Writing a paper on Child Tax Credit?

I am going to be writing a paper on Child Tax Credit and the benefts of it for american families. I am trying to locate some informatin online, but I keep only getting websites that talk about how to file it, who is eligible, etc. I am wanting to know the history of it, how it has effected families, etc. Does anyone know of any websites that will offer me some good research material on this topic?

Writing a paper on Child Tax Credit?
Go to IRS.GOV and go to forms. Then previous years. Looking at the back of the 1040A and the form 8812 for various years will give you a feel for the amounts and changes over time.





1990. there wasn't one. You got the exemption and child care only. If you were poor you got EIC.





By 2000, there is a child tax credit for $500. The form 8812 only worked if you had 3 or more children.





By 2005, it's $1000 and you can use the form 8812 if you have any children.



Reply:the history, go to the Blue Books section of the Joint Committee on Taxation website. The credit was enacted in 1997. Here is the rationale.





The Congress believed that the individual income tax structure does not reduce tax liability by enough to reflect a family’s reduced ability to pay taxes as family size increases. In part, this is because over the last 50 years the value of the dependent personal exemption has declined in real terms by over one-third. The Congress believed that a tax credit for families with dependent children will reduce the individual income tax burden of those families, will better recognize the financial responsibilities of raising dependent children, and will promote family values.





You'll find Blue Books for later Congresses that will explain why they made changes to the original credit. They did not make changes in every Congress.





The first url below is for the Blue Book for legislation passed in 1997. You'll find others at http://www.jct.gov/pubs_bluebooks.html