Mass. coalition urges eligible families to claim refundable tax credits, offers free filing help
February 18, 2026 | Department of Early Education and Care, Executive , Massachusetts
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Presenters at a webinar hosted by a statewide tax‑credit coalition urged Massachusetts families to file returns and claim refundable tax credits that can deliver cash back to households.
CARLYRAMI0, a research and policy analyst with a children‑health research network, said the coalition promotes both the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and a Massachusetts child and family refundable credit. "These tax credits can result in refunds that reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars," she said, citing an illustrative example and an "average" figure discussed during the session.
The presenters said eligibility differs by program: they cited an illustrative income reference of $69,000 for some example calculations and explained the state credit operates alongside the federal credit, with the coalition using a roughly 40% match example in outreach materials. The coalition emphasized that the Massachusetts child & family credit is broadly accessible for households with qualifying dependents under age 13 and for some other qualifying dependents.
Organizers stressed that people must file tax returns to claim refundable credits and that some filers can amend returns for prior years within the three‑year window to claim missed credits. They promoted IRS‑certified volunteer filing programs (VITA/WITA) and other free services available across Greater Boston and statewide, and said those programs offer multilingual help and printable outreach materials for community partners.
The presenters also addressed a common concern. "Filing to claim these tax credits will not typically affect your other public‑benefit eligibility," CARLYRAMI0 said, while advising individuals with complex situations to seek personalized guidance.
The coalition demonstrated a partner website that allows users to enter a ZIP code to locate nearby in‑person filing sites, and said materials are available in multiple languages, including Chinese and Spanish. Presenters encouraged community groups, schools and service providers to share the materials on social media and via local networks.
The webinar concluded with an offer to share the slide deck, links to filing sites and phone/email contacts for follow‑up help.
CARLYRAMI0, a research and policy analyst with a children‑health research network, said the coalition promotes both the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and a Massachusetts child and family refundable credit. "These tax credits can result in refunds that reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars," she said, citing an illustrative example and an "average" figure discussed during the session.
The presenters said eligibility differs by program: they cited an illustrative income reference of $69,000 for some example calculations and explained the state credit operates alongside the federal credit, with the coalition using a roughly 40% match example in outreach materials. The coalition emphasized that the Massachusetts child & family credit is broadly accessible for households with qualifying dependents under age 13 and for some other qualifying dependents.
Organizers stressed that people must file tax returns to claim refundable credits and that some filers can amend returns for prior years within the three‑year window to claim missed credits. They promoted IRS‑certified volunteer filing programs (VITA/WITA) and other free services available across Greater Boston and statewide, and said those programs offer multilingual help and printable outreach materials for community partners.
The presenters also addressed a common concern. "Filing to claim these tax credits will not typically affect your other public‑benefit eligibility," CARLYRAMI0 said, while advising individuals with complex situations to seek personalized guidance.
The coalition demonstrated a partner website that allows users to enter a ZIP code to locate nearby in‑person filing sites, and said materials are available in multiple languages, including Chinese and Spanish. Presenters encouraged community groups, schools and service providers to share the materials on social media and via local networks.
The webinar concluded with an offer to share the slide deck, links to filing sites and phone/email contacts for follow‑up help.
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