Pilot of Health Care Workers Promoting Tax Filing and Receipt of Tax Credits for Low Income Families

<h2>Abstract</h2> This pilot study examined the feasibility of health care worker trusted messenger referrals to promote tax filing among low-income families. Among 18 families (67% below federal poverty line), 80% filed taxes after referral, receiving mean refunds of $2,300, which were primarily used for savings (66%), bills (55%), food (34%), and child care (24%). Parents with chronic health conditions had significantly more social determinant of health risk factors than those without (4.2 vs 1.5; <i>P</i> = .002). Similar patterns were observed for parent mental health and child physical health. Health care worker tax credit referrals may be feasible for reaching very-low-income families who could benefit most.