Proposed rule · 2026-16985

Application of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to the Refunded Portion of Certain Federal Refundable Tax Credits

This document contains proposed regulations that would provide that the refunded portion of certain refundable Federal income tax credits available to individuals is a "Federal public benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). As a result, aliens who are not "qualified aliens" under PRWORA would be ineligible to receive the refunded portion of these refundable credits. These regulations would generally affect taxpayers claiming the following Federal income tax credits: the adoption tax credit, the American opportunity tax credit, the child tax credit, and the earned income credit. As required by PRWORA, this document also provides notice to the public and notifies recipients of proposed changes regarding eligibility for the refunded portion of such Federal income tax credits under PRWORA.