Making Work Pay Credit – What Is It and Can I Use It?

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A popular credit people once had the last couple of tax seasons was the Making Work Pay Credit. It was slightly different in what most people associate with a tax credit and therefore some people have questions about it.  In addition, many taxpayers are asking if it has been extended or whether it’ll return, but to date it is no longer available as it expired December 31, 2010.

Making Work Pay Credit
Making Work Pay Credit

The Making Work Pay Credit was replaced by the Payroll Tax Holiday and will not impact your tax return.  The Payroll Tax Holiday gives you a tax benefit in the form of higher paychecks with the reduction in the amount of Social Security taxes(reduced by 2-percentage points) taken out of your paycheck.

I wanted to go ahead and ask some of the more popular questions to help tax filers get the most up to date information.

What is the Making Work Pay Credit?

The Making Work Pay credit was just one piece of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. What made it popular with tax fliers was that it was a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for individuals and up to $800 for married taxpayers (provided that filed jointly).

Tax credits are important because they directly reduce your tax liability. Most tax credits we’re familiar with, like the earned income tax credit or the lifetime learning credit taken as we file our taxes and meet the qualifications.

However with this credit, changes were made to the federal income tax withholding tables.  Many workers saw this tax credit reflected as an increase in their paychecks through the year. (Self-employed workers could claim this credit when they filed their taxes.) It was meant to be a micro-stimulus for families as the United States government was hoping households would spend more.

Who Could Claim Making Work Pay Credit?

Like many tax credits, there are specific criteria that had to be met for tax filers to get this credit. The credit was not available for individuals who had a modified adjusted gross income that was $95,000 or higher and married couples (filing jointly) who had a modified adjusted gross income of  $190,000 or higher. Those receiving the credit were also required to have a valid Social Security number.

Can I Get the Making Work Pay Credit for My 2011 Tax Filings?

No, it has expired. fortunately there other other options. While you can’t use the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, there are plenty of deductions and tax credits out there that can help you lower your tax burden and possibly increase your tax refunds.

The big benefit of using tax software and sites like TurboTax  is easily finding which tax credits you qualify for without poring over all the updates from the IRS. You also have tax experts you can contact to get answers to your tax related questions.

Thoughts on Tax Credits

Even if you’re not a fan of filing taxes, it’s really to your advantage to make sure you try to get every tax credit you can qualify for when you file your taxes.

Elle Martinez
Elle Martinez

Written by Elle Martinez

Elle helps families at Couple Money achieve financial freedom by sharing tips for reducing debt, increase income, and building net worth. Learn how to live on one income and have fun with the second. More from Elle Martinez

4 responses to “Making Work Pay Credit – What Is It and Can I Use It?”

  1. I am helping a friend file her taxes for years 2010 through 2013. Since she never filed her 2010 taxes, can she still receive the Making Work Pay credit on her 2010 tax return?

    • Hi Stanley,
      The Making Work Pay Credit expired in tax year 2010. It was replaced by the Payroll Tax Holiday, which reduced the social security taxes deducted from your paycheck by 2% points. Both the Making Work Pay Credit and the Payroll Tax Holiday were temporary tax breaks to stimulate the economy.

      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  2. I can’t help but be curious why the “make work pay credit” uses the social security tax rate of 6.2%, when in fact it is not a social security tax credit, but just an ordinary tax credit. I have to think that originally Obama, who sponsored the bill with this tax credit, originally wanted it to be deducted from social security but Congress wouldn’t go along with it. Am I right?

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