Earned Income Credit (EITC)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit. If you qualify for the EITC you may get money back when you file your taxes or if you owe taxes, it may reduce the amount of federal taxes you owe. The main requirement to qualify is that you must earn money from working.
- Who qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
To qualify for the EITC, you must:
- Have earned income under $63,398 in 2023
- Have investment income below $11,000 in the tax year 2023
- Have a social security number that is valid for employment
- Be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien for the entire year
- Not file Form 255 (related to foreign earned income)
- How much is the EITC?
The amount of EITC you may get depends on your income
2023 Earned Income Tax Credit (for taxes due April 2024)
| Number of children | Maximum earned income tax credit | Maximum Adjusted Gross income (AGI), Single, Head of Household filers | Maximum Adjusted Gross income (AGI), Married Filing Joint filers |
| 0 | $600 | $17,640 | $24,210 |
| 1 | $3,995 | $46,560 | $53,120 |
| 2 | $6,604 | $52,918 | $59,478 |
| 3 or more | $7,430 | $56,838 | $63,398 |
- What if I have an ITIN?
You cannot claim the federal EITC if you file your taxes with an ITIN. However, if you live in California, you are eligible to claim the CalEITC with an ITIN. For more information regarding CalEITC, view this website.
- Is there an age limit on EITC?
There is no maximum age limit for eligible workers. You may also qualify for EITC if you are:
- Minimum age 24 years old for full-time student
- 18 years of age for a qualified former foster youth/homeless youth
- 19 years of age for all others
- Will my tax refund be delayed if I claim the Earned Income Tax Credit?
Yes. According to the IRS, if you claim the EITC, your tax refund could be delayed. Unfortunately, by law, the IRS can’t issue EITC refunds before mid-February. You can file your tax return as soon as you have all of your tax documents and the IRS expects you to see most EITC related refunds within your bank account or on debit cards by March.
- Can noncitizens get EITC?
If you are your spouse were a nonresident alien for any part of the tax year, you can only claim the EITC if your filing status is married filing jointly and you or your spouse is a:
- U.S. citizen with a valid Social Security Number or
- Resident alien who was in the U.S. at least 6 months of the year you’re filing for and has a valid Social Security number.
Are there other credits I should know about?
Yes! California also has an EITC program called CalEITC. Click here to check that page of our website. You can also check this page of our website for other programs like the Child Tax Credit and Economic Stimulus Programs