The Earned Income Tax Credit is for the benefit of those who have no tax liability, AT ALL, and is a redistribution of funds, which are paid for by the higher rates applied to those earning more.
Still required to file a return, though. Neat little scheme that has been exploited by a number of illegal resident aliens, and if once established on the tax rolls, may even be collected if they have been deported back to their own country.
It’s also exploited by deadbeats like my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. It makes me want to scream every year when my BIL brags about how much he got back on his “tax refund”. I told him last year, “no, it’s a redistribution of wealth.”
My SIL has never had a full-time job (hasn’t worked at all in 15 years) and my BIL hasn’t had a steady income or made more than a few thousand dollars a year in over a decade. They have no motivation to take care of themselves or their surroundings...it’s disgusting on every level imaginable.
My in-laws enable the behavior by taking care of them and providing housing, food, and health care for them and their children. They trashed one home they were living in rent free and now my in-laws just purchased a new 3,000 square foot home for them.
My wife and I expressed our concerns to my in-laws, but we’ve given up. They say “it’s what family does” and then they told my wife that they’ll just come live with us when the money runs out. I told my wife that it’ll be a cold day in Hades before that happens.
I've never gotten any such gift in my life...the govt holds special sessions just to get people like me to pay more in taxes...