The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) also provides a crucial boost to low-income families.

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The IRS announced this week that it is changing the filing requirements for tax pros who submit a federal tax return claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

FORBES: IRS Proposes New Regulations for Submitting EITC Claims

Most Americans below the median income level pay no federal income tax (and, thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the working poor get substantial rebates).

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However, this is the point where it becomes critical to understand the mechanism that allows these folks to get off the hook when it comes to paying federal income taxes a mechanism that comes in the guise of two, specific government policies the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

FORBES: The Real Truth Behind The 47 Percent - Why Aren't These People Paying Federal Income Taxes?