Tax credit for working families on Illinois lawmakers’ agenda

Tax credit for working families on Illinois lawmakers’ agenda

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Tuesday is the final, scheduled day of state lawmakers’ fall session. They added the day to their calendars to tie up loose ends after meeting in October and early November without finishing their business.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill that would expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. That means families who are working, but struggling, can be eligible for a bigger refund during tax season. A family of five earning less than $48,000 a year is one example of a household that would qualify under an expanded credit.

Gov. Pat Quinn added the break as part of a bigger tax bill lawmakers are expected to take up. The package is expected to include a tax break for CME Group, which operates two of Chicago’s biggest exchanges, and Sears, which hopes to extend a tax break that is scheduled to expire.

The Earned Income Tax Credit would impact 935,000 households, according to Quinn.

“We need to help our working families, and I’m going to fight hard for that,” he said.

Lawmakers also could be asked again to vote on a gambling expansion bill.

On legislation that would require most government workers to pay more toward their retirements, Democratic leaders decided to wait until spring.