Limit Tax Credits to Certain SSNs

Full Title:
Safeguarding American Workers’ Benefits Act

Summary#

This bill changes the rules about what kinds of Social Security numbers (SSNs) can be used to claim the child tax credit (CTC) and the earned income tax credit (EITC). It requires that the SSN shown on a tax return be the type defined in the bill — an SSN issued to a U.S. citizen or an SSN issued under a specific part of the Social Security Act — and that the number be issued before the tax return due date. The goal stated by the bill’s title is to limit who can claim these tax credits based on the type of SSN they use.

  • Main change: For both CTC and EITC, the law would accept only SSNs that meet the new, narrower definition in the bill.
  • The bill replaces previous references to “taxpayer identification number” or “TIN” with this defined SSN in a few related tax code provisions.
  • The change applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2025.
  • The bill refers to parts of the Social Security Act for which it does not itself provide plain-language definitions; the precise groups affected depend on how those Social Security Act provisions are read.

What it means for you#

  • Parents or guardians claiming the child tax credit: The parent must include their SSN (and for joint returns, both spouses’ SSNs) and the child’s SSN on the return. The child’s SSN must meet the bill’s new definition to allow the credit. This could mean some children whose SSNs were issued under categories not covered by the bill would not qualify for the CTC.
  • Workers claiming the earned income tax credit: The taxpayer must have an SSN that meets the new definition. If a worker uses a different tax identification number now accepted under current rules, that number may no longer qualify for EITC.
  • Mixed-status or immigrant families: The bill does not explain in plain terms which noncitizens are affected. This could affect families where some members have SSNs of the kind the bill excludes, or where family members use other tax ID numbers now accepted.
  • Tax preparers and employers: They may need to verify that the SSNs on returns meet the new definition before claiming these credits. This could change intake and verification procedures.
  • Tax administration: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would need to enforce the new SSN requirement when processing CTC and EITC claims.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

  • The bill text does not include a fiscal note or cost estimate.
  • Likely areas of cost (not estimated in the bill): IRS processing and verification work, taxpayer outreach and error correction, and potential increases in audits or refund reviews.
  • Possible costs for taxpayers or tax preparers: extra time and expense to confirm SSN eligibility, and to resolve rejected claims or corrected returns.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to ensure that CTC and EITC are claimed only when the SSNs on the return meet the specified definition.
  • A possible argument for the bill is that narrowing the acceptable SSNs would prevent ineligible individuals from claiming these credits and so protect program integrity.
  • Supporters may argue this clarifies and standardizes which SSNs count for these important refundable credits.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is that the bill does not define in plain language which noncitizen groups will be excluded; it points to specific clauses of the Social Security Act without explaining the practical effect.
  • The bill could prevent some eligible workers or children from qualifying for CTC or EITC if their SSNs do not meet the new definition, especially in mixed-status families.
  • The law may raise administrative costs and create paperwork or verification delays for taxpayers and the IRS.
  • It is unclear how many taxpayers would be affected and whether the change would lead to more incorrect denials or more disputes, because there is no fiscal or implementation detail in the bill.

What is unclear: The bill references particular subclauses of the Social Security Act when defining which SSNs count. The text here does not explain, in plain terms, exactly which categories of individuals (for example, specific noncitizen work-authorized statuses) are included or excluded. That makes it hard to say precisely who would lose or keep eligibility without checking the Social Security Act language and administrative guidance.