Last updated: May 19, 2026
Bottom line
If you worked during the year, the Earned Income Tax Credit may be the most important tax credit to check first. Kansas also has a state EITC for full-year Kansas residents. For tax year 2025, the Kansas EITC is 17% of the federal EITC you qualify for under the Kansas tax booklet for that tax year.
You may also be able to claim the federal Child Tax Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you paid for care so you could work or look for work. Kansas has its own child and dependent care credit for residents, equal to 50% of the federal credit allowed on Form 2441.
This guide is general information, not tax advice. If your case involves divorce, shared custody, immigration papers, a tax letter, identity theft, or a past denial, use free tax help before you file.
Urgent tax help in Kansas
Do not ignore an IRS or Kansas Department of Revenue letter. A notice can involve missing income, a child claimed by two people, identity checks, unpaid tax, or proof needed for EITC. The letter should say what to send and by when.
- For free filing help, start with IRS Free File or a VITA locator site during tax season.
- For Kansas filing or WebFile access questions, use Kansas DOR help before guessing.
- For an IRS dispute, audit, collection letter, or tax court notice, check the IRS LITC page or contact Kansas Legal Services.
- 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 depend on what you claim on your federal return first. For a broader tax overview, see ASMOM’s tax help guide, but use the official IRS and Kansas links in this article before you file.
If you worked
Check EITC first. Use the EITC Assistant to screen yourself. Then file a federal return, even if you do not owe tax.
If you have children
Check the Child Tax Credit and ACTC. A child generally must meet age, dependent, Social Security number, and residency rules. See ASMOM’s Child Tax Credit page for a plain-language overview.
If you paid child care
Ask whether you can claim Form 2441. You will need provider information, receipts, and proof the care helped you work or look for work.
If your refund is late
Check the IRS and Kansas refund tools. If you get a letter, answer the letter instead of filing the same return again.
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 equal to 17% of your federal EITC | Kansas Form K-40 | Residents only. Part-year and nonresidents are not eligible. |
| Child Tax Credit | Federal credit for qualifying children under age 17 | Schedule 8812 | For 2025, a valid SSN is required for CTC and ACTC. |
| Child and Dependent Care Credit | Credit for care costs that let you work or look for work | Federal Form 2441 | Provider name, address, and tax ID are usually needed. |
| Kansas Homestead | Property tax refund for some Kansas homeowners | Kansas Form K-40H | Homeowner 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, and some disability pay before retirement age. It does not include child support, unemployment, Social Security benefits, interest, or dividends. The IRS explains these rules in its IRS EITC page and related publications.
For tax year 2025, the federal EITC maximum depends on how many qualifying children or relatives you claim. The official EITC tables list the income limits and maximum credit amounts.
| Qualifying children | 2025 federal EITC maximum | 2025 income limit if single or head of household | Possible Kansas EITC at 17% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 in the table is only a rough maximum. Your real Kansas EITC is 17% of your actual federal EITC, not always 17% of the maximum.
EITC rules that cause problems
- You and the child you claim for EITC usually need valid Social Security numbers issued by the return due date.
- A child cannot usually be claimed by two people for the same tax credit.
- 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 claiming it again.
Shared custody can be hard. A divorce order or child support order does not always decide who gets EITC. The IRS usually looks at where the child lived and who meets the tax rules. If child support is also an issue, ASMOM has a separate Kansas child support guide.
Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit
The federal Child Tax Credit is different from EITC. You may qualify for one, both, or neither. For tax year 2025, the maximum Child Tax Credit increased to $2,200 for each qualifying child, and the maximum Additional Child Tax Credit is $1,700 for each qualifying child. The IRS gives these rules in the Schedule 8812 instructions for tax year 2025.
For 2025, the IRS says a valid Social Security number is required to claim the CTC or ACTC. A qualifying child must generally be under age 17 at the end of 2025 and meet dependent rules. If a child does not have the right SSN, the Credit for Other Dependents may still be worth asking about, but it has different rules.
Refund delay warning
If your federal refund includes EITC or ACTC, the IRS cannot issue the refund before mid-February. The IRS says the whole refund can be held, not just the credit part. Use the IRS refund page instead of guessing.
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 rules are figured on Form 2441. The IRS Form 2441 instructions explain that the care must be work-related and the provider must usually be identified on the return.
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 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 residents a state child and dependent care credit equal to 50% of the federal credit allowed against federal tax liability on Form 2441. It is listed on line 14 of the Kansas K-40 instructions. 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 issue right now, tax credits may not be enough. ASMOM’s Kansas child care guide covers subsidy and child care help paths that may 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. The Kansas Department of Revenue 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 program is separate from EITC. It may help some Kansas homeowners with property tax. For 2025 claims, the Kansas booklet says the Homestead refund is up to $700 for homeowners who lived in Kansas all year, had household income of $43,389 or less, and met one of the listed categories. One category is having a dependent child under 18 who lived with the claimant all year. Check the current Kansas Homestead rules before filing.
Homestead does not help renters. If rent, eviction, or utilities are the more urgent problem, start with ASMOM’s Kansas housing help, Kansas utility help, and Kansas emergency help pages.
How to file and where to get free help
File the federal return first, then use the numbers from that return to complete Kansas Form K-40. Kansas residents who have filed a Kansas return in the past three years may be able to use Kansas WebFile for a free state return or Homestead claim.
| Need | Best starting point | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Simple federal and state return | IRS Free File or VITA | Can I file both federal and Kansas for free? |
| Kansas return only | Kansas WebFile | Can I access my Kansas account and file K-40? |
| Refund status | Kansas refund tool | Do you need more information from me? |
| IRS audit or tax court | Low Income Taxpayer Clinic | Can you review my notice before the deadline? |
| Missing W-2 or 1099 | Employer, IRS account, or tax preparer | What income documents are still missing? |
After you file, you can check state status through Kansas refund status. The Kansas page says high demand and reduced staffing can cause longer timelines. It also says the system updates daily and may take a day or two before a new result appears.
Documents to gather before filing
A little paperwork can prevent long delays. Keep copies even if you file online.
- Photo ID for you.
- Social Security cards or official letters for you and each child you claim.
- W-2, 1099, unemployment forms, self-employment records, and cash income records.
- Child care provider name, address, phone number, and EIN or SSN.
- Receipts or bank records showing child care payments.
- School, medical, child care, lease, benefits, or shelter records showing where your child lived.
- Prior-year tax return, if available.
- Kansas WebFile access code or prior-year Kansas information, if using WebFile.
- Direct deposit information for a bank account, credit union account, or prepaid account in your name.
- Any IRS or Kansas letter you received.
If your income is not enough to cover food, health care, or basic needs, tax credits are only one part of the picture. You can also check ASMOM’s Kansas SNAP help, Kansas TANF help, and Kansas health care guides.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Claiming a child without proof of where the child lived. Keep school, doctor, child care, benefits, or housing records.
- Using the wrong filing status. Head of household has rules. Do not pick it only because you are a single parent.
- Forgetting self-employment income. Gig work, cleaning jobs, babysitting, delivery, and cash work may still need to be reported.
- Ignoring W-2 box 10. Dependent care benefits from work can change the child care credit.
- Paying for a refund loan without reading fees. Free filing may be available, and tax credits are not instant cash.
- Filing again because a refund is late. Duplicate returns can create more delay.
If your refund is delayed, denied, or offset
First, check the official refund tools. Use the IRS refund tool for federal refunds and the Kansas tool for state refunds. If a tool says a letter was sent, wait for the letter or sign in to your account when possible.
If your refund was reduced, it may be because of past-due federal tax, state tax, child support, student loan rules, or another government debt. The notice should explain the offset. If you believe the offset is wrong, ask for help quickly and keep the notice.
If you are trying to recover after identity theft, bad credit, or debt pressure, ASMOM’s Kansas financial recovery guide may help you plan next steps outside tax filing.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling VITA or a free tax site
“Hi, I am a single 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 documents 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. Can you tell me what information 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 regular filing question. I received a notice about EITC, a refund hold, collection, or audit. Can your clinic screen me for help?”
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 programs that help during the month: SNAP, TANF, child care subsidy, housing help, utility help, WIC, Medicaid, local churches, Community Action agencies, schools, and 211.
For a broad Kansas starting point, use ASMOM’s Kansas grants guide. That page explains real help paths without treating every program like a cash grant.
Resumen en espanol
Si trabajo durante el ano, revise primero el credito EITC federal. Kansas tambien tiene un EITC estatal para residentes de Kansas por todo el ano. El credito de Kansas es 17% de su EITC federal.
Si tiene hijos, revise tambien 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 tax year 2025, Kansas has a state EITC equal to 17% of the federal EITC. It is for residents only, not part-year residents or nonresidents.
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/TCE sites, AARP Tax-Aide, or Kansas WebFile. 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 May 19, 2026, next review August 19, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org with details.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.