SAN FRANCISCO — During an extended tax filing season with unprecedented complications brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, California’s Earned Income Tax Credit, the CalEITC, returned more than $1 billion to more than 3.5 million low-income households, exceeding state projections for this effective anti-poverty program.

This $1 billion reached many of California’s most vulnerable residents in a moment of crisis, with millions newly unemployed and desperately in need of cash. Many who were still employed were newly deemed “essential” to our economy, and in many cases are supporting other family members who have lost jobs or income — at considerable risk to their own health.

“The CalEITC and its federal counterpart are quite literally lifting people out of financial insecurity, helping them keep their heads above water in the midst of a pandemic,” said Amy Everitt, President of Golden State Opportunity, “I’m proud of the high-intensity and incredibly nimble CalEITC outreach campaign that we and our partners pulled together during an unorthodox tax season, and grateful to our state leaders who expanded this program so it could reach $1 billion.”

Overall, 76% of CalEITC refunds went to parents , including $366 million claimed by parents with children under age 6 through the state’s new Young Child Tax Credit, helping to ensure millions of California children avoided greater hardship during the pandemic.

Golden State Opportunity’s CalEITC4Me campaign is a public-private partnership with the state that uses a multi-layered approach to build awareness of tax credits for working Californians and helps connect them to free tax filing resources. Our mobile messaging and digital advertising reached tens-of-millions of low-income Californians this tax season, helping drive the state’s success in reaching this $1 billion milestone.