Find Out if You Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit

Did you know the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can add $6,700 to your federal income tax refund? If you worked and earned low-to-moderate income last year, you might be able to claim the EITC when you file your taxes.

The EITC can be worth several thousand dollars if you have children. Taxpayers who do not have children can still get a portion of the credit.

This video gives a quick look at the maximum adjusted gross incomes for married couples with no kids, and for those with one, two, and three or more children. So if you’re married and make less than this, you probably qualify. The maximum income amounts are less for single taxpayers.

To qualify, you must have a Social Security number, be a U.S. citizen or resident alient all year, and your income must fall within certain limits. Remember that unemployment benefits are not earned income and can’t be used to claim the EITC – but they are taxable income and may affect the amount of EITC a person may get.

To find out more about the credit, including whether you qualify, visit IRS.gov/eitc.