Earned Income Tax Credit
Welcome! IECC has partnered with the Reach Out to provide the community up-to-date information about the Earned Income Tax Credit. We understand that navigating the IRS website for details may be difficult, so we provided to most important information here for you to make the most of the tax credit. Please note, neither IECC or Reach Out are tax preparing agencies. If you have any questions, please contact a tax professional.
Helps low-to-moderate income workers and families get a tax break
Receive a tax credit up to $6,935
EITC is for working people who earn less than $59,187
Must have a social security number that is valid for employment
Qualify with or without children
Free Tax Preparation and Education Services
Be sure to file your taxes and claim the EITC. You may be eligible to claim up to $6,935 in tax credits. If you qualify for EITC, you must file a federal income tax return and claim the credit to get it, even if you owe no tax or aren’t required to file a return.
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The EITC is a credit for people who work for someone else, or are self-employed, or received certain disability payments. To qualify, the amount of income you earned must be less than $59,187. This year, 2023, you can get up to $6,935 in tax credits. The amount depends on:
- whether you are single or married
- if you have no children or the number of children you have
- the amount you earned.
You have to file a federal tax return to get the EITC even if you owe no tax and are not required to file. The EITC is a boost to help pay your bills, fix up your place or save for a rainy day.
Take the credit you’re due. The EITC credit ranges from:
- Up to $6,935 with three or more qualifying children
- Up to $6,164 with two qualifying children
- Up to $3,733 with one qualifying child
- Up to $560 with no qualifying children
EITC Adjusted Gross Income Tax Table 2022
| Number of Children or Relatives Claimed | Maximum AGI (filing as single, head of household, or widow) | Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) | Maximum Credit Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | $16,480 | $22,610 | $560 |
| One | $43,492 | $49,622 | $3,733 |
| Two | $49,399 | $55,529 | $6,164 |
| Three or more | $53,057 | $59,187 | $6,935 |
EITC Adjusted Gross Income Tax Table 2021
| Number of Children or Relatives Claimed | Maximum AGI (filing as single, head of household, or widow) | Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) | Maximum Credit Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | $15,980 | $21,920 | $1,502 |
| One | $42,158 | $48,108 | $3,618 |
| Two | $47,915 | $53,865 | $5,980 |
| Three or more | $51,464 | $57,414 | $6,728 |
Source: DPCC | American Rescue Plan: Expanding Tax Relief for Working Families
EITC Adjusted Gross Income Tax Table 2020
| Number of Children or Relatives Claimed | Maximum AGI (filing as single, head of household, or widow) | Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) | Maximum Credit Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | $15,820 | $21,710 | $538 |
| One | $41,756 | $47,646 | $3,584 |
| Two | $47,440 | $53,330 | $5,920 |
| Three or more | $50,594 | $56,844 | $6,660 |
Still have questions?
Contact your local county Community Action Partnership (CAP) office for more information on how you can receive free tax preparation services.
| Riverside CAP | San Bernardino CAP |
|---|---|
Riverside, CA 92507 Telephone: 951-955-4900
|
San Bernardino, CA 92408-2607 |
Who is qualifies for the EITC?
As of the 2021 tax year, to qualify for the EITC, you must meet the following Basic Qualifying Rules:
- Have worked and earned income under $59,187
- Show proof of earned income
- Have investment income below $10,000 in the tax year you claim the credit
- Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your 2021 return (including extensions)
- Claim a certain filing status
- Be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien all year
- Not file Form 2555 (related to foreign earned income)
You may claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for a child if you meet the rules for a qualifying child.
To qualify for the EITC, a qualifying child must:
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Meet all 4 tests for a qualifying child (Learn More Here)
- Not be claimed by more than one person as a qualifying child
If you don’t have a qualifying child, you may be able to claim the EITC if you:
- Meet the Basic Qualifications listed above.
- Live in the United States for more than half the tax year
- Not be claimed as a qualifying child on anyone else’s tax return
- Be at least age 18 at the end of the tax year (usually Dec. 31)
- Get disability income
- Are a member of the military or clergy
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Free Tax Preparation Services
The IRS works with national partners, community-based coalitions and thousands of local partners and governments. These partnerships provide free EITC tax return preparation and tax help and tax education.
If you made $60,000 a year or less in 2022, you may qualify for free access to tax return preparation services available at more than 13,000 community volunteer tax assistance sites.
The IRS provides free basic tax return preparation services to qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs:
- People who generally make $60,000 or less
- Persons with disabilities
- Limited English-speaking taxpayers
If you made $73,000 or less in 2022, you can use brand name software products through IRS’s Free File and electronically file your return to claim your EITC. Visit www.IRS.gov to access the software.
Use the EITC Assistant?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low-to-moderate income workers and families get a tax break. Answer some questions to see if you qualify.
Use this calculator to find out:
- If you’re eligible for the EITC
- If you have any qualifying children or relatives
- The estimated amount of your credit
- Your filing status
You should choose a tax preparer carefully. You are responsible for the accuracy of your own return. If you pay someone to prepare your tax return, the preparer must sign it and enter his or her PTIN, Preparer Tax Identification Number. Don’t ever sign a blank tax return. Find out what you should know if you pay someone to do your taxes.