A tax refund is a reimbursement to taxpayers who have overpaid their taxes, often due to having employers withhold too much from paychecks. The U.S. Treasury estimates that nearly three-fourths of taxpayers are over-withheld, resulting in tax refunds. Overpaying taxes can be viewed as an interest-free loan to the government.| Tax Foundation
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit targeted at low-income workers. Learn more about the EITC and Child Tax Credit.| Tax Foundation
A refundable tax credit can be used to generate a federal tax refund larger than the amount of tax paid throughout the year. In other words, a refundable tax credit creates the possibility of a negative federal tax liability. An example of a refundable tax credit is the Earned Income Tax Credit.| Tax Foundation
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is responsible for enforcing and administering federal tax laws, processing tax returns, performing audits, and offering assistance for American taxpayers.| Tax Foundation
A tax credit is a provision that reduces a taxpayer’s final tax bill, dollar-for-dollar. A tax credit differs from deductions and exemptions, which reduce taxable income, rather than the taxpayer’s tax bill directly.| Tax Foundation
Stay informed on the tax policies impacting you with the Tax Foundation's Above-the-Line tax newsletter. Explore popular tax newsletters.| Tax Foundation