Why do people get tax breaks for having kids?

Question

I dont think its right.

Answer 1

To buy votes.
If politicians really cared, they would lower taxes, instead of taking it all and only giving it back to special people under special circumstances.

This way they can say "vote for me and I'll give you $500, aren't I the greatest thing since sliced bread?". If they were really great they would say "vote for me and I'll stop taking your money in the first place, so I don't have to give it back to you".

Politicians SUCK! I propose a law banning them.

Answer 2

Everybody gets a personal exemption. If you have a spouse or children, they also get personal exemptions. These exemptions are supposed to somehow reflect the "cost" of food, clothing, etc. There are additional credits for kids on top of the exemption, such as the child tax credit and the dependent care care credit. These are supposed to represent the additional cost of raising kids. Most people will qualify for one or the other-not both.
The credits can only be taken up to the amount of tax you owe. The only way to get your $1000 child tax credit is to owe $1000 in taxes. So, part of the justification is that if you are owing taxes, you are contributing to society.
People also get tax breaks for going to school, paying interest, they can write off certain hobbies, being disabled, driving a hybrid vehicle, etc. Are these all wrong?
The whole point of tax credits is that it is a method to government uses to get people to do what they want.
They want people to get a higher education-they give a tax credit.
They want people with kids to get off their butts and go to work. Working parents means fewer kids on welfare & medicaid.

Answer 3

You must not have any kids.

First, Say you make say 65g a year, and I make 65g a year, But I have two kids. Where do you think the majority of my money goes? I have higher expensive in my house hold because believe or not my kids use electricity, water, gas, etc. On top of that I have clothing expenses, food expense, and basic living expense. but my expenses triple. I also have medical for 3. School expenses, etc. I could go on naming things.

So why shouldn't I receive a tax credit back at the end of the year. I pay out more taxes when it comes to buying things because obviously I have to buy more day to day then you. It's not like they are giving away free money (come on its the government), but we receive a bit more back of our taxes we paid. Which I think is rightfully so.

Answer 4

Theoretically at least, the tax breaks given to the parents will be greatly outweighed by the taxes that those kids pay throughout their lives.

The government looks at it like an investment.

Answer 5

Kids are expensive and we are taxed out of the wazoo so there has to be some kind of giving, not just taxing us to death.

Hmmm,

Why do people get hit with a marriage tax and death tax??

Answer 6

Children are necessary for any species survival, but they are expensive to care for. The government gives a small tax break to help out people.

As a tax preparer I can tell you that it isn't really a huge amount but it does help.

If you want something to grip about look into EIC.

Answer 7

They pay taxes in other ways.
They have to buy more stuff for kids so more sales tax than 1 person.
They have to school supplies to buy for the teachers.
They are not getting as big of break as you think they do.

Answer 8

Because kids are expensive!

Why do business owners get to buy "business" items, deduct the expense on the tax return, and then get to use the items for their own purposes? That is what is NOT fair!

Answer 9

If you look at the other tax breaks, those are the ones that should raise concern/alarm- especially the way some people abuse them.

Answer 10

then why have the money sucking little buggers? It's okay to have sex with anyone you want, so I guess the only answer is to ensure the perpetuation of a race. Parents need some light and reward at the end of the long dark tunnel of child rearing.