The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), along with elected officials and immigrant New Yorkers, gathered last week to launch the Working Families Tax Credit 2024 legislative campaign.
The Working Families Tax Credit would be an expanded refundable tax credit, combining the Empire State Child Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the dependent exemption into one larger sum.
“New Yorkers are facing a daunting affordability crisis with no real end in sight, as working families struggle to pay for housing, groceries and child care. And when families can’t make ends meet, our entire economy suffers," said Liza Schwartzwald, Director of Economic Justice and Family Empowerment, NYIC.
"Putting cash in the hands of more New York families through the tax credit system allows them to bridge that gap and better meet their financial obligations. The Working Families Tax Credit will improve the lives of nearly every New York family with children – regardless of their immigration status – helping them keep afloat so they can give their kids the best opportunity to succeed. Turning this bill into law is imperative in building a future for our State where immigrant and low-income families can thrive, while contributing to our collective economy and culture.”
Senator Andrew Gounardes said the the tax credit will allow families to afford essentials for their kids, whether that be diapers, clothes, or rent to keep the roof over their head.
"When the federal government temporarily increased its child tax credit, child poverty plummeted. Now that the federal program has expired, it's time for New York to step up and do right by working families," he said.
