The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is relaunching its statewide bilingual Get Ahead Colorado and Hacia Adelante Colorado campaigns to urge families to file their taxes for free to ensure they claim valuable state and federal tax credits. New research shows that refundable credits have the potential to reduce child poverty in Colorado by 37 percent.
The campaigns make it easy for Coloradans to access these benefits by connecting them to free tax filing help and a simple online tax credit calculator that estimates, in seconds, how much they may qualify to receive.
“These credits put real money directly into the hands of families,” said Isabel Dickson, Economic Mobility Program manager at CDPHE. “When people file their taxes, they may qualify for thousands of dollars that can help cover essentials like rent, groceries, child care, transportation, and unexpected emergencies.”
A recently released study found that more than 52,000 children would no longer be in poverty if families claimed their Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit, state Earned Income Tax Credit, and state Child Tax Credit. These credits have the potential to lower Colorado’s child poverty rate to 7.3 percent, one of the lowest in the nation.
Last filing season, more than 330,000 Colorado families qualified for the Family Affordability Tax Credit and related refundable credits. Many families qualify for more than one credit and can receive refunds even if they do not owe income tax.
Key Credits Available for 2025 Tax Returns (Filed in 2026)
- Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit: Up to approximately $3,200 per child under age 6 and up to $2,400 per child ages 6–16, depending on income.
- Colorado Child Tax Credit: Up to $1,200 per eligible young child, depending on income.
- Colorado Earned Income Tax Credit: A refundable credit up to $4,230 or 50% of the federal EITC for working individuals and families.
- Federal Child Tax Credit: Up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17.
- Federal Earned Income Tax Credit: Worth up to $8,046 for eligible families, depending on income and number of children.
Families can file online for free, receive virtual support from IRS-certified tax professionals, or find a free in-person VITA/TCE or AARP Tax-Aide site near them. Visit GetAheadColorado.org or HaciaAdelanteColorado.org to explore these resources and claim your tax credits today.
Source: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
