EITC and Tax Credits for Single Mothers in Minnesota

Where to start

Quick credit table

Free filing help in Minnesota

Free filing help is often the safest starting point if you claim EITC, child credits, renter credits, or care credits. These credits have many rules, and a small mistake can delay a refund.

Minnesota’s free tax preparation locator can help you find VITA and AARP Tax-Aide sites by ZIP code or county. The state also lists an automated locator phone line: 651-297-3724 or 1-800-657-3989.

The IRS also offers VITA and TCE help. Some sites offer language help, disability access, or a self-prep option with a certified volunteer nearby.

Federal Earned Income Tax Credit

The federal EITC is for workers with low or moderate earnings. It is refundable, which means it may increase your refund. You must file a federal return to claim it, even if your income is low.

For tax year 2025, the IRS lists these maximum EITC amounts and income limits:

The 2025 investment income limit is $11,950 or less. Use the EITC Assistant to check your facts before filing.

Common EITC issues include the wrong filing status, a child claimed by more than one person, missing Social Security numbers, self-employment income without records, or a child who did not live with you for more than half the year.

Federal Child Tax Credit and ACTC

For tax year 2025, the federal Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child under age 17. If your tax is low, part of it may be refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,700 per qualifying child, depending on your income.

The IRS says the taxpayer, spouse if filing jointly, and qualifying child must meet taxpayer identification rules. Beginning in tax year 2025, the person claiming the federal child credit must have a valid Social Security number, and the qualifying child also must have a valid Social Security number issued by the return due date.

Do not guess on this credit if your family has mixed immigration or tax ID situations. A VITA site, licensed tax preparer, or tax clinic can help you check whether the Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, or Credit for Other Dependents fits your case.

Minnesota Child Tax Credit and Working Family Credit

Minnesota has its own refundable Child Tax Credit. It is separate from the federal Child Tax Credit. Minnesota says the credit is $1,750 per qualifying child, with no limit on the number of children claimed.

The credit gradually phases out if your income is over $31,950, or over $37,910 for married filing jointly. Minnesota also publishes income thresholds by number of qualifying children because the phaseout changes as the number of children changes.

Use Schedule M1DQC to list dependents and qualifying children. Then use Schedule M1CWFC to calculate the Minnesota Child Tax Credit, the Working Family Credit, and the Credit for Qualifying Older Children.

The Minnesota Working Family Credit is also refundable. For tax year 2025, the state says it equals 4% of earned income, up to a maximum credit of $379. It is similar to the federal EITC, but it has Minnesota rules.

If your child is older than 17, check the Older Children Credit. For 2025, Minnesota lists maximum amounts of $1,000 for one qualifying older child, $2,270 for two, and $2,710 for three or more.

Minnesota advance child credit payments

Minnesota lets some families choose advance payments of the next year’s Child Tax Credit. If you choose advance payments on your 2025 return, Minnesota says part of your 2026 Child Tax Credit may be paid in three equal payments in the second half of 2026.

Advance payments are not automatic every year. You must choose them on the return for that year. Minnesota says the choice does not carry over.

Minnesota Renter’s Credit

Minnesota renters now claim the Renter’s Credit on the state income tax return. This is different from the old separate renter property tax refund process.

To claim it, Minnesota says you must file an income tax return and provide Certificate of Rent Paid information. Your landlord or managing agent must give you a completed CRP by January 31.

If you already filed and forgot the Renter’s Credit, Minnesota says you must amend your income tax return to claim it. If your landlord will not give you a CRP, contact Minnesota Revenue and ask what proof or affidavit step applies.

If housing costs are the problem now, tax credits may not arrive fast enough. Use housing help, utility help, and SNAP food help while you work on your tax return.

Credits for child care and school costs

Child and dependent care

The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit may help if you paid someone to care for a child or other qualifying person so you could work or look for work. You must identify the care provider on Form 2441.

Minnesota also has a refundable Child and Dependent Care Credit. Minnesota says the credit begins to phase out when 2025 federal AGI is over $64,150. For 2025, the maximum state credit is $600 for one qualifying dependent or $1,200 for two or more, before phaseout.

Keep provider names, addresses, EINs or Social Security numbers, payment records, and dates of care. If child care costs are still a monthly problem, use child care help to look for subsidy paths.

K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction

Minnesota has two programs for K-12 costs: the refundable K-12 Education Credit and the K-12 Education Subtraction. They can help with some school supplies, tutoring, and other qualified education expenses. You cannot use the same expense for both programs.

For 2025, Minnesota lists K-12 Education Credit AGI limits of $81,820 for one or two qualifying children, $84,820 for three, and $87,820 plus $3,000 for each additional child above three. The subtraction has no income limit, but it only lowers taxable income and is not the same as a refund.

Use K-12 tax help to check what expenses count. Keep itemized receipts. If you need school supplies before refund time, check school supply help for local options.

Other credits single mothers may ask about

What to gather before filing

• Photo ID for you and, if filing jointly, your spouse.
• Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return.
• W-2s, 1099s, unemployment forms, and self-employment income records.
• Child care provider name, address, and tax ID number.
• School supply, tutoring, and education receipts for K-12 claims.
• Certificate of Rent Paid for each Minnesota rental home you lived in during the year.
• Form 1095-A if anyone had marketplace health insurance.
• Bank routing and account number for direct deposit.
• IRS or Minnesota Revenue letters about past credits, audits, bans, offsets, or identity checks.

If your refund is delayed, denied, or smaller than expected

First, check whether the delay is normal. The IRS cannot issue refunds that include EITC or ACTC before mid-February. The refund hold applies to the whole refund, not just the credit part.

Next, read the notice carefully. A notice may ask for proof of where your child lived, proof of income, child care records, school records, or identity documents. Keep copies of everything you send.

Use Minnesota tax help for state refund, form, amendment, and notice questions. For IRS disputes, a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic may help if your income and case qualify.

If a tax refund will not solve the immediate problem, use other Minnesota help while you wait. Start with the Minnesota help guide, TANF in Minnesota, WIC in Minnesota, and community support.