Do I get a tax refund in MA if no taxes paid when below a certain income level?

[TaxMeLess1]

TurboTax shows my taxable income at $0 and a tax credit of $1170 even though no state taxes were paid.

[MayaD]

You are probably receiving the Earned Income Credit.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a way for low-income working people to get money back from the federal government. Even if you didn't earn enough to owe income tax, you can get the EITC! 

If you get the federal credit, the state of Massachusetts will send you a credit also. It will be 30% of the money that you get from the federal government if you live here full time.

[TaxMeLess1]

Thanks for the reply, MayaD.  TurboTax does not say I’m getting the Federal EITC, just zero tax paid/owed.  Only the MA state return shows a tax credit though I have not paid any state tax.

[MayaD · Accepted solution]

Check your state return, if you are receiving MA earned income credit it will show on MA Form 1 line 43. The credit is a refundable credit. A refundable credit is a tax credit that is refunded to the taxpayer no matter how much the taxpayer's liability is. 

To preview your return before filling:

1. Open or continue your return.
2. Select Tax Tools in the left menu (if you don't see this, select the menu icon in the upper-left corner).
3. With the Tax Tools menu open, you can then: Select Print Center and then Print, Save, or Preview This Year's Return (you may be asked to register or pay first).

[TaxMeLess1]

Thank you! that is very helpful.