H.R. 2338

119 HR 2338 IH: Worker Relief and Credit Reform Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-03-25
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2338  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   March 25, 2025   Ms. Moore of Wisconsin  (for herself,  Ms. Chu ,  Mr. Davis of Illinois ,  Mr. Gomez ,  Ms. Pingree ,  Ms. Norton ,  Ms. Tlaib ,  Ms. Scanlon ,  Mr. Khanna , and  Ms. Jayapal ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Ways and Means    A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand and improve the earned income tax credit.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Worker Relief and Credit Reform Act of 2025   or as the   WRCR Act of 2025  .
2.
Expansion and improvement of earned income tax credit
(a)
Application to students
(1)
In general
 Section 32(c)(1)(A)(i)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting  who is a qualifying student or  after  any individual .
(2)
Qualifying student
Section 32(c) of such Code is amended by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5) and inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:
(4)
Qualifying student
(A)
In general
The term  qualifying student  means, with respect to any taxable year, any individual who—
(i)
is an eligible student (as defined in section 25A(b)(3)) with respect to at least one academic period beginning during such taxable year,
(ii)
either—
(I)
qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant with respect to such academic period, or
(II)
meets the requirements of subparagraph (B) or (C) for the taxable year, and
(iii)
is not a dependent for whom a deduction is allowable under section 151 to another taxpayer for any taxable year beginning in the same calendar year as such taxable year.
(B)
Independent students
In the case of any independent student, the requirements of this subparagraph are met for such taxable year if the household income of the taxpayer is less than 300 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved for the taxable year.
(C)
Other students
(i)
In general
In the case of any individual who is not an independent student, the requirements of this subparagraph are met for such taxable year if the aggregate household incomes of all the individual’s specified supporters (and the taxpayer if not otherwise taken into account) for the taxable years of such supporters which end in or with the calendar year in which such individual’s taxable year begins is less than 300 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved (determined on a single aggregate basis) for the taxable year.
(ii)
Specified supporter
The term  specified supporter  means, with respect to any individual described in clause (i), any taxpayer with respect to whom such individual was a dependent for any taxable year ending in the 3-year period described in subparagraph (D)(i).
(D)
Independent student defined
(i)
In general
The term  independent student  means any individual if such individual was not a dependent of another taxpayer for any taxable year ending in the 3-year period which ends on the first day of the first academic period with respect to which such individual is an eligible student (as defined in section 25A(b)(3)).
(ii)
Certain academic periods disregarded
An academic period shall be disregarded under clause (i) if such academic period ends more than 2 years before the beginning of the next academic period with respect to which the individual is an eligible student (as defined in section 25A(b)(3)).
(E)
Other definitions
(i)
Household income
The term  household income  has the meaning given such term in section 36B(d)(2).
(ii)
Poverty line
The term  poverty line  has the meaning given such term in section 36B(d)(3)(A).
(iii)
Family size
The family size involved with respect to any taxpayer shall be determined under rules similar to the rules of section 36B(d)(1).
 .
(3)
Conforming amendment
Section 32(c)(1)(A)(ii) of such Code is amended by striking  any other individual who does not have a qualifying child  and inserting  any individual not described in clause (i) .
(b)
Modification of age requirements
Section 32(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of such Code is amended by striking  has attained age 25 but not attained age 65  and inserting  has attained age 18 .
(c)
Care-Giving and learning taken into account as compensated work
Section 32(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
Special rule for qualifying students and certain individuals with one or more qualifying dependents
For purposes of paragraph (1), any individual—
(A)
who is a qualifying student, or
(B)
who has a qualifying dependent,
 shall be treated as having earned income for the taxable year which is equal to the earned income amount with respect to such individual for such taxable year.
 .
(d)
Treatment of certain qualifying relatives
(1)
In general
Section 32(c)(3) of such Code is amended by striking all that precedes subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
(3)
Qualifying dependent
(A)
In general
The term  qualifying dependent  means—
(i)
a qualifying child of the taxpayer, as defined in section 152(c), determined—
(I)
by substituting  12  for  19  in paragraph (3)(A)(i) thereof, and
(II)
without regard to paragraphs (1)(D) and (3)(A)(ii) thereof and section 152(e),
(ii)
any individual who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself (within the meaning of section 21(b)(1)) and who—
(I)
is the taxpayer’s spouse, or
(II)
is a qualifying relative of the taxpayer, as defined in section 152(d), determined without regard to paragraph (1)(B) thereof and by treating an individual as a qualifying child of the taxpayer for purposes of paragraph (1)(D) thereof only if such individual is a qualifying child of the taxpayer as determined under clause (i) of this subparagraph, or
(iii)
any qualifying relative of the taxpayer (as defined in section 152(d), determined without regard to paragraph (1)(B) thereof) who has attained age 65 as of the close of the calendar year in which the taxable year of the taxpayer begins.
 For purposes of determining if any individual is a qualifying relative of the taxpayer under clause (ii)(II) or (iii), section 152(d)(1)(C) shall be applied by not taking into account any benefits received by such individual pursuant to any Federal program (or any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds) related to retirement (including social security benefits), disability, health care, cash aid, child care, food assistance, housing and development, social services, employment and training, or energy assistance.
 .
(2)
Conforming amendments
(A)
Section 32(c)(1)(A)(i) of such Code is amended by striking  qualifying child  and inserting  qualifying dependent .
(B)
Section 32(c)(1)(B) of such Code is amended—
(i)
by striking  qualifying child  and inserting  qualifying dependent , and
(ii)
by striking
child   in the heading and inserting
dependent  .
(C)
Section 32(c)(3)(D)(i) of such Code is amended by striking  qualifying child  both places it appears and inserting  qualifying dependent .
(e)
Modification of percentages and amounts
(1)
100 percent credit percentage
Paragraph (1) and paragraph (2)(A) of section 32(a) of such Code are each amended by striking  the credit percentage of .
(2)
20 percent phaseout percentage
Section 32(a)(2)(B) of such Code is amended by striking  the phaseout percentage  and inserting  20 percent .
(3)
Modification of earned income and phaseout amounts
Section 32(b) of such Code is amended to read as follows:
(b)
Earned income amount; phaseout amount
For purposes of this section—
(1)
Earned income amount
The term  earned income amount  means $4,000 (twice such amount in the case of a joint return).
(2)
Phaseout amount
The term  phaseout amount  means $30,000 ($50,000 in the case of a joint return).
(3)
Inflation adjustment
In the case of any taxable year beginning after 2025, the $4,000 amount in paragraph (1) and each dollar amount in paragraph (2) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(A)
such dollar amount, multiplied by
(B)
the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting  2024  for  2016  in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
 If any increase under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
 .
(4)
Conforming amendments
(A)
Section 32(i) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
Inflation adjustment
(A)
In general
In the case of any taxable year beginning after 2021, the $10,000 amount in subsection (i)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(i)
such dollar amount, multiplied by
(ii)
the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting  2020  for  2016  in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
(B)
Rounding
If any increase under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $50, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
 .
(B)
Section 32 of such Code is amended by striking subsection (j).
(f)
Increased credit for certain unmarried individuals with 2 or more qualifying children
(1)
In general
Section 32 of such Code is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:
(g)
Increased credit for certain unmarried individuals with 2 or more qualifying children
(1)
In general
In the case of a qualified individual, the amount of the credit otherwise determined under subsection (a) shall be increased by the amount of the credit determined under this section as such section was in effect for taxable years beginning in 2018 but with the modifications described in paragraph (2).
(2)
Modifications
Solely for purposes of determining the increase under paragraph (1)—
(A)
Credit percentage
The credit percentage shall be equal to—
(i)
in the case of a qualified individual with 2 qualifying children, 12.5 percent, and
(ii)
in the case of a qualified individual with 3 or more qualifying children, 18.75 percent.
(B)
Phaseout percentage
The phaseout percentage shall be equal to 5 percent.
(C)
Application of inflation adjustment
Section 32(j) as in effect for taxable years beginning in 2018 shall be applied by taking into account the taxable year for which the increase under paragraph (1) is determined.
(3)
Qualified individual
For purposes of this subsection, the term  qualified individual  means any individual who—
(A)
is not married (as determined under section 7703), and
(B)
has 2 or more qualifying children.
(4)
Qualifying child
For purposes of this subsection, the term  qualifying child  means a child described in subsection (c)(3)(A)(i) determined without regard to subclause (I) thereof.
 .
(g)
Advance payment
(1)
In general
Chapter 77 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
7531.
Advance payment of earned income credit; earned income savings accounts
(a)
In general
Not later than the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program for making direct advance monthly payments of the credit allowable under section 32 to taxpayers who elect to receive such payments.
(b)
Limitation
The aggregate monthly payments made under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed 75 percent of the estimated amount of the credit allowable under section 32 to such taxpayer for such taxable year.
(c)
Election
The election under subsection (a) may be made or changed for subsequent periods at any time during the taxable year. In the case of an election made after the beginning of a taxable year, the monthly advance payments shall be made for months beginning after the date that such election becomes effective and the total amount of advance payments (subject to the limitation of subsection (b)) shall be prorated among the remaining months.
(d)
Method of payment
The program established under subsection (a) shall include an option for taxpayers to elect to receive payments under such program by prepaid debit card.
(e)
Reports to taxpayers
(1)
In general
With respect to payments made under this section for any calendar year, not later than January 31 of the following calendar year, the Secretary shall issue a statement to each individual with respect to whom payments were made under this section setting forth—
(A)
the name, address, and TIN of such person,
(B)
the aggregate amount of payments made under this section with respect to such person for such calendar year,
(C)
a statement that such individual is required to file a return of tax with respect to taxable years which include any portion of such calendar year regardless of whether such individual has income tax liability with respect to such taxable years, and
(D)
such other information as the Secretary may provide.
(2)
Election to receive statement through on-line portal
A taxpayer may elect to receive the statement described in paragraph (1) through the on-line portal described in subsection (f).
(f)
Recapture of excess payments
If the aggregate payments made to any taxpayer under subsection (a) with respect to any taxable year exceed the credit allowable under section 32 (determined without regard to subsection (h) thereof) with respect to such taxpayer for such taxable year, the tax imposed by chapter 1 with respect to such taxpayer for such taxable year shall be increased by such excess.
(g)
Restriction on allowance of advance payment if excess payments not repaid
In the case of a taxpayer who fails to pay any tax liability which includes an increase determined under subsection (f) before the date on which payment of such tax is due, no payment shall be made under subsection (a) to such taxpayer during the period beginning on such date and ending with the end of the 2-year period which begins on the date that such tax liability (and any interest or penalties in connection with such liability) has been paid in full.
 .
(2)
Coordination with credit
Section 32 of such Code, as amended by subsection (f), is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
(h)
Coordination with advance payment of credit
With respect to any taxable year, the amount which would (but for this subsection) be allowed as a credit to the taxpayer under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate payments made under section 7531 to such taxpayer for such taxable year.
 .
(3)
One-on-one consultations
The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall ensure that in-person, telephonic, and virtual one-on-one consultations between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service are available to assist taxpayers at all times during regular business hours (and, in the case of in-person consultations, at all taxpayer assistance centers of the Internal Revenue Service) in determining—
(A)
their eligibility for the advance payment program established under section 7531,
(B)
the amount of the monthly payment for which the taxpayer is eligible under such program,
(C)
the circumstances or changes in circumstances which, based on the particular characteristics of such taxpayer, are most likely to result in excess payments to such taxpayer which would be subject to recapture under section 7531(f), and
(D)
such other matters as such Secretary or delegate determines appropriate.
(4)
On-line portal
The Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall establish an on-line portal which allows taxpayers to—
(A)
elect to receive advance monthly payments under section 7531, including determining the estimated amount described in subsection (b) of such section and determining the amount of such monthly payments,
(B)
report changes in circumstances and modify the amount of future advance monthly payments under such section, and
(C)
stop future advance monthly payments under such section and pay back any advance monthly payments.
(5)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections for chapter 77 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
Sec. 7531. Advance payment of earned income credit; earned income savings accounts.
  .
(h)
Outreach pilot program
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) shall establish a program to educate taxpayers regarding the availability of the earned income tax credit and the advance monthly payments of such credit. Pursuant to such program—
(A)
EITC educational letters
The Secretary (or designee) shall provide a written notice describing the earned income tax credit, the qualifications for receiving such credit, and the program for the advance payment of such credit to each taxpayer that the Secretary (or designee) determines is likely to qualify for such credit.
(B)
District office workshops
Each district office of the Internal Revenue Service shall provide workshops and seminars to assist and educate taxpayers regarding the earned income tax credit and the program to provide advance monthly payments of such credit.
(C)
Quarterly reminders
The Internal Revenue Service shall provide written reminders each calendar quarter to taxpayers participating in the program to provide advance monthly payments of the earned income tax credit that the amount of such payments are determined on the basis of estimates based on information previously provided by the taxpayer, that the taxpayer is responsible for repaying any amounts received that are in excess of the actual amount of the earned income tax credit, and that the taxpayer should review all the facts and circumstances that may affect the amount of the earned income tax credit of the taxpayer which the taxpayer is receiving in advance.
(2)
Termination
The program established under paragraph (1) shall terminate at the close of the 10-year period beginning on the date that such program is established by the Secretary (or designee).
(3)
Report on effectiveness of program
On the date which is 5 years after the establishment of the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of the program, including a detailed examination of the effectiveness of each of the initiatives described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1).
(i)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.