Get extra cash to care for your family in 2026! Did you know that at tax time, you may be eligible for tax credits that can give you money back and boost your income? Don't miss out on the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, Food Excise Tax Credit, and more!

These tax credits are not a loan – they are money that the government owes back to you.

File your federal taxes by April 15, and your Hawaiʻi taxes by April 20, 2026, to receive this income boost! You can file after the deadlines without penalty if you don't owe taxes.

You can file up to 6 months after the April 15 federal deadline (file Form 4868) and get an automatic extension to October 20 for Hawai‘i taxes (no form required) without penalty if you don't owe taxes.

Hawaiʻi’s governor and state legislature have doubled the size of the state Earned Income Tax Credit and more than doubled the Food Excise Tax Credit. That’s worth $80 million more per year in tax credits for working families! But you have to file taxes to get the money that’s owed to you!

Get FREE tax help and keep more of your money

File your taxes this year, even if you normally don’t, to claim hundreds or thousands of dollars of tax credits you’re owed!

Don’t pay to file your taxes. There are multiple FREE options to file a tax return this year:

If you earn under $69,000

You can use GetYourRefund to have an IRS-certified tax preparer help you file your taxes for free.

Get the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, state tax credits, and federal stimulus payments
Includes online review and chat support
Length of time to file: 2-3 weeks
You can file up to 6 months after the April 15 federal deadline (file Form 4868) and get an automatic extension to October 20 for Hawai‘i taxes (no form required) without penalty if you don't owe taxes
Required information: Photo of Social Security Card or ITIN paperwork* and official tax documents

If you earn under $89,000

You can use File Myself or an IRS Free File trusted partner to file for free on your own.

Get the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and state tax credits
Includes chat and email support
Length of time to file: 1-2 hours
Required information: Social Security Number or ITIN* and official tax documents

If you are a service member, family, or a recent veteran

You can use MilTax e-filing to file taxes for free on your own.

Get the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and state tax credits
Includes free tax software and support from military tax experts
For active-duty service members, eligible family members, survivors and recent veterans up to 365 days from their separation or retirement date

If you need in-person assistance and earn up to $69,000 (generally)

There are IRS-certified free tax preparation sites near you at Hawaii Tax Help, Goodwill Hawaii, and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Get the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and state tax credits
Enter your zip code to find free hands-on tax help near you with the IRS and AARP tax site locators.
Persons with disabilities, those who don’t speak English well, and senior citizens also qualify to use these free tax services.
Required information: Social Security Number or ITIN* and official tax documents

Dial 2-1-1 to call Aloha United Way’s 211 Statewide Helpline to find a free tax site near you or to find other support and resources if you are not eligible for the free services.

Enter your zip code to find free tax help near you with the IRS and AARP tax site locators.

Español: Declare sus impuestos sin costo. ¡Es sencillo!

*You will need either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to file taxes. Click here to learn more about ITINs and how to apply. (Español: Cómo aplicar para un Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente, ITIN).

About the Child Tax Credit

The federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) is available for families that worked in 2025:

The CTC offers up to $2,200 per qualified child
Children must be 16 years old or younger at the end of 2025.
Children must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to be claimed for the CTC.
You and your spouse must have a SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Click here to learn how to apply for an ITIN.
Even if you don't owe income tax, up to $1,700 of the Child Tax Credit is available to families earning at least $2,500.

About the Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is available for working families with children:

You can get up to $8,046 from the IRS and $3,218 from the state of Hawaiʻi.
In 2025, parents could earn up to $68,675 and still qualify for this tax credit
You, your spouse, and any child you claim must have a valid Social Security Number to receive the EITC.
You may be eligible for the EITC if you worked at any point during 2025, even if it was part-time, temporary, or gig work.
Use the EITC assistant to find out how much you could get in the federal EITC.
The Hawaii state EITC is worth 40% of the federal EITC.

About the Food Excise Tax Credit

The state Food Excise Tax Credit is available to Hawaii residents:

You could get up to $220 per family member.
In 2025, parents had to earn less than $60,000 (or less than $40,000 if single without children) to qualify for this tax credit.
Children must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to be claimed.
You and your spouse must have a SSN or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Click here to learn how to apply for an ITIN.

About the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is available for working families aid who paid expenses for day care, preschool or another form of caregiving:

You can get as much as $2,100 from the IRS and $3,000 from the state of Hawaiʻi.
Learn more about the federal CDCTC here.
Learn more about the state CDCTC here.

It's not too late to claim older credits and refunds

The IRS estimates that 6,600 Hawai‘i taxpayers have not claimed their 2022 federal tax refunds, about $784 per person. Here's the good news:

It's not too late! You have 3 years from the original deadline to file and claim federal tax refunds.
For the 2022 tax year, the final deadline is April 15, 2026.

Get Cash Back in 2026