Did you know that there’s a helpful tax relief program for low and moderate income working families? It’s called the earned income tax credit (EITC) and it can help put some extra money in your family’s pocket. Depending on your family’s income, you could be eligible for a refund even if you don’t currently owe income taxes.

The most important thing to remember is that the EITC is for people who earned income. Keep in mind that there are a lot of income types that are not earned from work and do not qualify. These include unemployment benefits, bank and investment interests or dividends, rental income, inheritance, retirement income or Social Security, child support, and alimony. Remember: if it’s not earned, it doesn’t qualify.

Although the income limits are much more generous if you have at least one qualifying child, it’s not required that you have children to take advantage of the EITC. However, there are a couple of restrictions you should know about as an individual without children. Learn more in this video.