
If you have children, you could qualify for any of the three tax credits if:
Residency:
Your children lived with you for more than half of 2021.
Age – Children must be:
- EITC: 18 or under on December 31, 2021 (full-time students can be under 24 and children who are permanently and totally disabled can be any age.)
- CTC: 17 or under on December 31, 2021
- CDCTC: 13 or under on December 31, 2021, or a dependent who is unable to care for themselves.
Income for 2021:
- For the federal CTC, there is no minimum income requirement to get this credit. This means even if you made $0 in earned income for 2021, you still qualify for this credit. It is worth up to $3,600 for children 5 and younger, and up to $3,000 for children ages 6-17.
- For the federal EITC, your earnings must be lower than the following limits:
| Number of Children | Single workers with income less than: | Married workers with income less than: | EITC up to: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $42,158 | $48,108 | $3,618 |
| 2 children | $47,915 | $53,865 | $5,980 |
| 3 or more children | $51,464 | $57,414 | $6,728 |
- For the federal CDCTC, the amount of money you can get back depends on the number of children in care, your family’s income, and the amount spent on care.
| Number of Children | Amount of care expenses in 2021 | Income | Maximum Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | Up to $8,000 | $0-$125,000 $125,000-$183,000 $183,000-$400,000 | $4,000 Varies $1,600 |
| 2 children | Up to $16,000 | $0-$125,000 $125,000-$183,000 $183,000-$400,000 | $8,000 Varies $3,200 |
For Local Assistance
For general questions, contact:
South Shore Neighborhood Development Corporation
Donna Catalano
dcatalano@legacyfdn.org
219-736-1880
For in-person assistance, contact a local tax preparation site below:
East Chicago Public Library
2401 E. Columbus Drive
East Chicago, IN
Call: 219-397-2453
FAITH CDC
201 E 5th Ave, Suite A
Gary, IN
mgreen@cawhittakercpa.com
219-880-0850
Gary Public Library
564 State Street
Gary, IN
Schedule Appointment at: https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/9ensv8eq/ or call 219-794-1829
Hammond Public Library
564 State Street
Hammond, IN
Schedule Appointment at: https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/9ensv8eq/ or call 219-794-1829
Indiana University Northwest
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN
Call: 219-980-6552
Northwest Indiana Community Action
5265 Commerce Blvd., Suite 1
Crown Point, IN
Schedule Appointment at: booknow.appointment-plus.com/9ensv8eq/ or call 219-794-1829
Urban League of NWI
3101 Broadway
Gary, IN
Call: 219-980-2093
Whiting Public Library
1735 Oliver Street
Whiting, IN
Call: 219-659-0269
Tax Chat Series
Join Legacy Foundation, Faith CDC, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, and the South Shore Neighborhood Development Corporation the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 10 AM on Facebook Live or Zoom for a short conversation around this year’s tax season.
Upcoming Chats:
- February 25: Finding Quality Tax Preparation Services in Your Community (Zoom Registration)
- March 11: Maximizing Education Credits This Tax Season (Zoom Registration)
- March 25: Get Your Tax Questions Answered! (Zoom Registration)
- April 8: Maximizing Tax Credits for Small Business Owners and Gig Workers (Zoom Registration)
- April 22: Using the Simplified Portal to Receive Child Tax Credit Money (Zoom Registration)
Child Tax Credit
EITC Awareness Day
Help Spread the Word
You can help people receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Child & Dependent Care Credit by spreading the word! Parents, guardians, and caretakers you know or work with may be eligible to receive these tax credits under the expanded guidelines.
We’ve made it easy for you to share. Visit our Resources Folder to download flyers, graphics, social media posts, and more. Materials are available in English and Spanish.
Partners
Legacy Foundation received a grant of $50,000 from the EITC Funders Network to help families access the Child Tax Credit in Lake County, and the Foundation is providing a $50,000 match to convene and support community partners that can help connect families to the credits. Legacy Foundation has partnered with the South Shore Neighborhood Development Corporation, Urban League of Northwest Indiana and FAITH CDC to assist residents who are eligible to receive the CTC but were not required to file taxes.
