Do CalFresh EBT benefits need to be reported on income taxes?
I'm preparing my taxes for the first time while receiving CalFresh benefits and I'm confused about whether I need to report the EBT food assistance on my income tax return. My cousin mentioned something about government benefits being taxable, which got me worried. I received about $4,890 in CalFresh last year for my family of 2, and I don't want to make a mistake on my taxes. Does anyone know if CalFresh counts as taxable income? I tried looking online but found conflicting information.
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Harold Oh
Good news! CalFresh benefits (food stamps/EBT) are NOT taxable income and do NOT need to be reported on your tax return. The IRS specifically excludes them as non-taxable government assistance. You won't receive any tax forms for CalFresh and you don't need to mention it anywhere on your return. Your cousin might be thinking of other benefits like unemployment which ARE taxable. Hope that helps!
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Payton Black
•Oh thank goodness! That's such a relief. I was stressing about having to somehow calculate all my monthly benefits. Thanks for clearing that up!
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Amun-Ra Azra
nope dont report it. its not income its food assistance. ive been on calfresh 6 yrs never reported it
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Summer Green
•While the answer is correct that you don't report it, just want to clarify that the reason isn't just because "it's food assistance" but specifically because the IRS classifies CalFresh/SNAP benefits as non-taxable welfare benefits under federal tax law. Always good to understand the "why" behind tax rules!
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Gael Robinson
I was literally JUST wondering this same thing!!!! I got so confused because my tax preparer asked me about "government benefits" and I wasn't sure what counted. Thanks for asking this question.
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Edward McBride
I think your cousin is confusing CalFresh with unemployment benefits or maybe SSI? Unemployment benefits are definitely taxable (got hit with a big tax bill last year because of this). But CalFresh/EBT/SNAP benefits are specifically excluded from taxable income by the IRS. You absolutely do not need to report it anywhere on your tax returns.
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Payton Black
•That makes sense - he was on unemployment for a few months too so he probably was talking about that. I appreciate the clarification!
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Darcy Moore
Tax professional here. Everyone giving you correct information. CalFresh/SNAP benefits are considered non-taxable income and are NOT reported on your tax return. This is different from some other government benefits like unemployment, disability, or social security which may be partially or fully taxable depending on your situation. The IRS publication that covers this is Publication 525, which states that welfare benefits, including SNAP (CalFresh), are not taxable. You can rest easy on this one!
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Summer Green
•This is so helpful! While we're on the topic, does anyone know if the P-EBT benefits that some families received for school-aged kids are also non-taxable? I'm assuming they follow the same rules as regular CalFresh but want to be sure.
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Darcy Moore
•Yes, P-EBT benefits are also non-taxable just like regular CalFresh/SNAP benefits. They're considered emergency food assistance and fall under the same exemption. You don't need to report those on your taxes either.
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Dana Doyle
I actually made this mistake my first year on calfresh! I reported it as income and then had to file an amended return because my tax lady caught it later. Don't be like me lol. CalFresh is NOT taxable and doesn't go anywhere on your tax forms.
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Gael Robinson
On a kinda related note, if you get Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) with your tax refund, that refund money ALSO doesn't count as income for your CalFresh! I was so worried last year when I got a big tax refund that they'd cut my benefits, but the worker told me tax refunds don't affect CalFresh eligibility or benefit amounts.
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Edward McBride
•That's a really good point! Tax refunds, including EITC, are not counted as income for CalFresh eligibility. They're also not counted as a resource/asset for 12 months after you receive them, so they won't affect your benefits at all during that period.
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Summer Green
By the way, if you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office to ask tax-related questions about your benefits, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that can help you get through. Instead of waiting on hold forever, they call and wait for you, then call you when a real person picks up. Saved me hours when I needed to reach my CalFresh worker about verification documents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. It's been super helpful with all the phone issues lately.
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Payton Black
•This sounds really useful! The county phone lines are always so jammed. Thanks for sharing - I'll check it out next time I need to contact them.
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Amun-Ra Azra
my friend said u need to report the cash aid part if u get calworks too but not the calfresh part
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Harold Oh
•Your friend is partially correct. CalWORKs (cash aid) is potentially taxable in certain circumstances, though many CalWORKs recipients don't end up owing taxes on it due to their overall income level. If you receive CalWORKs, you should consult with a tax professional about your specific situation. But again, CalFresh/EBT food benefits are definitely NOT taxable under any circumstances.
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