The April 15, 2026 tax filing deadline is two weeks away, and a specific group of filers is about to miss thousands of dollars in refundable credits they are fully entitled to collect. Last filing season, the IRS reported that roughly 1 in 5 eligible Americans did not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit alone — leaving an estimated $7 billion in unclaimed funds on the table. That number does not include missed Child Tax Credits, energy assistance, or healthcare subsidies.
I spent the past three months reviewing five federal relief programs that remain open to claims right now — in April 2026. Some have hard deadlines tied to the tax calendar. Others run on a first-come, first-served basis with funding that disappears mid-year. What follows is a structured look at each one: what it pays, who qualifies, and what the catch is.
1. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) — Up to $7,830 for Tax Year 2025
The EITC remains the single largest refundable credit available to low-and-moderate-income workers. For tax year 2025 — filed right now during this spring season — the maximum credit climbs to $7,830 for filers with three or more qualifying children. That figure is up from $7,430 in the prior year, adjusted for inflation.
The credit is refundable, meaning if the EITC exceeds your total tax liability, the IRS sends you the difference as a cash refund. You do not need to owe taxes to benefit. According to the IRS EITC resource center, the average credit received by eligible filers in recent years has been approximately $2,541.
Income limits for 2025: Single filers with no children must earn under $19,104. A married couple filing jointly with three children must earn under $66,819. Investment income cannot exceed $11,950. Earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, and self-employment income.
- Pros: Fully refundable, high maximum value, covers workers with no children
- Cons: Complex eligibility rules around residency and relationship tests; self-employed filers often underreport and miss the credit
- Deadline: April 15, 2026 — or October 15 if you file an extension (though refunds may be delayed)
2. Child Tax Credit — Up to $2,000 Per Child, $1,700 Refundable
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) for tax year 2025 holds at $2,000 per qualifying child under age 17. Of that, up to $1,700 is refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) — meaning families with little or no tax liability can still receive a direct cash refund. This threshold increased from $1,600 in the prior year.
Phase-out begins at $200,000 of modified adjusted gross income for single filers and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. Below those thresholds, the full credit applies per child. A family with four children earning under $200,000 could see up to $8,000 in total CTC — $6,800 of which is potentially refundable.
- Child must be under 17 at the end of 2025
- Child must have a valid Social Security Number
- Child must have lived with you for more than half the year
- You must claim the child as a dependent on your return
The CTC has been a political flashpoint in Congress, with proposals to expand the refundable portion debated throughout 2025. As of April 2026, no new expansion has been signed into law — the current $1,700 refundable cap from the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act framework remains the operative figure for this filing season.
3. Premium Tax Credit — ACA Health Insurance Subsidies With an April 15 Reconciliation Deadline
If you purchased health insurance through the federal marketplace or a state exchange in 2025 and received advance premium tax credit payments, you are required to reconcile those payments on your 2025 tax return. Fail to do so by April 15, and the IRS may bar you from receiving future advance payments — cutting off your coverage subsidy mid-year.
More importantly: if you underestimated your 2025 income and received advance credits that were too large, you may owe money back. If you overestimated and received too little, filing your return triggers a refund of the difference. According to Healthcare.gov’s tax information center, millions of households each year are owed additional credit they never claim because they do not file Form 8962.
- Pros: Can result in a significant additional refund; mandatory reconciliation protects future coverage
- Cons: If income increased significantly in 2025, you may owe a repayment — maximum repayment caps apply based on income level
4. LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Still Accepting Applications
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides federally funded grants to help low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. It is administered state-by-state, meaning application windows, benefit amounts, and eligibility cutoffs vary — but most states still have open enrollment windows as of April 2026, particularly for spring cooling season assistance ahead of summer.
According to the HHS Office of Community Services, LIHEAP serves households earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of state median income — whichever is higher. For a family of four, that federal poverty threshold in 2026 translates to roughly $47,250 annually at the 150% mark.
- Pros: Grant-based, not a loan — never repaid; covers both heating and cooling assistance
- Cons: Funding is limited and allocated annually by Congress; some states exhaust their allocation before year-end
- How to apply: Contact your state energy office or local Community Action Agency. The national LIHEAP clearinghouse at benefits.gov lists state contacts.
5. State-Level Stimulus and Rebate Programs — Several Still Active in 2026
While federal pandemic-era stimulus payments ended, more than a dozen states launched their own economic relief programs in 2024 and 2025 — and some are still distributing payments or accepting applications heading into 2026. These programs are separate from federal credits and do not affect federal tax liability in most cases.
States with active or recently distributed rebate programs include Colorado (TABOR refund checks), New Mexico (income-based rebates), and several Northeast states with property tax or rental relief still being processed. Eligibility is typically tied to state residency, income thresholds, and filing a state tax return.
- Pros: Stacks on top of federal credits; often simpler eligibility requirements
- Cons: Highly variable by state; some programs expired; requires state-specific research
- Action step: Search your state’s department of revenue website for “2025 rebate” or “economic relief payment” to verify current status
Side-by-Side Comparison: All Five Programs at a Glance
The Top 3 Programs Worth Acting on Before April 15
First: the EITC. No other single tax credit offers a higher potential payout to lower-income working families. If you have not filed your 2025 return yet, or if you filed without claiming the EITC and believe you qualified, contact a free tax preparer through the IRS VITA program immediately. VITA sites are free, staffed by IRS-certified volunteers, and remain open through the April deadline.
Second: the Child Tax Credit. With up to $1,700 refundable per child, this is the most broadly applicable credit on this list. A family with two children in the eligible income range could see $3,400 in refundable credit alone — separate from and in addition to the EITC. Both credits can be claimed on the same return.
Third: LIHEAP. Unlike tax credits, LIHEAP does not require you to file anything with the IRS. It is a standalone application submitted through your state or local agency. If your household energy costs consumed more than 10% of your gross income in 2025, you likely qualify. Applications take 15 to 30 minutes and benefits can arrive within weeks.
The single most common reason people miss these programs is the assumption that they do not qualify. The second most common reason is simply not knowing the deadline. With April 15 two weeks away, neither excuse holds up. Free filing resources exist through the IRS, VITA sites, and state-run portals — and the credits are fully legal entitlements, not windfalls.
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