The Connecticut Child Tax Credit – Unfinished Business

Imagine parents having the freedom to invest in their children's future, without constantly worrying about paying for basic necessities. This financial stability is out of reach for the 39% of Connecticut families who are living paycheck to paycheck across every zip code. Meanwhile, our state budget is flourishing with new record-breaking four billion-dollar surpluses.

Last legislative session, United Way of Connecticut led the CT Child Tax Credit Coalition in advocating for a permanent, fully refundable Connecticut Child Tax Credit – a proven solution that nationally lifted 16 million low-income children out of poverty in 2021, including 119,000 Connecticut children. Despite legislators proposing four bills with 47 co-sponsors, due to the fiscal controls, the General Assembly did not adjust the underlying budget for 2025. As a result, they could not adjust any policies related to taxation or revenue, including establishing a state Child Tax Credit.

With Connecticut the only high-cost-of-living state with a broad-based personal income tax that does not adjust for the number of children or child care expenses, Connecticut parents are struggling to afford what their kids need and are demanding tax relief. In fact, ahead of the 2025 legislative session, more than 500 have supported and signed a CT Child Tax Petition urging the Governor and General Assembly to enact a Connecticut Child Tax Credit that is fully refundable at $600 per child.

A grandmother from Danielson shares, “I have a grandchild and I see how her parents are struggling with mortgage, taxes, utilities and food. Everything is going up but the paychecks.”

“It's time to close this gap with a CT Child Tax Credit. Putting money back into families’ hands is a proven solution, giving parents the flexibility to buy what their children need most,” says Daniel Fitzmaurice, Director of Advocacy for United Way of Connecticut. “This spending also boosts our economy and state budget – it's a win-win. I encourage everyone to sign the petition to tell your elected leaders that you support the CT Child Tax Credit.”

To learn more about the CT Child Tax Credit or to sign the petition, visit ctunitedway.org/petition

ABOUT THE CT CHILD TAX CREDIT COALITION

The CT Child Tax Credit Coalition is comprised of more than 40 nonprofits, foundations and agencies that include: 14 Connecticut United Ways, Hartford Foundation, Connecticut Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Eastern CT, The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, SimplifyCT, HRA of New Britain, Inc., Willaim Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, The Village, Hispanic Health Council, Unidad Latina en Accion, Capital Workforce Partners, Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), Building One Community, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA), She Leads Justice, Connecticut Legal Services, American Academy of Pediatrics, CT Chapter, New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc., Connecticut Voices for Children, Trinfo VITA, Advanced Behavioral Health, All Our Kin, ConnCAN, Connecticut Children’s, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families, Family Centers, Northwest CT Community Foundation, Nuvance Health, Ritter Family Foundation and SVP-CT.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF CONNECTICUT

The mission of United Way of Connecticut is to help Connecticut residents thrive by providing information, education and connection to services. United Way of Connecticut is recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as a 2023 Best Workplace in Connecticut. Learn more at 211ct.org. Visit our media center for media requests and inquiries.