Last updated: May 19, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in New Jersey and you worked in 2025, filing a federal and New Jersey tax return may be worth it even if your income was low. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal Child Tax Credit, the New Jersey Child Tax Credit, and child care tax credits can reduce what you owe or add to your refund if you qualify.
Tax credits are not the same as grants. You usually get them by filing a tax return and answering the credit questions correctly. The safest starting point is to file through IRS Free File, a certified free tax prep site, or a trusted tax professional. Do not pay a large fee or sign a refund loan without understanding the cost.
This guide is general information only. It is not tax advice. Tax rules can change, and your filing status, income, child custody facts, Social Security numbers, immigration documents, and child care records can affect the answer.
If you need help right now
A tax refund can help, but it is not emergency help. Refunds can be delayed if the IRS or New Jersey checks your return, asks for proof, or finds a mismatch. If you need food, rent, child care, utility, or medical help now, start with local help while your return is being prepared or reviewed.
- Call or visit NJ 211 for local food, shelter, utility, and crisis referrals.
- Use ASMOM’s emergency help guide if you are dealing with shutoff, eviction, food loss, or urgent bills.
- Check SNAP help and WIC benefits if food is the main issue.
- If you received a tax notice, open it, keep a copy, and answer by the deadline. For serious IRS hardship, contact the Taxpayer Advocate.
Where to start
Start with the return, not with a random grant list. Most real tax help comes through the IRS, the New Jersey Division of Taxation, free filing programs, and trained volunteers.
If you worked in 2025
Check the federal EITC first. If you qualify for federal EITC, New Jersey may add the NJEITC on your state return.
If you have young children
Check the federal Child Tax Credit and the New Jersey Child Tax Credit. New Jersey’s credit is for dependent children age 5 or younger and has a state taxable income limit.
If you paid child care
Check the federal and New Jersey child and dependent care credits. You must usually have paid care so you could work or look for work.
If you are unsure
Use free tax help before you file. Guessing can cause a delay, a letter, or a repayment bill later.
Quick tax credit table
| Credit | What it helps with | Where to check | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal EITC | Refundable credit for many low- and moderate-income workers | IRS EITC page | You need earned income and must meet IRS rules for filing status, child rules, and investment income. |
| NJEITC | New Jersey credit based on your federal EITC | New Jersey EITC | For 2025, New Jersey says the credit is 40% of your federal EITC. Part-year residents are prorated. |
| Federal Child Tax Credit | Credit for qualifying children under age 17 | IRS Child Tax Credit | Some families receive only part of the credit. Social Security number rules matter. |
| NJ Child Tax Credit | Refundable New Jersey credit for young dependent children | NJ Child Tax Credit | For 2025, the child must be age 5 or younger and state taxable income must be $80,000 or less. |
| Child care credits | Credits for work-related care costs | IRS care credit | You need provider information and records. Not every babysitting payment counts. |
Federal EITC and New Jersey EITC
The Earned Income Tax Credit is for workers with low to moderate income. Wages, tips, self-employment income, gig work, and some household employee wages may count as earned income. Child support, alimony, unemployment, Social Security, interest, and pensions do not count as earned income for EITC.
For tax year 2025 returns filed in 2026, the federal EITC income limits and maximum credits depend on filing status and the number of qualifying children. The IRS EITC tables list the exact limits. For a single, head of household, qualifying surviving spouse, or married filing separate filer who meets the special rules, the adjusted gross income limits are $19,104 with no qualifying children, $50,434 with one, $57,310 with two, and $61,555 with three or more. The 2025 federal maximum credit is $649 with no qualifying children, $4,328 with one, $7,152 with two, and $8,046 with three or more.
New Jersey’s EITC is tied to the federal credit. For 2025, New Jersey says the NJEITC is 40% of your federal EITC. If your federal EITC is $4,000, your New Jersey EITC would be $1,600. If you lived in New Jersey for only part of the year, New Jersey prorates the credit by the number of months you were a resident.
Watch out for child-claiming mistakes
The most common EITC problems are about who can claim the child. A child generally must meet relationship, age, residency, and joint-return rules. If two parents or relatives may claim the same child, do not both claim the child. Get free help before filing because the wrong claim can delay the refund and may cause the IRS to deny credits later.
Federal and New Jersey Child Tax Credits
The federal Child Tax Credit can help parents who claim a qualifying child. For tax year 2025, the IRS says the credit can be up to $2,200 per qualifying child, and the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit can be up to $1,700. The child generally must be under age 17 at the end of the year, be your dependent, live with you for more than half the year, and have a Social Security number valid for employment by the return due date.
The New Jersey Child Tax Credit is separate. For tax year 2025, New Jersey says eligible residents can claim a refundable credit of up to $1,000 for each dependent child age 5 or younger claimed on Form NJ-1040. You must file a New Jersey resident income tax return, even if your income is below the normal filing requirement, to claim it.
| New Jersey taxable income | 2025 NJ Child Tax Credit |
|---|---|
| $30,000 or less | $1,000 per child |
| Over $30,000 to $40,000 | $800 per child |
| Over $40,000 to $50,000 | $600 per child |
| Over $50,000 to $60,000 | $400 per child |
| Over $60,000 to $80,000 | $200 per child |
| Over $80,000 | No New Jersey credit |
ASMOM also has a broader child tax credit guide if you want a national overview. For New Jersey, remember that federal and state child tax credits do not have the same age rules, income rules, or paperwork rules.
Child care tax credits
If you paid someone to care for a child so you could work or look for work, check the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit. A qualifying person is often a dependent child under age 13, but a spouse or dependent who cannot care for themselves may also count. You must usually list the provider’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number on Form 2441.
New Jersey has its own child and dependent care credit. The NJ care credit is available to eligible resident taxpayers who are allowed the federal credit, paid care expenses so they could work or actively look for work, and have New Jersey taxable income of $150,000 or less. For tax years 2021 through 2025, the New Jersey credit is a percentage of the federal credit and can be refundable after tax is paid.
| New Jersey taxable income | NJ credit percentage |
|---|---|
| $30,000 or less | 50% of federal credit |
| Over $30,000 to $60,000 | 40% of federal credit |
| Over $60,000 to $90,000 | 30% of federal credit |
| Over $90,000 to $120,000 | 20% of federal credit |
| Over $120,000 to $150,000 | 10% of federal credit |
This credit is not the same as child care assistance. If paying for care now is the problem, see ASMOM’s child care help guide for subsidy options.
Free filing help and refund tracking
Many families can file for free. IRS Free File guided software is available to taxpayers under the IRS income limit for the filing season. Some partner products include free state filing, but not all do, so check before you start. If you want in-person or local help, the VITA locator can help you find free tax preparation for people with lower income, people with disabilities, and people who need language help.
After filing, use Where’s My Refund for the federal return and NJ refund status for the state return. New Jersey says to wait at least 4 weeks after an electronic return and 12 weeks after a paper return before checking the state refund status. Manual review can take longer, especially if the state sends a letter asking for more information.
If your return shows a New Jersey amount due that you cannot pay at once, contact the state instead of ignoring notices. The NJ tax phone help page lists current phone numbers and what documents to have ready before calling.
Documents checklist
Bring or upload the right papers before you file. A free tax site may turn you away if key documents are missing.
| What to gather | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Photo ID and Social Security cards or ITIN letters | Needed to prepare the return and check credit rules. |
| W-2, 1099, gig work, and self-employment records | Used to report earned income and EITC income. |
| Child’s birth certificate, school, child care, or medical records | May help prove the child lived with you if asked. |
| Child care provider name, address, and tax ID | Needed for the child and dependent care credit. |
| Bank routing and account number | Direct deposit is usually faster and safer than a paper check. |
| IRS or New Jersey letters | Needed if your refund is held, reduced, or under review. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not file with made-up self-employment income to raise a refund.
- Do not claim a child who did not live with you for the required time.
- Do not forget the New Jersey return. State credits are claimed on the state return, not only the federal return.
- Do not ignore letters. The IRS or New Jersey may ask for proof before releasing a refund.
- Do not assume a refund loan is free. Ask for the full cost in writing.
If your refund is delayed or a credit is denied
A delay does not always mean you did something wrong. Refunds with EITC or the refundable part of the Child Tax Credit cannot be issued by the IRS before mid-February, and state refunds may also be held for review. If you receive a notice, compare it with your return, gather proof, and answer by the deadline.
For New Jersey notices, follow the instructions on the letter and use the state’s official contact options. For federal notices, use the IRS notice number to look up what the IRS is asking for. If you are facing serious hardship because of an IRS problem that is not moving, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help.
If the issue is tied to custody, divorce, domestic violence, or a dispute over who can claim a child, consider legal help. Start with Legal Services NJ or ASMOM’s legal help guide.
Backup help while you wait
Tax credits can help once the return is processed, but they do not replace monthly support. If your budget is short, also check:
- New Jersey grants for a broader list of help paths.
- housing help if rent or shelter is the issue.
- utility assistance if you have a shutoff notice or high bill.
- job loss help if income stopped or hours were cut.
- health care help if medical bills or coverage are part of the problem.
- ANCHOR page if you are a New Jersey homeowner or renter checking property tax relief.
Phone scripts
Calling a free tax site
“Hi, I am a single parent in New Jersey. I need help filing my federal and NJ return and checking EITC, the Child Tax Credit, the NJ Child Tax Credit, and child care credits. What documents should I bring, and do you handle my tax situation?”
Calling New Jersey about a notice
“I received a New Jersey tax notice about my refund or credit. I have the notice, my return, and my ID. Can you tell me what proof is needed and the deadline to respond?”
Calling a child care provider
“I am filing taxes and may need my child care payment records. Can you give me a yearly statement with your name, address, tax ID, dates of care, and total paid?”
Calling 211
“I am waiting for a tax refund, but I need help now with food, rent, utilities, or child care. What local programs are open in my county, and what documents do they need?”
Resumen en espanol
Si usted es madre soltera en New Jersey y trabajo en 2025, presente su declaracion federal y estatal aunque sus ingresos sean bajos. Puede calificar para EITC federal, NJEITC, credito por hijos, credito por hijos pequenos de New Jersey y credito por cuidado de ninos. Use ayuda gratis para preparar impuestos si no esta segura. No ignore cartas del IRS o de New Jersey. Si necesita comida, renta, servicios publicos o cuidado de ninos ahora, llame a NJ 211.
FAQ
Can I get EITC if I do not owe taxes?
Yes, if you qualify. The federal EITC is refundable, which means it can increase your refund even if your tax is low. New Jersey’s EITC may also add money on your state return if you qualify for federal EITC and meet state rules.
Do I need to file a New Jersey return to get state credits?
Yes. New Jersey credits such as the NJEITC, NJ Child Tax Credit, and NJ child and dependent care credit are claimed on the New Jersey return. New Jersey says you must file Form NJ-1040 to claim the Child Tax Credit even if your income is below the filing requirement.
Can two parents claim the same child?
No. Only one tax return should claim the same child for the same credit year. If parents disagree, get free tax help or legal help before filing because duplicate claims can delay refunds and cause notices.
Can I claim child care paid to a babysitter?
Maybe. The care generally must let you work or look for work, and you need the provider’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number. Payments to some relatives or people in your household may not count.
What should I do if my refund is delayed?
Check the official federal or New Jersey refund tool first. If you receive a letter, answer it by the deadline and send the proof requested. If you have serious IRS hardship and normal steps are not working, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
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 May 19, 2026, next review August 19, 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.