Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas

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Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas
Location Arkansas
Organization Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; Children’s HealthWatch

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, in partnership with Children’s HealthWatch, conducted an HIA to examine the potential health effects of creating a state-level, refundable earned income tax credit (EITC). Specifically, it considered how an EITC could affect Arkansas residents’ general health, children’s health, maternal depressive symptoms, low birth weight, childhood development delays, and obesity. 

The assessment found that an Arkansas EITC would improve economic conditions and potentially promote health for households with children and would lower health services use and health care costs. Further, an EITC in Arkansas would likely decrease the frequency of low-birth-weight births, improve children’s Behavior Problems Index scores, and reduce adult obesity.

Based on the HIA’s findings, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and Children’s HealthWatch recommended a state-level refundable EITC set at 15% of the federal credit to maximize potential health benefits at a reasonable cost to the state.

Outcome

Both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature considered EITC measures in 2019. That March, the Senate passed a bill to create a state EITC equal to 5% of the federal level that would be funded through taxes on tobacco products. In the House, however, legislation to create a 10% EITC did not get a vote. Although lawmakers did not take final action on creating the state credit, the HIA provided critical context on the relationship between such economic issues and health.

More Information

HIA website:
https://www.aradvocates.org/publications/eitcar/?utm_source=aacf&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=EITC&utm_content=EITC_HIA_aacfweb
Contact email:
[email protected]
Downloads Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas HIA Report (PDF)Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas Executive Summary (PDF)Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas Policy Brief (PDF)
Downloads Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas HIA Report (PDF)Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas Executive Summary (PDF)Earned Income Tax Credit in Arkansas Policy Brief (PDF)
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Data Visualization April 29, 2018

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Data Visualization April 29, 2018

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The Health Impact Project’s toolkit contains resources that help communities, agencies, and other organizations take action to improve public health. The toolkit offers a collection of health impact assessments, guides, and other research to support policymakers’ efforts to consider health when making decisions across sectors, such as housing, planning, and education.

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At A Glance
  • Status:
    Completed
  • Publication date:
    2019, July
  • Decision-making levels:
    State
  • Sectors:
    Tax and budget policy
  • Additional topic areas:
    Legislation, Utilities
  • Drivers of health:
    Access to healthy food, Income and wealth, Safe, affordable, and healthy housing, Employment, Access to services/medical care, Diet and physical activity
  • Affected populations:
    Children, Economically disadvantaged
  • Community types:
    Urban, Suburban, Rural
  • Research methods:
    Focus groups, Literature review
  • Funding source:
    Health Impact Project grantee