Last updated: June 19, 2026
Bottom line
If you worked in 2025, check the federal Earned Income Tax Credit first. The IRS EITC page explains the basic rules, and Kansas gives full-year Kansas residents a state EITC based on the federal amount.
For 2025 Kansas returns filed in 2026, the Kansas EITC is 17% of your federal EITC. Kansas also has a child and dependent care credit for full-year residents. It is based on 50% of the federal child care credit allowed on Form 2441.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. If you have shared custody, a tax notice, identity theft, missing income forms, divorce papers, immigration questions, or a past IRS denial, use free tax help before you file or answer a letter.
Urgent tax help in Kansas
Do not ignore an IRS or Kansas Department of Revenue letter. A notice may ask for proof, income records, child residency records, identity checks, or payment. Read the deadline first, then ask for help.
- For free filing, start with IRS Free File or an IRS volunteer tax site.
- For in-person help, use the VITA locator and ask if the site can file Kansas returns.
- For Kansas WebFile problems, use WebFile help before filing on paper by mistake.
- For an IRS audit, collection case, tax court notice, or EITC proof problem, check the LITC map or contact Kansas Legal Services for screening.
- If someone may have used your Social Security number, request an IRS IP PIN before filing again.
Where to start
Start with your federal return. Most Kansas credits in this guide use numbers from your federal return first. ASMOM has a wider tax help guide, but use the official IRS and Kansas links here before you file.
If you worked
Use the EITC Assistant to screen yourself. File a federal return even if your income was low and you do not owe tax.
If you have children
Check EITC, the Child Tax Credit, and the Additional Child Tax Credit. ASMOM also has a plain-language tax credits guide for parent credits.
If you paid child care
Ask whether you can use Form 2441. You will need the provider name, address, tax ID, and proof of what you paid.
If you need help now
Tax refunds are not same-day help. For food, rent, health care, or bills, use your Kansas help page and apply for active programs.
Quick reference: tax credits to check
| Credit or refund | What it may help with | Where it starts | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal EITC | Refundable credit for many workers with low or moderate income | Federal Form 1040 | Income, filing status, Social Security number, and child rules matter. |
| Kansas EITC | State credit based on your federal EITC | Kansas Form K-40 | Full-year Kansas residents only. It is 17% of your federal EITC for 2025. |
| Child Tax Credit | Federal credit for qualifying children | Schedule 8812 | For 2025, valid SSN rules apply for the taxpayer and child. |
| Child care credit | Credit for care that let you work or look for work | Federal Form 2441 | Provider information and receipts are important. |
| Kansas Homestead | Property tax refund for some homeowners | Kansas Form K-40H | Homeowners only. Renters do not use this claim. |
Federal and Kansas Earned Income Tax Credit
The EITC is for workers. Earned income can include wages, tips, self-employment income, gig work, and some disability pay before retirement age. It does not include child support, unemployment, Social Security, interest, dividends, pensions, or gifts.
For 2025 returns filed in 2026, use the official EITC tables to check income limits and maximum credits. Your real credit depends on your income, filing status, and how many qualifying children or relatives you claim.
| Qualifying children | 2025 federal EITC maximum | 2025 income limit, single or head of household | Possible Kansas EITC maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $649 | $19,104 | About $110 |
| 1 | $4,328 | $50,434 | About $736 |
| 2 | $7,152 | $57,310 | About $1,216 |
| 3 or more | $8,046 | $61,555 | About $1,368 |
The Kansas amount above is only a rough maximum. The Kansas tax booklet says the Kansas EITC is your federal EITC multiplied by 17%. It is for residents only, not part-year residents or nonresidents.
EITC rules that cause delays
- You and a child claimed for EITC usually need valid Social Security numbers issued by the return due date.
- A child usually cannot be claimed by two people for the same tax credit in the same year.
- The child must meet relationship, age, residency, and joint return rules.
- For 2025, investment income must be $11,950 or less to claim EITC.
- If the IRS denied EITC before, you may need Form 8862 before you claim it again.
Shared custody is one of the biggest problem areas. A parenting plan, divorce order, or child support order does not always decide who gets EITC. The IRS usually looks at the tax rules, including where the child lived. If child support is also part of the issue, ASMOM has a separate Kansas child support guide.
Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is different from EITC. You may qualify for one, both, or neither. The IRS Child Tax Credit page is the best starting point for the current federal rules.
For 2025, the maximum Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per qualifying child. The maximum Additional Child Tax Credit is $1,700 per qualifying child. Use the Schedule 8812 instructions to check the official rules before filing.
For 2025, the IRS says you must have a valid Social Security number to claim the CTC or ACTC. On a joint return, one spouse must have a valid SSN and the other spouse must have either an SSN or ITIN issued by the due date. The child also generally needs a valid SSN for the CTC or ACTC.
Refund delay warning
If your federal refund includes EITC or ACTC, the IRS cannot issue the refund before mid-February. This hold can affect the whole refund, not just the credit part. Check the IRS refund page after you file and avoid filing a duplicate return.
Child and dependent care tax credit
If you paid someone to care for your child so you could work or look for work, ask about the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The federal Form 2441 instructions explain the work-related care rules and provider information rules.
For many families, the federal credit uses up to $3,000 of qualifying expenses for one qualifying person or $6,000 for two or more. The credit percentage depends on income. You usually cannot count care paid to your spouse, to the child’s other parent when the child is under 13, or to someone you claim as a dependent.
Kansas gives full-year residents a child and dependent care credit equal to 50% of the federal credit allowed against federal tax liability on Form 2441. It is entered on the Kansas K-40. Because it is used against Kansas tax, it may not help much if your Kansas tax is already zero.
If paying for care is the bigger problem right now, a tax credit may not help until you file. ASMOM has a Kansas child care guide for help during the year.
Other Kansas credits and refunds to check
Kansas Food Sales Tax Credit
Do not count on the Food Sales Tax Credit for a 2025 Kansas return. KDOR issued a food credit notice saying the credit sunset at the end of tax year 2024. If you are amending a 2024 return, ask a VITA volunteer or KDOR before deciding whether it applies.
Kansas Homestead refund
The Kansas Homestead refund is separate from EITC. It may help some Kansas homeowners with property tax. The Homestead FAQ says the 2025 Homestead refund can be up to $700 for homeowners who lived in Kansas all year, had household income of $43,389 or less, owned and occupied a Kansas home, and met one of the listed categories.
One listed category is having a dependent child who lived with you the entire year and was under age 18 for the full 2025 calendar year. Homestead does not help renters. If rent, eviction, or utilities are the urgent issue, check ASMOM’s Kansas housing help, Kansas utility help, and Kansas emergency help pages.
How to file and where to get free help
For 2025 federal returns, the IRS filing deadline was April 15, 2026 for most taxpayers. If you missed it, file as soon as you can. If you received an extension, remember that an extension gives more time to file, not more time to pay tax due.
File your federal return first, then use those numbers to complete Kansas Form K-40. The KDOR income tax forms page has Kansas forms and instructions. Kansas also offers Kansas WebFile for state returns and Homestead claims.
| Need | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Free federal filing | IRS Free File | Does this offer include a free Kansas return? |
| In-person filing help | VITA or TCE site | Can you check EITC, CTC, and Kansas EITC? |
| Kansas return only | Kansas WebFile | Can I file K-40 or Homestead online? |
| Refund status | Kansas refund tool | Do you need more information from me? |
| IRS tax dispute | Low Income Taxpayer Clinic | Can you review my notice before the deadline? |
After you file, use Kansas refund status for the state refund and the IRS tool for the federal refund. You may also use an IRS online account to view some federal tax records.
Documents to gather before filing
Good records can prevent long refund delays. Keep copies, even if you file online. ASMOM’s documents checklist can also help with benefit applications outside tax filing.
| Document | Why it matters | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Needed at many free tax sites | Bring a current ID if you have one. |
| SSN cards or letters | Needed for you and children claimed | Bring official proof, not just numbers. |
| W-2 and 1099 forms | Shows wages, gig work, or other income | Ask the employer if a form is missing. |
| Child care records | Needed for Form 2441 | Keep provider name, address, tax ID, and receipts. |
| Child residency proof | May be needed for EITC or CTC | School, doctor, child care, lease, or benefit records can help. |
| Tax letters | Shows what IRS or KDOR wants | Bring every page of the notice. |
If your income is not covering food, health care, or basic needs, tax credits are only one part of the plan. You may also need Kansas SNAP help, Kansas TANF help, or Kansas health care during the year.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Claiming a child without proof. Keep records that show where your child lived during the year.
- Choosing head of household without checking. Head of household has rules. Do not pick it only because you are a single parent.
- Leaving out gig income. Cleaning, delivery, babysitting, online selling, and cash work may still need to be reported.
- Missing W-2 box 10. Dependent care benefits from work can change the child care credit.
- Paying for a refund loan without checking fees. Free filing may be available, and credits are not instant cash.
- Filing the same return again. A duplicate return can create more delay.
If your refund is delayed, denied, or offset
First, check the official tools. If a tool says a letter was sent, wait for the letter or sign in to your account when possible. Do not guess. The notice should say what happened, what to send, and by when.
If your refund was reduced, it may be due to past-due federal tax, state tax, child support, or another government debt. The notice should explain the offset. If you believe it is wrong, ask for help quickly and keep a copy of the notice.
If the IRS denied EITC, CTC, ACTC, or another credit, do not keep refiling the same return. Read the letter, gather proof, and ask a VITA site, a tax professional, Kansas Legal Services, or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic to review the next step. ASMOM also has a denied benefits guide that can help you organize paperwork and deadlines.
If tax debt, credit damage, or past bills are part of the stress, use the refund carefully. Pay urgent basics first: rent, utilities, food, child care, transportation, and court or tax deadlines.
If tax credits are not enough
Tax credits can help, but they come once a year and only if you qualify. If you need help before tax time, look for monthly or local programs: SNAP, TANF, WIC, Medicaid, child care subsidy, housing help, utility help, schools, Community Action, clinics, churches, and 211.
For a broader Kansas starting point, use ASMOM’s Kansas grants guide. That page focuses on real help paths, not fake cash promises. You can also check Kansas legal help if a tax problem overlaps with custody, debt, housing, or benefits.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling a VITA site
“Hi, I am a parent in Kansas. I need help filing my federal and Kansas return and checking EITC, Child Tax Credit, and child care credit. Do you have appointments, and what should I bring?”
Calling Kansas WebFile help
“Hi, I am trying to file my Kansas K-40 through WebFile. I need help with my access code or account match. What information do you need to verify me?”
Calling about a tax letter
“Hi, I received a tax notice with a deadline. I do not understand what proof is needed. Can you help me read the notice and tell me my next step before the deadline?”
Calling a tax clinic
“Hi, I have an IRS tax problem, not just a filing question. I received a notice about EITC, a refund hold, collection, or audit. Can your clinic screen me for help?”
Resumen en espanol
Si trabajo durante 2025, revise primero el credito EITC federal. Kansas tambien tiene un EITC estatal para residentes de Kansas por todo el ano. Para 2025, el credito de Kansas es 17% de su EITC federal.
Si tiene hijos, revise el Child Tax Credit y el Additional Child Tax Credit. Si pago cuidado infantil para poder trabajar o buscar trabajo, pregunte por el credito de cuidado de dependientes. Guarde recibos, informacion del proveedor y documentos que prueben donde vivio su hijo.
Si recibe una carta del IRS o de Kansas, no la ignore. Busque ayuda gratis de VITA, Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Legal Services o una clinica para contribuyentes de bajos ingresos.
FAQ
Does Kansas have a state EITC?
Yes. For 2025 Kansas returns, Kansas has a state EITC equal to 17% of your federal EITC. It is for full-year Kansas residents only.
Can I get EITC if I did not work?
Usually no. EITC is based on earned income. Child support, unemployment, Social Security, and gifts are not earned income for EITC.
Can two parents claim the same child for EITC?
Not for the same tax year. If two people claim the same child, the IRS may delay the refund and ask for proof. Shared custody cases should get free tax help before filing.
Is the Kansas child care credit refundable?
The Kansas child and dependent care credit is used against Kansas tax on the K-40. If your Kansas tax is already zero, it may not increase your refund by itself.
Does Kansas still have the Food Sales Tax Credit?
Not for tax year 2025 and later. Kansas says the Food Sales Tax Credit sunset at the end of tax year 2024. Ask for help if you are amending an older return.
Where can I get free tax filing help in Kansas?
Start with IRS Free File, VITA or TCE sites, Kansas WebFile, or AARP Tax-Aide. For IRS disputes, audits, or collection problems, check a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
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.