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Press Release

Economic Security Illinois Applauds $600 Million in Tax Relief for Nearly 950,000 Illinois Families

10. 14. 2026

CHICAGO, IL – Following Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement that the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) delivered more than $600 million in tax relief to nearly 950,000 Illinois working families in tax year 2025, Economic Security Illinois released the following statement:

“These credits are a huge win for working families and show what’s possible when we make our tax code fairer for working people,” said Erion Malasi, Policy and Research Director at Economic Security Illinois. “Nearly 950,000 Illinois families kept more of their hard-earned money to help pay for groceries, childcare, housing, or to cover other daily expenses. Economic Security Illinois is proud to have led the fight to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and create Illinois’ first-ever Child Tax Credit, and these results show exactly why we fought for them. At a time when families are being squeezed by rising costs, Illinois is demonstrating that we can make life more affordable by putting money directly back into the pockets of working people.”

Economic Security Illinois worked alongside our affiliate Economic Security Illinois Action and advocates from the the Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition and state leaders to expand Illinois’ EITC and establish the state’s first Child Tax Credit. Implemented in fiscal year 2025 and doubled in FY26, the state Child Tax Credit provides families with young children up to $600 to help them afford the rising cost of needs like childcare, housing, and education.

According to preliminary state data, more than 405,000 Illinois families claimed $134.3 million through the Child Tax Credit in 2025, more than double the $65.5 million delivered through the credit the year before. The average CTC received by families also more than doubled, from $160 in 2024 to $331 in 2025. Families benefiting from both the EITC and CTC kept an average of $1,460 in their pockets.