By Brooke E. Lierman
If you worked last year, you might be walking past hundreds—even thousands—of dollars that already have your name on them.
Nearly 20 percent of eligible Maryland residents didn’t claim the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2023. That’s roughly 100,000 people who left their money with our state rather than in their bank accounts. Most people lived in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. If you live in those areas and you’re reading this, you might be one of those who missed out.
Let’s get one thing straight: the EITC isn’t charity. It’s not a handout. It’s money you’ve earned, designed to stay in your pocket. As one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs, it returns billions to working Americans each year. However, the program only works if people actually claim it when filing a tax return.
I’ve seen what happens when they do. One woman I met used her EITC refund to enroll in community college classes. Today, she earns enough that she no longer qualifies for the credit. That’s exactly how the program should work. Other Marylanders have told me they’ve used their refunds to pay for child care, buy reliable transportation, clear crushing credit card debt, or send their kids to summer camp. These aren’t luxuries. They’re investments in stability, in opportunity and in breaking the cycle of “just getting by.”
The numbers tell the story: about 550,000 Maryland residents were eligible for the EITC in 2023, but nearly 100,000 of them didn’t claim it. Why? Sometimes people don’t know the credit exists. Sometimes they assume they don’t qualify. Sometimes taxes feel too complicated, too intimidating, too much like a system designed to confuse rather than help.
That’s why the Office of the Comptroller launched the “Earned It” Campaign last year, and it’s already working. The number of eligible filers who missed the state credit decreased from 99,000 in 2023 to 72,000 in 2024 — a drop from 18 percent to 14 percent. But that still leaves far too many Marylanders leaving money unclaimed.
We’re ramping up our efforts this tax season. When tax season begins Jan. 26, you’ll see more mailings, more social media outreach, and a new webpage dedicated to reminding Marylanders that this money – the Maryland EITC – may be theirs for the taking and equipping them with knowledge of eligibility and how to claim the credit. With electricity bills rising, grocery prices remaining stubbornly high, and everyday essentials consuming a larger portion of every paycheck, a tax refund translates to rent, groceries and breathing room.
Here’s what you need to know before you file your taxes: My agency will begin sending tax refunds on Feb. 2. We have 11 branch offices across Maryland, including two newly renovated locations in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, where you can get free, in-person or virtual tax help. We partner with organizations like the CASH Campaign of Maryland, AARP, CASA. and many others that assist taxpayers who meet income requirements. These resources exist because we believe the government should work for you.
Taxes fund the schools that educate our children, the roads we drive on, the public safety that protects our communities. They’re how we collectively invest in Maryland. But that doesn’t mean you should pay more than you owe. Every person who skips the EITC is doing exactly that.
So, before April 15 rolls around, find a tax preparer you trust. Ask them explicitly about the Maryland EITC and the Child Tax Credit. If you have friends, family or neighbors who worked last year and might qualify, tell them. Share this information at your church, your community center and your workplace break room.
The money you receive from a tax credit is already yours. You earned it. All you have to do now is claim it when you file your tax return this year.
Let’s build a Maryland where every resident has the resources to invest in their own future—starting with the money they’ve already earned.
Marylanders can learn more about tax resources by visiting our EarnedIt website.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.