Tax Facts

8553 / What is a refundable tax credit and what are some examples?

Editor’s Note: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law in March 2020, created a refundable tax credit for employers who provided required paid and FMLA leave to employees impacted by the virus. See Q for information about extension of the 2020 tax filing and payment deadlines. See Q for more information on the CARES Act employee retention tax credit.


On Form 1040, after the amount of tax owed is computed, the taxpayer is entitled to subtract certain payments and credits from the tax to arrive at the amount of tax that is actually payable.

A refundable credit is a tax credit that can result in a refund or credit even if the taxpayer owes no tax or the credit exceeds the amount of tax owing. The refundable credits include:
…Taxes withheld from salaries and wages.1

…Overpayments of tax.2

…The excess of Social Security withheld (which could occur, for example, if an individual has two or more employers).3

…The earned income credit.4

…The 72.5 percent health care tax credit for uninsured workers displaced by trade competition.5

…The unused long-term minimum tax credit.

Example: Ashley, a single mother, is entitled to an earned income tax credit of $3,500 for the tax year. Her income tax liability before the application of the credit is $1,000. Other than the earned income tax credit, Ashley has no other credits. Because the earned income credit is a refundable credit, Ashley is entitled to a refund of $2,500 ($3,500 credit minus $1,000 tax liability).





1.  IRC § 31(a).

2.  IRC § 37.

3.  Treas. Reg. § 1.31-2.

4.  IRC § 32.

5.  IRC § 35.


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