“Let's Give Money Back”

News Release from Office of Rep Andria Tupola

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI (January 16, 2018) –  Representative Andria Tupola (District 43 – ʻEwa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko Olina, Kahe Point, Nānākuli, Lualualei, and Māʻili) is introducing legislation to make the recently established state earned income tax credit (EITC) refundable.

"We have the second highest tax burden in the country, and it's about time we start taking the burden off the people," said Rep. Tupola.

The Hawai‘i State Legislature established a nonrefundable EITC during the 2017 legislative session, which limits the benefits provided to working families. The Tax Policy Center reports that the federal refundable EITC has been the single most effective antipoverty program for working people, lifting about 6.5 million people out of poverty.

"We have seen significant advances made by several private sector employers as they forecast the benefits of the tax cuts," said Rep. Tupola. "We need to continue reforming our local tax policies to give more money back to the people."

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