Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Credit?

The Earned Income Credit is a refundable tax credit for qualifying taxpayers. To qualify for the credit, taxpayers must have earned income from employment or self-employment.

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The Basics of the Earned Income Credit

The Earned Income Credit, also called the EIC, is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income working taxpayers. To qualify, you must have earned income from working for someone else or from running or owning a business or farm. You must also meet certain requirements regarding age, investment income, and filing status. If you meet all the requirements, you can claim the EIC on your tax return.

What is the Earned Income Credit?

The Earned Income Credit, also known as the EIC, is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers. The credit is based on the amount of income earned and the number of qualifying children. To qualify for the EIC, you must have earned income from employment or self-employment during the year. You cannot have investment income to qualify for the credit.

Who qualifies for the Earned Income Credit?

The Earned Income Credit, or EIC, is a tax credit for low- to moderate-income working taxpayers. To qualify, you must have earned income from employment or self-employment and meet certain rules. The credit is calculated based on your earned income and the number of qualifying children in your household.

If you have no children, you may still qualify for the credit if you meet certain income requirements. The maximum amount of the credit varies depending on your filing status and the number of qualifying children in your household.

To qualify for the Earned Income Credit, you must have earned income from employment or self-employment and meet certain rules. The credit is calculated based on your earned income and the number of qualifying children in your household.

If you have no children, you may still qualify for the credit if you meet certain income requirements. The maximum amount of the credit varies depending on your filing status and the number of qualifying children in your household.

The Income Requirements for the Earned Income Credit

What are the income requirements for the Earned Income Credit?

To qualify for the Earned Income Credit, your earned income and adjusted gross income must be less than:
##If you have no qualifying children: $15,010 ($20,600 married filing jointly)
##If you have one qualifying child: $39,617 ($45,207 married filing jointly)
##If you have two qualifying children: $45,007 ($50,597 married filing jointly)
##If you have three or more qualifying children:$49,194 ($54,784 married filing jointly)

How do I know if I qualify for the Earned Income Credit?

The Earned Income Credit is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. To qualify for the Earned Income Credit, you must have earned income from working for someone or from running or owning a business or farm and meet certain rules.

If you have investment income, you generally do not qualify for the Earned Income Credit. But, there are some exceptions. For example, you may be able to include disability income or combat pay when figuring your credit.

The Other Requirements for the Earned Income Credit

In order to receive the Earned Income Credit, you must have worked during the year. This credit is not available to people who did not work during the year. The credit is also available to people who are working part-time, as long as they meet the other requirements.

What are the other requirements for the Earned Income Credit?

In addition to the requirements listed above, you must also:
-Have a valid Social Security number
-Cannot be a qualifying child of another taxpayer
-Investment income cannot exceed $3,650 in the tax year
-Must not file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (these are used for foreign earned income)

How do I know if I qualify for the Earned Income Credit?

You may qualify for the Earned Income Credit if you worked last year, even for just a part of the year, and meet the other requirements.

The IRS has an Earned Income Credit Tables to help you figure out if you qualify and how much credit you may be able to get. The amount of credit you receive depends on your income and family size.

In order to qualify, your earned income and adjusted gross income must be less than:
For tax year 2018, the limit is $51,567 ($53,267 married filing jointly) if you have no children; $46,703 ($48,403 married filing jointly) if you have one child; $50,162 ($51,862 married filing jointly) for two children; or $54,884 ($56,584 married filing jointly) for three or more children.

If your spouse did not work last year but you filed a joint return, your spouse’s income is not included in figuring whether your earned income is less than these dollar amounts. For all other qualifying rules and special situations that might apply to you see Publication 596 Earned Income Credit