California Family, Care, and Low-Income Tax Relief

What it offers

California offers several tax relief paths relevant to caregiver households. CalEITC can provide a refundable state earned income credit for low-income workers with earned income up to $32,900 in tax year 2025, with maximum credits from $302 to $3,756 depending on qualifying children. Related refundable credits include the Young Child Tax Credit and Foster Youth Tax Credit, each up to $1,189 where eligible. The nonrefundable child and dependent care expenses credit can apply to work-related care for a child, spouse/RDP, or dependent, with California care expenses capped at $3,000 for one qualifying person or $6,000 for two or more and federal AGI limited to $100,000 or less. The dependent parent credit can provide up to $610 for certain married/RDP filing-separately taxpayers who paid over half of a parent's household expenses. California also has a nonrefundable renter's credit, senior head of household credit up to $1,860, and State Controller property tax postponement for eligible senior, blind, or disabled homeowners with income and equity limits.

Questions that decide eligibility

GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:

1. 01

   Does the person receiving care live in California?

   Residency is usually the first thing a program checks.

2. 02

   Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?

3. 03

   Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?

4. 04

   Which tax year does this apply to, and what form claims it?

5. 05

   Does your employer already offer this, and have they told staff?

   Some credits are claimed by the employer, not by you — asking is the move.