Pure Pierre Politics

The Tax Foundation today issued its report on the varying amounts of benefits state by state from the federal government’s child tax-credit program. Parents can claim up to $1,000 per child, depending on family income. The Tax Foundation points out the credit would be cut in half to $500 automatically as part of the Bush tax cuts that are due to expire at the end of this year. For the 2008 tax year, the U.S. average was $212 for all returns and $1,209 for returns claiming the credit. South Dakota’s average was $239 for all returns and $1,370 for returns on which the credit was claimed. Among our neighboring states, the amounts were North Dakota $235 and $1,395; Minnesota $236 and $1,354; Iowa $254 and $1,370; Nebraska $258 and $1,370; Wyoming $262 and $1,407; and Montana $199 and $1,297. Utah was tops in the nation at $342 and $1,445. New York was lowest at $173 and $1,183.