Schmudget Blog

A Primer on the Working Families Tax Rebate

Posted by Kery Murakami at Feb 23, 2010 03:00 PM |

The Senate proposal Tuesday morning includes the Working Families Tax Rebate, a policy developed by the Budget & Policy Center which would offer help to lower- and middle-income residents – those hit hardest by the economy.

The Budget & Policy Center has written extensively on the rebate the last couple of years:

  • Working Families Tax Rebate Administration Would be Straightforward and Efficient: The Working Families Tax Rebate (WFTR) was signed into law in 2008. Once the rebate is fully funded and implemented, it will refund a portion of the state retail sales tax to as many as 370,000 Washington households. But how will it work? One of the great things about the rebate is how straightforward and efficient the administration will be. (Feb 22, 2010)
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  • How Much Would You Get? A Working Families Tax Rebate Calculator: This online tool allows you to calculate how much the credit would be worth based on filing status, number of children, and the amount of earned income.** For example, a married couple with two kids and $20,000 in wages would receive $429 dollars. A single parent with one child would receive $248. The minimum credit for those who are eligible is $50; the maximum is $567. (Feb. 3, 2010)
  • Working Families Tax Rebate: Benefits by Legislative District: The map below shows the share of tax filers who would have been eligible for the WFTR by legislative district. The districts with the highest percentages of eligible Washingtonians live in rural and small metropolitan areas. For example, one in four tax filers in the Yakima area would have been eligible for the WFTR. In general, all communities in Washington would benefit. (Apr. 6, 2009)
  • Working Families Tax Rebate: A Tool for Economic and Fiscal Recovery:  The Working Families Tax Rebate is an effective tool the state can use as part of a strategy for economic and fiscal recovery. It builds on the highly successful federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which lifts millions of people out of poverty nationwide each year. (Apr. 3, 2009)

 

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Policy Agenda

We have released Framework for Prosperity, a comprehensive policy agenda for the 2013-2015 biennium. We make specific recommendations for targeted investments that would bring our state closer to providing prosperity for all Washingtonians. We also provide revenue options to help pay for those investments. Click on the image below to download a PDF of the agenda.

 

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Catch the Budget Beat

During the 2013 legislative session we will host regular Budget Beat calls and and podcaBudget Beatsts to bring you updates and breaking news from Olympia, timely policy analysis, and share resources and upcoming community events.

Check out the archive of Budget Beat calls and podcasts. 

Join the Budget Beat calls every other Friday at noon!  

Budget Matters 2012

Our first annual policy conference was a great success! More than 300 people came together to hear from policy makers, national and state policy experts, and community leaders from around the state. Our special lunch speaker was Van Jones.

Van jones at Budget Matters 

Here are some of the PowerPoint presentations from the break-out panels.

-The Affordable Care Act: Maximizing the Opportunities

-Building a Prosperity Economy in Washington State

-Building a 21st Century Revenue System

-Effective Messaging Strategies

For pictures and more information, check out our event page.