Thousands of low-income working Washington citizens now have access to up to $1,200 owing to a 2008 statute that has finally been funded.
The Working Families Tax Credit is given to individuals and families who meet specific eligibility and restrictions, as reported by The Seattle Times.
Washington Tax Credit
The funds are meant to provide a tiny financial boost to low-income Washington workers who pay a much larger proportion of their income in state taxes than the wealthy.
Roughly 400,000 households, including nearly 100,000 in King County, are eligible for the tax credit. Families who qualify must apply to receive it.
The state forecasts that it will pay approximately $230 million in tax refunds this year and $257 million the next year, as more people become aware of the program.
In 2008, the tax credit was signed into law by the then-governor, Christine Gregoire. But politicians, facing a financial deficit, stated that money will be determined later.
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State Lawmakers Approve Funds
State legislators approved funding for the tax credits in 2021, loaded with funds from the federal government’s emergency COVID-19 packages, citing the popularity of pandemic-related payments to individuals as evidence of the importance of monetary assistance.
These three consecutive checks totaling $1,200, $600, and $1,400 issued to Nijhia Jackson of Bremerton during the Trump and Biden administrations saved her life.
Jackson is a student at Olympic College and works as a cashier at the Tacoma Dome. She lives with her husband and two small sons.
She stated that she used COVID-19 money to pay their internet bill and rent when her sons had to attend school remotely.
The new tax credit, which will be distributed as a rebate on sales taxes paid, will most likely provide $900 to her family.
After receiving those payments, I am confident that this will be useful, she stated. She intends to pay her internet bill, buy clothes for her children, and possibly repair her vehicle.
John Ryser, interim head of the state Department of Revenue, referred to this as a step toward tackling intergenerational poverty and equity in the state and stated that this funding can be used to assist families with their financial requirements.
Ryser reported that 10,000 people applied for the tax credit on its first day of availability, which was Wednesday.
Emily Vyhnanek, campaign manager for a coalition of over 50 organizations, unions, and progressive advocacy groups who advocated for funding the tax credit, stated that our message today is fairly straightforward.
The program is structured similarly to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Washington is the only state without a state income tax to offer its own version of the tax credit, but thirty-two other states offer their own versions.
The state Department of Revenue has created a new division and assigned 82 full-time staff to operate it.
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