EITC and Tax Credits for Single Mothers in Wyoming

Where to start

Start with your federal return. Even if your income was low, filing may be the only way to claim a refundable federal credit. A refundable credit can raise your refund even when you owe little or no federal income tax.

For broader local help, compare this page with the ASMOM Wyoming help page and the Wyoming grants guide. These pages cover help beyond tax season.

Quick reference

Wyoming tax rules that matter

The official Wyoming tax page says Wyoming does not have an individual or corporate income tax. For this article, that means a Wyoming resident does not file a Wyoming income tax return just to claim a state EITC.

Wyoming does have other taxes, such as sales tax and property tax. Homeowners should know that the Department of Revenue posts a separate DOR refund page for the Property Tax Refund Program. That program is not EITC, does not help renters in the same way, and has its own rules, proof, and yearly timing. The DOR FAQs explain that income and assets may have to be verified each year.

Federal tax credits that may help

These are federal credits, not Wyoming payments. The IRS can ask for proof, and a credit can be reduced or denied if the return is wrong.

Earned Income Tax Credit

The EITC is often the biggest tax credit for working parents. For tax year 2025, the IRS lists maximum EITC amounts of $649 with no qualifying children, $4,328 with one qualifying child, $7,152 with two, and $8,046 with three or more. For single, head of household, married filing separately when allowed, or qualifying surviving spouse filers, the 2025 AGI limits are $19,104 with no qualifying children, $50,434 with one, $57,310 with two, and $61,555 with three or more. Investment income must be $11,950 or less.

Earned income can include wages, tips, self-employment, gig work, farm work, and some disability benefits before retirement age. It does not include child support, Social Security, unemployment, pensions, or SNAP.

Child Tax Credit

The IRS Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child for tax year 2025. The refundable Additional Child Tax Credit can be up to $1,700 per qualifying child, depending on income and the rest of the return. The IRS says you must have earned income of at least $2,500 to be eligible for the ACTC.

To claim the credit, your child generally must be under 17 at the end of the year, be your qualifying relative under IRS rules, live with you for more than half the year, be your dependent, and have a valid Social Security number issued before the due date of the return. The IRS uses Schedule 8812 for child and dependent credits.

Child care tax credit

The Child and Dependent Care Credit may help if you paid for care so you could work or look for work. This can include care for a child under 13, and in some cases a spouse or dependent who cannot care for themselves. Use the IRS care credit page for the rules.

Do not wait until the last minute to ask your provider for tax information. You may need the provider’s legal name, address, and taxpayer identification number. IRS Form 2441 is used to report the care costs.

Education credits

IRS education credits may help if you or a dependent had eligible higher-education costs. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is partly refundable. The Lifetime Learning Credit is not refundable. You cannot claim both credits for the same student using the same expenses.

If school is part of your plan, also review ASMOM’s Wyoming education help before choosing a program or loan.

Saver’s Credit and health coverage

The Saver’s Credit may help some lower-income people who put money into an eligible retirement plan, IRA, or ABLE account. This credit is usually not refundable, so it may reduce tax owed but may not create a refund by itself.

The Premium Tax Credit may help if you bought health insurance through the Marketplace. If advance payments helped pay your premiums, you normally must file Form 8962 with your tax return and use Form 1095-A. If health coverage is the bigger need, check ASMOM’s Wyoming health coverage.

Free filing help in Wyoming

Do not pay a high fee for a simple return if you can file for free. IRS Free File, VITA, and TCE can be good first steps. A paid preparer may still make sense for audits, old returns, self-employment, multi-state work, or custody disputes.

For a broader tax overview, use ASMOM’s free tax filing guide. If a benefits or tax issue becomes hard to handle, the ASMOM denied benefits guide can help you plan your next call.

Documents checklist

Bring more proof than you think you need. Missing papers can delay a refund or cause the IRS to ask more questions.

For a fuller list, use ASMOM’s documents checklist and keep copies of everything you file.

What to do if your refund is denied or delayed

First, read the IRS letter. It should say what the IRS needs and the date by which you must answer. Do not ignore it. Keep a copy of the letter, your return, and anything you send back.

If you claimed EITC or ACTC, check the IRS refund timing page. You can also use Where’s My Refund for your own status.

If a credit was denied in a past year, you may need Form 8862 before claiming it again. If the delay is causing a serious hardship or normal IRS channels are not working, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to explain next steps.