Last updated: June 19, 2026
Tax information, not tax advice
This guide explains common tax credits and free filing help for Connecticut parents. It is not tax, legal, immigration, or financial advice. Your filing status, custody schedule, income, Social Security number, past notices, and household details can change what you can claim. Ask a VITA site, Connecticut DRS, a tax clinic, or a qualified tax professional when you are not sure.
Bottom line
If you worked in 2025 and lived in Connecticut all year, start with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Then check the Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit. Connecticut says its EITC is refundable and tied to the federal EITC, so your federal return matters first.
For 2025 returns filed in 2026, Connecticut’s CT EITC is 40% of the federal EITC claimed and allowed. Connecticut also adds $250 for eligible CT EITC filers who list at least one qualifying child on Schedule CT-EITC. Check the CT EITC page before you file because DRS can review claims.
Also check the federal Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit, Premium Tax Credit, education credits, and Connecticut property tax credit. For a broader overview, keep ASMOM’s tax help guide nearby while you work through this Connecticut page.
If you need help before a refund arrives
A tax refund can help, but it is not emergency aid. The IRS says refunds with EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit cannot be issued before mid-February, and a letter, identity check, paper return, or mistake can slow things down. Use IRS refunds to check status and watch your mail for notices.
If food, rent, utilities, child care, or safety cannot wait, call 2-1-1. Connecticut parents can use 211 tax help for free filing sites, and ASMOM’s emergency assistance page for other Connecticut starting points.
Where to start
1. Check your federal credits
Use the IRS EITC tables and the EITC Assistant to see if your income and children may fit the federal rules.
2. File Connecticut correctly
Connecticut uses myconneCT portal for online tax services. If you claim CT EITC, use the correct year of Schedule CT-EITC with Form CT-1040.
3. Get free filing help
Free filing help is safer than guessing if you have self-employment, child care costs, a marketplace health plan, a custody issue, or an old tax notice. Start with CT free filing options.
If your refund is part of a bigger bill plan, use ASMOM’s Connecticut help guide for food, housing, cash aid, child care, and local help starting points.
Quick reference: credits to check
| Credit or help | What it may help with | Where to claim or ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal EITC | Refundable credit for workers with lower or moderate income | Federal Form 1040; Schedule EIC if you have qualifying children | Income, filing status, child rules, and SSN rules all matter. |
| Connecticut EITC | Refundable state credit tied to your federal EITC | Form CT-1040 and Schedule CT-EITC | For 2025, you must be a full-year Connecticut resident. |
| Child Tax Credit | Federal credit for qualifying children under 17 | Form 1040 and Schedule 8812 | The refundable part has earned-income and SSN rules. |
| Child care credit | Credit for care costs so you can work, look for work, or attend school | Form 2441 | It is a tax credit, not a monthly child care subsidy. |
| Premium Tax Credit | Health plan premium help through the marketplace | Form 8962 and Form 1095-A | Wrong income estimates can cause repayment or delays. |
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit
The federal EITC is often one of the largest tax credits for working single mothers and single parents. You need earned income, such as wages, tips, or self-employment income. The IRS says earned income does not include child support, unemployment, Social Security, pensions, alimony, interest, or dividends.
For tax year 2025 returns filed in 2026, the IRS lists these EITC limits and maximum credit amounts. Your real credit can be lower.
| Qualifying children | AGI limit if single or head of household | AGI limit if married filing jointly | Maximum 2025 EITC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $19,104 | $26,214 | $649 |
| 1 | $50,434 | $57,554 | $4,328 |
| 2 | $57,310 | $64,430 | $7,152 |
| 3 or more | $61,555 | $68,675 | $8,046 |
The 2025 investment income limit is $11,950 or less. A child also must meet the IRS relationship, age, residency, and joint-return rules. If another person may claim the same child, do not guess. A free preparer can help apply the tie-breaker rules.
Tip for single parents
Head of household can help some unmarried parents, but it has rules. You usually must pay more than half the cost of keeping up the home and have a qualifying person. The filing status must be correct.
Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit
The Connecticut EITC is a refundable state tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers. Connecticut says you must qualify for the federal EITC first. The CT-1040 instructions say the 2025 CT EITC is 40% of the federal EITC claimed and allowed for the same tax year.
The same instructions say an eligible CT EITC filer with at least one qualifying child for federal income tax purposes can receive an additional $250. Schedule CT-EITC also asks whether you listed a qualifying child, then adds $250 on the form if you qualify.
Example: If your allowed federal EITC is $4,000, your CT EITC would usually start at $1,600. If you also have a qualifying child listed on Schedule CT-EITC, the added $250 could make the CT EITC $1,850. This is only an example. Your return, federal credit, and DRS review decide the real amount.
Watch out if you moved
For 2025, Connecticut says part-year residents and nonresidents do not qualify for CT EITC and must file Form CT-1040NR/PY if they have a Connecticut filing requirement. If you moved into or out of Connecticut in 2025, ask DRS or a trained preparer before claiming CT EITC.
Child Tax Credit and other dependent credits
The federal IRS child credit page says the 2025 Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child. The refundable Additional Child Tax Credit can be up to $1,700 per qualifying child, depending on income. You must have at least $2,500 in earned income to be eligible for the ACTC.
For 2025, the child generally must be under 17 at the end of the year, live with you for more than half the year, be your dependent, and meet the citizenship or residency rules. The IRS also says you, or one spouse on a joint return, and each qualifying child must have a Social Security number valid for work and issued before the return due date, including extensions.
If a child or dependent does not qualify for the Child Tax Credit, the Credit for Other Dependents may be possible. That credit is smaller and is not refundable. It can still help lower tax owed. For more child-credit background, use ASMOM’s Child Tax Credit guide while you review your return.
If you claim the Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, or Credit for Other Dependents, the IRS uses Schedule 8812 to figure the credit. Read it carefully if your child is close to age 17, another adult wants to claim the child, or your household has mixed SSN and ITIN details.
Other tax credits Connecticut parents should check
Child and Dependent Care Credit
If you paid someone to care for a child or another qualifying person so you could work, look for work, or attend school, review the IRS child care credit rules before filing. You must identify the provider on Form 2441 with the provider name, address, and EIN or SSN.
This credit is not the same as help paying for child care now. If you need help with current child care costs, use ASMOM’s child care help page and ask about Connecticut child care subsidy rules.
Premium Tax Credit
If you had marketplace health coverage, the Premium Tax Credit may lower premiums or affect your tax refund. The IRS uses Form 8962 with Form 1095-A to match advance payments with your final income.
For 2026 coverage, Access Health CT says Connecticut has Temporary Premium Assistance for some eligible residents because enhanced federal premium tax credits expired after 2025. If your premium changed, your income changed, or your Form 1095-A looks wrong, contact the marketplace before filing. ASMOM’s health coverage help page can help with related health program starting points.
Connecticut property tax credit
Connecticut residents who paid qualifying property tax on a primary home or motor vehicle may be able to claim the state property tax credit. For 2025, the CT-1040 instructions list a maximum credit of $300 per return, but the credit is not refundable. It can reduce Connecticut tax owed, not create a refund by itself. DRS also lists DRS calculators that include a property tax credit calculator.
Education credits
If you paid for college or an eligible job-training school, check IRS education credits for the American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit. Do not claim the same student and same expenses for both credits. Keep Form 1098-T, book receipts, required-fee receipts, and school account records. For aid outside taxes, use ASMOM’s education grants page.
Free filing help in Connecticut
Free filing help is a good idea if your return includes EITC, self-employment, child care costs, a marketplace health plan, a past credit denial, an amended return, or a custody dispute about who can claim a child. The IRS VITA locator can help you find a site during filing season.
You may also be able to prepare and file online with IRS Free File if you meet the program rules. Connecticut DRS points residents to VITA, Tax-Aide, Community Accounting Aid and Services, and the UConn Tax Clinic through its free tax assistance page.
For state return questions, refunds, notices, and payment questions, use the DRS contact page. DRS lists phone service during business hours at 860-297-5962 and 800-382-9463. If your tax problem is tied to housing, food, utilities, or basic needs, check ASMOM’s community action help guide for local help paths.
Documents to gather before you file
Gathering papers first can prevent delays. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help with benefit papers too, but tax filing has its own records.
| What to gather | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID and Social Security cards | Needed for you, a spouse if filing jointly, and dependents | Using a name that does not match Social Security records |
| W-2, 1099, gig, and cash-job records | Needed for earned income, EITC, tax withheld, and self-employment | Leaving out app, cash, or side-job income |
| Child care provider details | Needed for Form 2441 if you claim care costs | Paying a provider but not getting the EIN, SSN, address, and receipts |
| Form 1095-A | Needed if you had marketplace health coverage | Filing without Form 8962 when advance premium credits were paid |
| Property tax receipts | Needed for the Connecticut property tax credit | Claiming tax paid in the wrong year |
| IRS or DRS letters | Needed if a credit was denied, delayed, reduced, or reviewed | Ignoring a notice because the refund tracker has not changed |
If you are missing wage forms, the IRS IRS transcripts page explains how to get tax records online or by mail. Transcripts can help rebuild missing W-2 or 1099 information.
Common mistakes that delay refunds
- Claiming a child who did not live with you for more than half the year.
- Using head of household when you do not meet the rules.
- Forgetting Schedule EIC, Schedule CT-EITC, Schedule 8812, Form 2441, or Form 8962.
- Typing a Social Security number, birth date, or last name wrong.
- Claiming self-employment income without receipts, mileage logs, app records, invoices, or bank records.
- Using a preparer who will not sign the return or wants a percent of your refund.
If your refund is delayed, reduced, or denied
First, read the notice. IRS and DRS letters usually tell you what they changed, what they need, how to respond, and the deadline. If the IRS denied or reduced your EITC, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, Credit for Other Dependents, or American Opportunity Tax Credit for a reason other than a math or clerical error, you may need Form 8862 when you claim that credit again.
If the issue is federal and you cannot afford help, use the LITC locator to look for a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. The UConn Tax Clinic says it helps low-income taxpayers with IRS or Connecticut DRS tax problems.
If your Connecticut refund is delayed, check myconneCT and your mail. DRS says it reviews CT EITC requests and may ask for more information. If a refund is reduced for debt, ask which agency took the money and how much. That does not always mean your tax return was wrong. ASMOM’s benefits problem guide may help you organize notices, deadlines, and next steps.
Backup help if tax credits are not enough
Tax credits come after income was earned or expenses were paid. They do not replace food help, rent help, child care subsidy, health coverage, or legal help. If your refund is small, delayed, or taken for debt, start with the bill that cannot wait.
| Need | Where to start | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Use ASMOM’s SNAP help page | Ask about SNAP, food pantries, school meals, and WIC if you have young children. |
| Rent or housing | Use Connecticut housing help options | Ask about emergency rent help, shelter, eviction prevention, and waitlists. |
| Utilities | Use ASMOM’s utility help page | Ask about LIHEAP, shutoff protection, payment plans, and local aid. |
| Legal issue | Use Connecticut legal help resources | Ask about tax notices, benefits, eviction, custody, child support, or safety needs. |
Short phone scripts
Calling a VITA site
“Hi, I am a Connecticut parent and I need help filing my federal and state tax returns. I may qualify for EITC, Child Tax Credit, and CT EITC. Are you taking appointments, and what documents should I bring?”
Calling Connecticut DRS
“Hi, I have a question about my Connecticut return, Schedule CT-EITC, or a DRS notice. Can you tell me what form or document is needed, and whether I should respond through myconneCT?”
Calling Access Health CT
“Hi, I had marketplace coverage or need help with 2026 coverage. I want to make sure my income estimate and Form 1095-A are correct before I file. Can you check whether anything needs to be fixed?”
Calling a tax clinic
“Hi, I received an IRS or Connecticut tax notice about a credit or refund. I cannot afford a private tax professional. Do you help with EITC, Child Tax Credit, refund holds, audits, or DRS notices?”
Resumen en español
Si trabajó en 2025 y vivió en Connecticut todo el año, revise primero el EITC federal. Si califica para el EITC federal, también puede calificar para el EITC de Connecticut. Para 2025, Connecticut usa el 40% del EITC federal y puede agregar $250 si tiene por lo menos un hijo calificado en Schedule CT-EITC.
También revise el Crédito Tributario por Hijos, el crédito por cuidado de niños, créditos de educación, el crédito de seguro médico del mercado, y el crédito de impuestos de propiedad de Connecticut. Si tiene dudas, busque ayuda gratis con VITA, 2-1-1, DRS, o una clínica de impuestos.
FAQ
Does Connecticut have its own EITC?
Yes. Connecticut has a refundable state EITC. For 2025 returns, it is 40% of the federal EITC claimed and allowed for the same tax year. Eligible CT EITC filers with at least one qualifying child may also receive an added $250.
Can I claim CT EITC if I moved during the year?
For 2025, Connecticut says part-year residents and nonresidents do not qualify for CT EITC. Ask DRS, VITA, or a tax professional if you moved during the year.
Do I need to file if I do not owe tax?
You may need to file to receive refundable credits like EITC, ACTC, or CT EITC. Many families miss refunds because they do not file. Free filing help can check your return.
Why is my EITC refund taking longer?
Federal law makes the IRS hold refunds that include EITC or ACTC until mid-February. The IRS or DRS may also send a letter if more information is needed.
Can I claim child care costs paid to a babysitter?
Maybe. The care must help you work, look for work, or attend school, and you must identify the provider on Form 2441. Some relatives and household members may not count.
Where can I get help with a tax notice?
Start with the notice instructions. For federal tax disputes, a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic may help if you qualify. For Connecticut tax questions, contact DRS or use myconneCT secure messaging.
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 19, 2026, next review September 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.