Family tax credits
What are family tax credits They are tax credits that a person is entitled to because of his or her family. These tax credits can be set off against federal tax liability of a taxpayer. What is the rationale behind these family tax credits In recent years, family sizes have steadily shrunk because of many reasons. This reduction in population is likely to manifest itself as labor shortage a few years down the lane. That, in turn, will increase labor costs. Higher the labor costs, higher will be product prices. Once this happens, competitive pricing may not be feasible for local industries, so field will be left wide open to foreign products. This will result in higher imports, and lower exports, which will eventually decrease value and purchasing power of local currency. Such reduction in purchasing power will further aggravate the situation as people will choose to completely avoid having children because of economic compulsions.
And the vicious cycle will continue. What is observed is that higher income groups escape this cycle almost unscathed, but lower and middle-income groups are caught in the cycle. Having said that, excessive population is also detrimental for national economy as most of resources that are generated are consumed in feeding, clothing, and administering this excess population, instead of being utilized for development works. It is, therefore, necessary to offer incentives for optimal family sizes. Family tax credits are also offered to those taxpayers who have additional responsibilities of some relative, who may or may not be an earning member, even though he or she does not qualify as a child. It is necessary to provide relief to such taxpayers so that they do not abandon these dependents. Family tax credits are thus, a method of encouraging people to have children and take responsibilities of their dependents. Other way of looking at these credits is that they constitute the states contribution towards future citizens, and sharing existing responsibilities. Different countries offer different types of family tax credits. For example, in U.K., working family tax credits and child tax credits are available to parents of children. Working tax credits are meant to encourage the parents and/or handicapped persons to join the workforce and contribute positively to the national economy.
In United States, there are two types of family tax credits permitted by Internal Revenue Service (Department of the Treasury). These are Federal Child Tax Credit (CTC), and Federal Child and Dependent Care Credit (FCDCC). The difference between the two is to claim the CTC, a taxpayer need not incur expenses. FCDCC is a type of financial assistance to lower and middle income groups. These credits can be set off against the Federal Income Tax owed by the taxpayer. It may be noted that the ratio of these credits starts declining with increase in income slab. A brief glimpse into these family tax credits is presented.
A US taxpayer is eligible for claiming CTC for every qualifying child. For the purpose, a qualifying child is
The quantum of this credit is based on modified adjusted gross income (AGI). If married couples file their tax returns jointly, then they are entitled to a CTC if their AGI is $110,000 or less. If the married couple files their returns separately, then their AGI should not exceed $55,000 in each return. In case of single parents, or persons with adopted child, stepchild, etc., the AGI ceiling is $75,000. In addition, CTC cannot exceed income tax liability and alternative minimum tax liability of the taxpayer. However, if it exceeds the income tax liability of the taxpayer, he or she may be able to claim part or whole of it as "additional" CTC. Thus, a taxpayer is entitled to a refund even if he or she does not have any income tax liability. To claim this credit, taxpayer should use Form 1040 or 1040A of IRS.
In addition to the above, taxpayers in United States are also entitled to exemptions for dependents or the FCDCC. The term dependent includes qualifying child or qualifying relative. The criteria for ascertaining qualifying child or qualifying relative for this tx credit is also clearly defined.
For being classified as qualifying child, the child must be
For being classified as qualifying relative the following conditions must be fulfilled.
Like every rule that has exemptions, these rules too have some exceptions. Like exemptions related to children of separated or divorced parents, or children who were born during the year, or who expired during the year.
Other Articles
