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HB1739 • 2026

Modifies provisions relating to the "Missouri Working Family Tax Credit Act", making the tax credit refundable

Modifies provisions relating to the "Missouri Working Family Tax Credit Act", making the tax credit refundable

Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Strickler, Kemp (034)
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
05/15/2026 - Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details regarding the initial percentage of the federal earned income tax credit that can be claimed as a state tax credit or the conditions under which it may increase.

Missouri Working Family Tax Credit Act

This act changes the Missouri Working Family Tax Credit so that it can be refunded if a taxpayer's credit amount exceeds their tax liability starting from January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the Missouri Working Family Tax Credit to make it refundable for taxpayers whose credit exceeds their tax liability starting in 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Missouri residents who are eligible for the federal earned income tax credit.
  • The Missouri Department of Revenue, which will administer the changes to the tax credit program.

Terms To Know

Eligible taxpayer
A resident individual in Missouri who is allowed a federal earned income tax credit and meets certain filing status requirements.
Refundable tax credit
A tax credit that can be refunded to the taxpayer if it exceeds their tax liability.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The refundability of the tax credit only applies for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
  • Increases in the percentage of the federal earned income tax credit that can be claimed as a state tax credit are subject to specific revenue conditions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

  2. 2026-01-08 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read Second Time (H)

  3. 2026-01-07 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read First Time (H)

  4. 2025-12-01 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Prefiled (H)

Official Summary Text

Modifies provisions relating to the "Missouri Working Family Tax Credit Act", making the tax credit refundable

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1739
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE STRICKLER.
5216H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 143.177, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to
income taxes.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 143.177, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 143.177, to read as follows:
143.177. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri W orking
2 Family T ax Credit Act".
3 2. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:
4 (1) "Department", the department of revenue;
5 (2) "Eligible taxpayer", a resident individual with a filing status of single, head of
6 household, widowed, or married filing combined who is subject to the tax imposed under this
7 chapter , excluding withholding tax imposed under sections 143.191 to 143.265, and who is
8 allowed a federal earned income tax credit under 26 U.S.C. Section 32, as amended;
9 (3) "T ax credit", a credit against the tax otherwise due under this chapter , excluding
10 withholding tax imposed under sections 143.191 to 143.265.
11 3. (1) Beginning with the 2023 calendar year , an eligible taxpayer shall be allowed a
12 tax credit in an amount equal to a percentage of the amount such taxpayer would receive
13 under the federal earned income tax credit as such credit existed under 26 U.S.C. Section 32
14 as of January 1, 2021, as provided pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The tax
15 credit allowed by this section shall be claimed by such taxpayer at the time such taxpayer files
16 a return and shall be applied against the income tax liability imposed by this chapter after
17 reduction for all other credits allowed thereon. For all tax years beginning on or before
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
18 December 31, 2026, if the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability , the dif ference shall
19 not be refunded to the taxpayer and shall not be carried forward to any subsequent tax year ,
20 but for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, tax cr edits issued under the
21 pr ovisions of this section shall be re fundable .
22 (2) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection, the percentage of
23 the federal earned income tax credit to be allowed as a tax credit pursuant to subdivision (1)
24 of this subsection shall be ten percent, which may be increased to twenty percent subject to
25 the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection. The maximum percentage that may be
26 claimed as a tax credit pursuant to this section shall be twenty percent of the federal earned
27 income tax credit that may be claimed by such taxpayer . Any increase in the percentage that
28 may be claimed as a tax credit shall take ef fect on January first of a calendar year and such
29 percentage shall continue in ef fect until the next percentage increase occurs. An increase
30 shall only apply to tax years that begin on or after the increase takes effect.
31 (3) The initial percentage to be claimed as a tax credit and any increase in the
32 percentage that may be claimed pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection shall only occur
33 if the amount of net general revenue collected in the previous fiscal year exceeds the highest
34 amount of net general revenue collected in any of the three fiscal years prior to such fiscal
35 year by at least one hundred fifty million dollars.
36 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 32.057 to the contrary , the department
37 shall determine whether any taxpayer filing a report or return with the department who did not
38 apply for the credit authorized under this section may qualify for the credit and, if so,
39 determines a taxpayer may qualify for the credit, shall notify such taxpayer of his or her
40 potential eligibility . In making a determination of eligibility under this section, the
41 department shall use any appropriate and available data including, but not limited to, data
42 available from the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of T reasury , and state
43 income tax returns from previous tax years.
44 5. The department shall prepare an annual report containing statistical information
45 regarding the tax credits issued under this section for the previous tax year , including the total
46 amount of revenue expended, the number of credits claimed, and the average value of the
47 credits issued to taxpayers whose earned income falls within various income ranges
48 determined by the department.
49 6. The director of the department may promulgate rules and regulations to administer
50 the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section
51 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become ef fective
52 only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable,
53 section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers
54 vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review , to delay the ef fective
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55 date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant
56 of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after January 1, 2023, shall be
57 invalid and void.
58 7. T ax credits authorized under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of
59 sections 135.800 to 135.830.
✔
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