New California Tax Credit For Low-Wage Workers

Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly stated the income tax filing deadline as April 15.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

We're sorry. This audio clip is no longer available. A transcript for audioclip 28270 has been made available.

It's just a month until the income tax deadline of April 18 and among the new forms and provisions is a new state earned income tax credit for low-income Californians.

The California Earned Income Tax Credit, or Cal EITC, supplements the federal version of that same tax credit.

There is a lot of interest in the tax credit.

“The state has done a really good job, and we locally have really focused on getting the word out,” said Shaina Gross, senior vice president of United Way of San Diego County.

The average tax credit is about $900.

“We hear people are using it for paying off debt, paying down bills, fixing the car, or even starting a ...college savings account,” Gross told KPBS Midday Edition on Tuesday.

Lawmakers say the tax credit will help tens of thousands of people living below the poverty line. San Diego County has about 50,000 tax filers who are eligible for the credit.

Critics say the credits still neglect many of the working poor.

FEATURED PODCAST

San Diego news; when you want it, where you want it. Get local stories on politics, education, health, environment, the border and more. New episodes are ready weekday mornings. Hosted by Anica Colbert and produced by KPBS, San Diego and the Imperial County's NPR and PBS station.