Ohio Child Tax Credit Coalition

Tax Policy for Working Families

Across Ohio, parents are working hard and still feeling the squeeze. Families are dealing with soaring costs for child care, groceries, and housing—and an unfair tax code, making it increasingly difficult for them to make ends meet.

It’s time to fix that. And Governor DeWine has proposed solutions to provide tax relief through a new Ohio Child Tax Credit.

The data is clear: financial insecurity is one of the greatest threats to a child’s long-term success. Ohio families are facing immense financial strain.

Nearly 50% of parents with young children rate their financial situation as only fair or poor.

34% of parents with kids under five report struggling to pay rent or their mortgage.

47% of Ohio families are falling behind on credit card bills due to economic pressures.

82% of parents are cutting back on groceries due to inflation, impacting the ability to provide healthy meals.

When families don’t have the financial stability to meet their children’s basic needs, the consequences are lifelong—lower kindergarten readiness, higher rates of health complications, and reduced future earnings. Poverty in early childhood doesn’t just affect families today; it impacts Ohio’s future workforce and economy for generations to come.

A state Child Tax Credit provides an opportunity to help parents deal with rising costs by providing tax relief for families who need it most. A refundable state Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child under age 7 would put more money back in the pockets of working families.