Paint formulations are neutralized with a non-VOC neutralizing agent. The neutralizing agent is a neutralized amino acid or intermediate, an amino phosphate, an amino phosphonate, amino sulfate, or amino sulfonate wherein the neutralizing agent has a pKa2 of at least 9. These neutralizing agents can be used to provide a paint formulation within a pH range of 8 to 10 and do not add any volatile organic compounds to the paint formulation.