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HB99 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE AND CHAPTER 118 OF VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE AND CHAPTER 118 OF VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Yearick
Last action
2025-05-22
Official status
House Appropriations 5/22/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact effective date depends on a future event (system implementation) that is not yet confirmed in the source text.

HB99: Changes to Delaware Earned Income Tax Credit

This bill changes the rules for how much money Delaware residents can get back from their taxes based on their earned income.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the refundable tax credit to 20% of the federal amount starting in January 2025.
  • Clarifies that a smaller refundable option existed for years between 2021 and 2024.
  • Allows residents to choose between keeping their full tax bill or getting money back if they owe less than the credit.
  • Updates state laws in Title 30 of the Delaware Code regarding personal income taxes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Delaware residents who earn income and file state taxes.
  • Spouses who file joint federal returns but separate state tax forms, where only one spouse can claim the credit based on higher tax owed.

Terms To Know

Refundable credit
A tax break that gives you money back even if it is more than what you owe in taxes.
Nonrefundable credit
A tax break that can only lower your bill to zero but does not give extra cash back.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law takes effect on January 1, 2025, or later if the Division of Revenue has not finished updating its computer system.
  • Specific income limits for who can claim these credits are determined by federal laws.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA 1

1 • Yearick

PWB 5/22/25

Plain English: This amendment changes a tax benefit so people can get money back if it is larger than their taxes owed, and fixes when the law starts.

  • It makes sure that any part of the earned income credit left over after paying state taxes will be sent to taxpayers as cash refunds.
  • It updates the rule for how much of the federal tax credit people can claim in Delaware.
  • The exact start date depends on when a new computer system is finished and officials send out written notice, so it might not begin exactly on January 1, 2021.
  • This text only shows the changes to specific lines of House Bill No. 99 and does not explain other parts of the original bill.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 99 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Revenue & Finance) in House with 6 On Its Merits

  3. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

  4. 2025-03-27 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE AND CHAPTER 118 OF VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.
This Act increases the refundable earned income tax credit to 20% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and clarifies that a previously enacted refundable earned income tax credit of 4 1/2% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit took effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Yearick & Sen. Buckson

Sen. Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 99

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE AND CHAPTER 118 OF VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PERSONAL INCOME TAXES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 1117, Title 30 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1117. Earned income tax credit.

(a) (1) For any tax year beginning before January 1,

2022

2021

, an individual who is a resident of this State may receive a nonrefundable credit against the individual’s tax otherwise due under this chapter in the amount of 20% of the corresponding federal earned income credit allowed under § 32 or successor provision of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 32).

(2) For any tax year beginning on or after January 1,

2022

2021 and before January 1, 2025

, an individual who is a resident of this State may receive a credit against the individual’s tax under this chapter in an amount based on a percentage of the corresponding federal earned income credit allowed under § 32 or successor provision of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 32). The individual may claim either of the following amounts:

a. 20% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit, not to exceed the tax otherwise due under this chapter.

b. 4.5% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit, of which the amount that exceeds the tax otherwise due under this chapter is refundable.

(3) For any tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2025, an individual who is a resident of this State may receive a credit against the individual’s tax under this chapter in an amount based on a percentage of the corresponding federal earned income credit allowed under § 32 or successor provision of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 32). The individual may claim

20% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit.

(b) In the case of spouses who file a joint federal return but who elect to determine their Delaware taxes separately, the credit allowed under subsection (a) of this section may only be used by the spouse with the greater tax otherwise due, computed without regard to this credit.

(c) The credit allowed under paragraph (a)(1) of this section may not exceed the tax otherwise due under this chapter.

Section 2. Amend § 2, Chapter 118, Volume 83 of the Laws of Delaware by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Section 2. This Act takes effect on January 1, 2021.

The date of the last of the following to occur:

(1) The Division of Revenue has implemented the personal income tax release of the Integrated Revenue Administration System.

(2) The Secretary of Finance provides a written notice to the Registrar of regulations that the contingency in paragraph (1) of this section has been fulfilled.

SYNOPSIS

This Act increases the refundable earned income tax credit to 20% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and clarifies that a previously enacted refundable earned income tax credit of 4 1/2% of the corresponding federal earned income tax credit took effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021.