United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-06-08 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-GGD-95-179 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179 P0b002ee18039cb6c f:tgg95179 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179 T-GGD-95-179 Tax credit Eligibility criteria Disadvantaged persons Illegal aliens Noncompliance Income taxes Fraud Erroneous payments Tax administration Social security number Tax Compliance Act of 1995 Earned Income Tax Credit Testimony GGD The earned income tax credit is a major federal effort to help the working poor. As of May 1995, 17.3 million returns claimed nearly $20 billion in earned income credit for tax year 1994. Over the years, the credit has been extended to (1) offset the impact of social security taxes on low-income workers and (2) encourage low-income persons to seek employment rather than welfare. Overall noncompliance with the credit's provisions has not been measured since 1988. Nonetheless, noncompliance appears to be a problem. Further, although the credit is intended to assist the working poor, eligibility criteria have not considered all the resources recipients may be able to draw on to support themselves and their families. Finally, no one knows how many illegal aliens receive the credit. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179.htm GAO/T-GGD-95-179 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-179 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-95-179; Earned Income Credit: Noncompliance and Potential Eligibility Revisions; Tax credit Eligibility criteria Disadvantaged persons Illegal aliens Noncompliance Income taxes Fraud Erroneous payments Tax administration Social security number Tax Compliance Act of 1995 Earned Income Tax Credit