The power
$60 billion perdidos anually.
$60B unclaimed/año. Tu dinero.
Por qué miss
Ignorance + fear + software gaps.
What you'll learn
6 conceptos.
Credit vs deduction
1:1 vs marginal %.
Refundable
Refundable = check en mail.
EITC
Up to $7,830. Refundable.
CTC
$2K per kid. Widely used.
Saver's
$1-2K. Solo 30% claim.
Education
AOTC $2,500 (undergrad).
Math
5× difference math.
| Deduction $1K | Credit $1K | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Standard | -$14,600 | -$14,600 |
| Extra deduction | -$1,000 | $0 |
| Taxable | $44,400 | $45,400 |
| Federal tax | $5,048 | $5,268 |
| Credit applied | $0 | -$1,000 |
| Final tax | $5,048 | $4,268 |
| Savings | $220 (22% × $1K) | $1,000 (100% × $1K) |
Regla universal
Credit power = 1/marginal rate.
Refundable
Refundable = check en mail.
Refundable pays MORE than tax owed.
Refundable
EITC, CTC (partial), AOTC (40%), ACA.
Non-refundable
Saver's, LLC, most others.
Cuál importa
Both work. Refundable critical for low income.
EITC
EITC hasta $7,830.
Most valuable single credit.
| Kids | Max EITC | Single limit | MFJ limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $632 | $18,591 | $25,511 |
| 1 | $4,213 | $49,084 | $56,004 |
| 2 | $6,960 | $55,768 | $62,688 |
| 3+ | $7,830 | $59,899 | $66,819 |
Eligibility
Work income + limits + SSN + kids under 19.
Misconception
$60K+ can qualify con kids.
CTC
$2,000 per kid.
Most-claimed. Details matter.
Amount
$2K/kid. $1.6K refundable.
Phaseout
$200K-240K single phase.
Child requirements
7 requirements.
Divorce
One parent per child per year.
Saver's
Saver's Credit unknown gem.
70% de eligible miss it. $1.3B/año.
| Status | Rate | AGI |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 50% | ≤$23,000 |
| 20% | $23,001-$25,000 | |
| 10% | $25,001-$38,250 | |
| MFJ | 50% | ≤$46,000 |
| 20% | $46,001-$50,000 | |
| 10% | $50,001-$76,500 | |
| HOH | 50% | ≤$34,500 |
| 20% | $34,501-$37,500 | |
| 10% | $37,501-$57,375 |
Cómo calcular
Government paga you to save.
Education
2 education credits.
AOTC
$2,500 undergrad. 40% refundable.
LLC
$2,000 flexible. Non-refundable.
Which to use
AOTC first. LLC after.
Dependent care
Dependent Care Credit.
Underused daycare/care credit.
Amount
20-35% × $3-6K max.
Qualifies
Daycare, camps, in-home.
FSA coordination
FSA + credit = better together.
Energy
Energy + EV credits.
IRA 2022 boosts clean energy credits.
EV Credit Up to $7,500
$7,500 new. $4,000 used.
Home Energy 30% de costs
30% no cap. Solar/geothermal.
Home Efficiency $1,200 - $3,200
Multi-year strategy.
Isabel
Isabel: $12,400 recovery.
Discovery.
Isabel, waitress, $28K, 3 kids.
Nunca claimed EITC.
Preparer missed EITC.
3-yr amendment = $12,400 refund.
Lifetime impact: $60K+. VITA free.
VITA program
VITA + TCE free. Catch missed credits.
Premium
ACA Premium Credit.
Marketplace insurance = potential PTC.
Eligibility
Marketplace + income limits.
Amount
$8-14K/año typical family.
400% cliff extended
400% cliff currently gone. 2025 expiry watch.
Common errors
Common errors.
- 1
Assuming ineligibility
Check limits.
- 2
Rushed preparer
VITA better.
- 3
Not filing
ALWAYS file.
- 4
State credits
State + federal combine.
Summary
Lo que te llevas.
Credits > deductions
4-5× more powerful.
$60B unclaimed
Check annually.
Top 5
Check top 5 always.
VITA free
VITA available.
Quiz
Ejercicio rápido: 4 preguntas.
¿$1K deduction vs $1K credit?
- Deduction $1K
- Credit $1K, deduction $220
- Same
- Depende
¿Refundable credit refund?
- $0
- $500
- $1,500
- $2,000
¿Qué credits para MFJ $65K + 2 kids?
- Solo CTC
- Solo EITC
- Multiple credits
- Ninguno
¿Max EITC 3+ kids?
- $3,995
- $5,432
- $7,830
- $10,000
FAQ
FAQ
¿Missed prior credits?
Compare eligibility. 1040-X.
¿EITC = audit?
<1% audit rate. Documentation OK.
¿Multiple education credits?
One credit per student.
¿Freelance credits?
Schedule C works.
¿State credits?
Check state list.
¿Phaseouts?
Manage AGI to unlock.
¿Immigrants qualify?
Varies by credit.
Resources & FUTURO
Herramientas y coaching con FUTURO.
-
Eligibility Checker
All credits + priority.
-
EITC Calculator
EITC exact + amendment check.
-
Education Credits
AOTC vs LLC decision.
