Last updated: June 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in Vermont and you worked in 2025, you may qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the Vermont Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal Child Tax Credit, the Vermont Child Tax Credit, and child care tax credits. Some credits reduce tax. Some can add to a refund.
For 2025 returns filed in 2026, Vermont changed an important EITC rule. Vermont Schedule IN-112 says workers with qualifying children use 38% of the federal EITC amount, while workers with no qualifying children enter the full federal EITC amount. Vermont also lists young children born 2019 through 2025 for the state Child Tax Credit.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. Tax rules can change, and your facts matter. Use official tools, free tax help, or a qualified tax preparer before you file.
Need help now?
If you missed the April 15, 2026 filing deadline, do not ignore it. If you may get a refund, filing late may still be worth it. If you owe Vermont tax, file and ask about payment options through myVTax before more penalties or interest build up.
For free filing help, start with Vermont free tax prep, the IRS VITA/TCE help, or Vermont 211 if you need a local referral, phone help, or a nearby community agency.
If rent, food, heat, or safety is the urgent problem, tax credits may not come fast enough. Use Vermont emergency help while you work on the return.
Where to start
Start with your work income, your child’s age, and whether you paid rent or child care. Those facts tell you which credits to check first.
If you worked
Check the federal EITC first. Then check Vermont EITC on Schedule IN-112. Your income, filing status, and qualifying children all matter.
If you have children
Check the federal Child Tax Credit and Vermont Child Tax Credit. The Vermont credit is for younger children and has its own income rule.
If you paid for care
Child care, day camp, or care for a disabled dependent may count if it let you work or look for work. Save provider details.
If you rented
Check the Vermont Renter Credit. You may be able to claim it even if you do not have to file a full income tax return.
For a broader state help plan, the Vermont help hub can point you to food, housing, child care, cash aid, and local support.
Quick credit table
| Credit or help | What it may help with | Key 2025 rule | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal EITC | Refundable credit for workers | Amount depends on income, filing status, and qualifying children. | Use the IRS EITC tables. |
| Vermont EITC | Refundable state credit | 38% of federal EITC with qualifying children; 100% with none. | Use Schedule IN-112. |
| Federal Child Tax Credit | Credit for children under 17 | Up to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2025. | Check IRS child credit rules. |
| Vermont Child Tax Credit | Refundable state credit | $1,000 per qualifying child before income reduction. | Use Schedule IN-112. |
| Care credits | Child care so you can work | Vermont credit is 72% of the federal care credit. | Use Form 2441. |
| Renter Credit | Refundable help for renters | You generally must live in Vermont all year and rent at least six months. | Check Vermont renter credit. |
Federal EITC and Vermont EITC
The Earned Income Tax Credit is for workers with low or moderate income. Earned income can include wages, tips, gig work, and self-employment income. It does not include child support, unemployment, Social Security, interest, or public benefits.
For tax year 2025, the federal maximum EITC is $649 with no qualifying children, $4,328 with one qualifying child, $7,152 with two qualifying children, and $8,046 with three or more qualifying children. Use the IRS EITC Assistant before you file because the real amount depends on your exact return.
| Qualifying children | 2025 AGI limit, most single filers | Maximum federal EITC | Vermont EITC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $19,104 | $649 | Up to 100% of federal EITC |
| 1 | $50,434 | $4,328 | 38% of federal EITC |
| 2 | $57,310 | $7,152 | 38% of federal EITC |
| 3 or more | $61,555 | $8,046 | 38% of federal EITC |
The 2025 investment income limit is $11,950 or less. If you are married but separated, do not guess on filing status. Married filing separately has special EITC rules, and a tax site can help you check them.
Reality check
EITC claims can be delayed if a child’s Social Security number, birth date, school address, or custody facts do not match records. Bring papers that show where your child lived and who paid for the home.
Federal and Vermont Child Tax Credit
The federal Child Tax Credit is for qualifying children under age 17 at the end of the tax year. For 2025, the IRS says the credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child. Part of it may be refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,700 per qualifying child, depending on earned income and your full return.
The federal child credit has strict Social Security number rules. The IRS says you, or your spouse if married filing jointly, and each qualifying child must have a Social Security number valid for work and issued before the return due date, including extensions.
Vermont also has a refundable Child Tax Credit for young children. For 2025 returns, Schedule IN-112 asks for qualifying children born 2019 through 2025 and starts the calculation at $1,000 per child. The form says to see instructions if your adjusted gross income is over $125,000.
If your family has mixed immigration or ID facts, shared custody, or a child claimed by another person, ask a free tax site or Vermont Legal Aid before filing. A wrong claim can cause a refund delay, a letter, or a later tax bill.
If you need food or baby items before a refund arrives, check Vermont SNAP help, Vermont WIC help, and local baby supply programs.
Child and dependent care credits
The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit may help if you paid someone to care for a qualifying child or dependent so you could work or look for work. The care may be a day care, sitter, before-school program, after-school program, or day camp. Overnight camp does not count.
For 2025, IRS Publication 503 says the expense limit is generally $3,000 for one qualifying person or $6,000 for two or more. The credit is a percentage of those costs. It is not a full refund of everything you paid.
Vermont adds a refundable state credit. On Schedule IN-112, Vermont says to multiply the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit by 72%. That can help if care costs were tied to work or looking for work.
If your current issue is paying for care now, tax credits may come too late. Read Vermont child care for subsidy paths that may lower monthly costs before tax time.
Tip
Ask your child care provider for their legal name, address, taxpayer ID, and a year-end receipt. You may need those details on Form 2441.
Vermont Renter Credit
The Vermont Renter Credit is a refundable tax credit for eligible Vermont residents who rented during the prior calendar year. Vermont says renters may be eligible even if they are not required to file an income tax return.
To claim it, Vermont says you generally must be domiciled in Vermont for the full calendar year, not be claimed as someone else’s dependent, rent in Vermont for at least six months, and meet income limits based on family size. You also need the School Property Account Number, called the SPAN, for your rental unit.
You can file the Renter Credit with your Vermont income tax return or separately through myVTax or on Form RCC-146. Vermont says no prior-year renter credit claims are accepted after the October extended due date, so ask the Department of Taxes before waiting.
If rent, eviction, or a shutoff is urgent, start with Vermont housing help and Vermont utility help instead of counting on a tax refund by a certain date.
Free and low-cost ways to file
You do not have to pay a high fee to check these credits. IRS VITA and TCE sites offer free basic tax return help. The IRS says VITA generally helps people who make $69,000 or less, people with disabilities, and people with limited English.
Vermont says free tax preparation programs can help with federal returns, Vermont returns, the Homestead Declaration, the Property Tax Credit, the Household Income Schedule, and the Renter Credit Claim. Ask each site what forms it can handle before you book.
IRS Free File is another option if you are comfortable filing online. For 2025 returns, IRS Free File guided software is available for taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $89,000 or below.
| Filing option | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| VITA/TCE | Low or moderate income, disability, limited English, older adults | Sites are seasonal and may fill up. |
| AARP Tax-Aide | Many low-to-moderate income filers, with focus on older adults | Some complex forms may be out of scope. |
| Free File | Simple returns and online filers | Start from an official page, not an ad. |
| Paid preparer | Complex custody, self-employment, prior-year, or audit issues | Ask fees before signing anything. |
For a national overview of filing help and refund basics, see ASMOM’s tax help guide. If you need papers for several programs, use the documents checklist before calls.
Documents to gather before filing
Gather papers before you start. Missing documents can delay your refund or cause a credit denial.
| Bring this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Photo ID | Free tax sites and preparers need to confirm identity. |
| SSN or ITIN letters | Federal and state credits depend on ID rules. |
| W-2s and 1099s | These show wages, gig income, unemployment, and tax withheld. |
| Self-employment records | EITC claims need clear income and expense proof. |
| Child care receipts | These support Form 2441 and the Vermont care credit. |
| Provider tax ID | Needed for child care credit claims. |
| School or medical records | These can help prove where a child lived. |
| Rental address and SPAN | Needed for the Vermont Renter Credit. |
| Bank account details | Direct deposit is usually faster than a paper check. |
| IRS or Vermont letters | Bring every notice about a delay, audit, offset, or denial. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not claim a child unless the child meets the age, relationship, residency, support, and dependent rules.
- Do not let a paid preparer rush you through a return you have not read.
- Do not use refund-advance loans without checking fees and repayment rules.
- Do not ignore IRS or Vermont letters. Many letters have deadlines.
- Do not use an old Vermont article for 2025 returns because Vermont credit rules changed.
- Do not forget the Renter Credit if you rented in Vermont for at least six months.
If the tax issue involves custody, domestic safety, child support, or court papers, ask for Vermont legal help before filing a return that could create conflict or risk.
If your refund is delayed, denied, or reduced
First, check the IRS refund tracker and your Vermont refund status through myVTax. If you claimed EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit, federal law can hold the whole refund until mid-February for early filers.
If your refund was reduced, it may have been offset for another debt, such as taxes, child support, court debt, or certain government debts. Read the notice carefully before spending money you expected to receive.
If you get a denial or audit letter, answer by the deadline. Send copies, not originals, unless the letter says otherwise. A free tax site may not handle every audit, but it can help you understand what the letter is asking for.
For IRS audit or EITC letter help, Legal Services Vermont screens requests for Vermont Legal Aid and lists 1-800-889-2047 for tax help. If a benefits problem is also happening, use ASMOM’s benefit problem guide to organize notices, dates, and proof.
Backup options while waiting
A tax refund can help catch up on bills, but it is not guaranteed by a certain date. Use programs that match the actual need.
- Food: Apply for SNAP or WIC instead of waiting for a refund to buy groceries.
- Cash aid: Check Vermont TANF help if income is very low.
- Health care: Use Vermont health help if coverage or medical bills are the issue.
- Child support: See Vermont child support if support debt or refund offsets affect your budget.
- Local help: Check community support for local agencies, churches, and nonprofit referrals.
Phone scripts
Calling a free tax site
“Hi, I am a Vermont parent and I need help filing my 2025 federal and Vermont tax returns. I want to check EITC, Vermont EITC, Child Tax Credit, child care credit, and renter credit. Are you taking appointments, and what should I bring?”
Calling Vermont Taxes
“Hi, I have a question about my 2025 Vermont return. I need to know whether I should file Schedule IN-112, a renter credit claim, or both. Can you tell me which form or page I should use?”
Calling about a refund delay
“Hi, my refund status says it is still processing. I claimed EITC or child credits. Is there a letter or document request on my account, and what is the safest way to respond?”
Calling child care
“Hi, I am filing taxes and need your legal business name, address, and tax ID for Form 2441. Can you also give me a year-end receipt for what I paid in 2025?”
Resumen en español
Si usted es madre soltera en Vermont y trabajó en 2025, revise el EITC federal y el EITC de Vermont. También revise el Crédito Tributario por Hijos, el Crédito Tributario por Hijos de Vermont, el crédito por cuidado de niños y el crédito para inquilinos.
Use ayuda gratis si puede. Lleve identificación, formularios W-2 o 1099, números de Seguro Social o ITIN, recibos de cuidado de niños, datos del proveedor, información de renta y cartas del IRS o de Vermont.
Esta guía es información general. No es asesoría legal ni de impuestos. Si tiene una carta, una auditoría, custodia compartida, o preguntas de inmigración, pida ayuda de un preparador calificado o una organización legal confiable.
FAQs
Can I get Vermont EITC if I qualify for federal EITC?
Usually yes, if you file a Vermont return and meet Vermont rules. For 2025 Vermont returns, the state credit is 38% of the federal EITC if you have qualifying children. If you have no qualifying children, Vermont Schedule IN-112 says to enter the federal EITC amount.
Does Vermont have its own Child Tax Credit?
Yes. Vermont has a refundable Child Tax Credit for qualifying young children. For 2025 returns, Schedule IN-112 lists qualifying children born 2019 through 2025 and starts the calculation at $1,000 per child, with possible reduction at higher incomes.
Can I claim child care costs on my taxes?
You may be able to claim the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit if you paid qualifying care costs so you could work or look for work. Vermont also offers a refundable credit equal to 72% of the federal credit.
Can I claim the Vermont Renter Credit if I do not owe tax?
Possibly. The Vermont Renter Credit is refundable, and Vermont says eligible renters may file even if they are not required to file an income tax return. You must meet the renter credit rules.
Where can I file for free in Vermont?
Start with Vermont free tax preparation help, IRS VITA/TCE, AARP Tax-Aide, IRS Free File, or Vermont 211. Check each program’s current appointment rules and what forms it can handle.
What if my refund is delayed?
Check IRS Where’s My Refund and Vermont refund status. If you get a letter, answer by the deadline. If the letter is confusing, ask a free tax site, Vermont Legal Aid, or a qualified tax professional for help.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified June 20, 2026, next review September 20, 2026.
Last updated: June 20, 2026. Next review: September 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.