Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue said October 13, 2026, that the Illinois EITC and Child Tax Credit delivered more than $600 million to approximately 950,000 working families for tax year 2025. The numbers remain preliminary.
The earned-income credit provided approximately $499 million, while the child credit added approximately $134 million. Together, those reported amounts come to about $633 million.
Pritzker framed the announcement as a contrast with federal Republican policy. He criticized Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans, saying:
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“While Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans drive up everyday costs and give big corporations more tax breaks, Illinois is delivering more than $600 million in tax cuts to nearly 950,000 Illinois working families.”
He also credited his administration and the General Assembly with establishing and expanding the state credit for families with children:
“My administration worked with the General Assembly to create Illinois' first-ever Child Tax Credit and double the benefit, helping parents afford groceries, childcare, and the everyday costs of raising a family.”
Pritzker added:
“While the Trump Administration puts the wealthy and well-connected first, Illinois is putting money back in working families' pockets and giving Illinois working families more breathing room.”
The preliminary totals add to about $633 million
More than 946,000 families received the state earned-income credit, averaging $527 apiece. The program distributed approximately $499 million, according to the preliminary figures.
More than 405,000 families received the child credit. Its approximately $134 million in payments averaged $331 per family.
The recipient counts overlap. Some households received both credits, so adding the two counts would not produce a total number of distinct families. Families claiming both kept an average of $1,460.
The state says it expects additional families to appear when the 2025 data is finalized. The current totals should therefore be read as preliminary, not as a final count of recipients or payments.
The numbers reflect two different credit amounts and a shared focus on working households. The earned-income credit is directed toward low- and moderate-income workers; the child credit is available to eligible families with a young child.
A young child unlocks the refundable state credit
The state credit for families with children is refundable and is calculated as 40% of a family’s Illinois earned-income credit when the household has at least one qualifying child under age 12. A refundable credit can produce a refund when it exceeds the state income tax owed.
The credits reduce Illinois income tax liability and may return money to families whose credits exceed what they owe. The child credit’s percentage is tied to the earned-income credit, so the household’s income and family size affect the final amount.
For tax year 2025, a married couple filing jointly with two qualifying children could qualify for the earned-income credit if household income was below $64,430. In the administration’s example, that family could receive approximately $1,430 in the state earned-income credit, depending on income and household size.
The same example allows up to approximately $572 in child-credit relief. Combined, the two state credits could provide approximately $2,002, in addition to any federal EITC.
That maximum is an illustration, not the average payment. The reported average for households receiving both credits was $1,460, below the example’s combined maximum.
The state doubled the benefit after creating it in 2024
Illinois established its first state child credit in 2024. The legislation signed by Pritzker set the refundable credit at 20% of a qualifying family’s state earned-income credit.
For tax year 2025, the state raised the share to 40%. The average child-credit amount rose from $160 in 2024 to $331 in 2025, an increase the administration links to the expanded benefit.
The two programs address different parts of household finances. The earned-income credit targets workers with low or moderate incomes; the child credit adds relief for qualifying families with a child under 12.
State officials have described the credits as help with housing, child care, transportation, groceries, and other routine costs. The administration has also said that money returned to households supports local consumer spending.
State outreach has generated another $26 million
A separate Department of Revenue effort contacts residents who claimed the federal EITC but did not claim the corresponding Illinois credit. The department says that outreach has generated an additional $26 million in tax relief since 2020.
The outreach figure is separate from the preliminary 2025 totals. It reflects relief accumulated through the program since it began, rather than an additional amount included in the reported year’s credit payments.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA about your specific situation.
