Bill > HB679

This bill expands the eligibility of the Maryland earned income tax credit (EITC) to allow certain individuals without qualifying children to claim the credit. The amount of the credit that may be claimed by these individuals is adjusted for inflation each year. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It allows individuals without qualifying children to claim the EITC, modifying the earned income amount and phaseout amount used to calculate the credit for these individuals. 2. It provides for an annual cost-of-living adjustment to the earned income amount and phaseout amount used to calculate the credit for individuals without qualifying children. 3. It removes the minimum age requirement under the federal EITC for individuals without qualifying children claiming the Maryland EITC. 4. It allows counties to offer a refundable county EITC, which would provide a refund for the amount by which the county EITC exceeds the county income tax. The bill is intended to expand access to the EITC, a tax credit that provides a financial boost to low-income working individuals and families, to more Marylanders.