The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refund you may receive from the IRS if you work and earn below certain income limits
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for working people with low to moderate income. Unlike most tax credits that only reduce what you owe, the EITC can result in a refund — money paid back to you — even if you owe nothing. You claim it on your tax return, and the IRS calculates whether you may have access to based on your income, filing status, and number of children.
The credit amount changes each year and depends on how much you earned. In 2024, the maximum credit ranges from $600 for workers without children to $3,995 for families with three or more children. The income limits also vary by family size and filing status. You do not receive the credit automatically; you must report it when you file your taxes, either on paper or through tax software.
Key Takeaways
- The EITC is a refundable credit, meaning you can receive money back even if you paid no taxes during the year.
- You must have earned income from work in 2024 and file a tax return to claim the credit.
- Income limits for 2024 range from roughly $17,000 for single filers without children to $63,398 for married filers with three or more children.
- The credit amount depends on your income, filing status, and number of may have access to children, and you claim it on your tax return.
- If you earned very little or had no income, you may still want to file a return to claim the EITC and receive a refund.
2024 Income Limits and Credit Amounts by Family Size
The EITC phases in as your income rises, reaches a maximum, then phases out. The exact amounts and income thresholds for 2024 depend on your filing status and number of may have access to children.
| Filing Status & Children | Maximum Credit | Income Limit (Phase-Out Ends) |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $600 | $17,600 |
| Single, one child | $2,057 | $46,560 |
| Single, two children | $3,316 | $49,399 |
| Single, three or more children | $3,995 | $52,918 |
| Married filing jointly, no children | $600 | $23,573 |
| Married filing jointly, one child | $2,057 | $52,618 |
| Married filing jointly, two children | $3,316 | $55,457 |
| Married filing jointly, three or more children | $3,995 | $58,976 |
These figures are for 2024 tax year returns filed in 2025. If your income exceeds the phase-out limit for your filing status and number of children, you do not receive the credit. The credit also requires that your investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains) stay below $11,000 in 2024.
Who Can Claim the EITC and What Documents You Need
To claim the EITC, you must have earned income from work — wages, salary, or self-employment income. You cannot claim it on income from unemployment benefits, Social Security, disability payments, or investment returns alone. You must also be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a valid Social Security number, and you cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.
If you have children, they must meet specific requirements: they must be your biological child, stepchild, foster child, or sibling; under age 17 at the end of 2024; have a valid Social Security number; and live with you for more than half the year. You will need their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and relationship to you when you file.
When you file your return, have these documents ready: your W-2 forms from employers, 1099 forms if you are self-employed, proof of income if you received tips or other wages, and documentation of any childcare expenses if you are claiming the child and dependent care credit alongside the EITC. If you file electronically through tax software, you can enter this information directly into the forms.
How to Claim the EITC on Your 2024 Tax Return
You claim the EITC by filing a federal income tax return, even if you earned so little that you normally would not have to file. You report your income on Form 1040 (the main tax form), and the IRS automatically calculates your credit based on the income you report and your filing status. If you use tax software, the program will ask you questions about your income and children, then populate the correct form for you.
If you file by paper, you will use Schedule EIC (Earned Income Credit) to list your may have access to children and their information, then transfer the credit amount to your main return. The IRS processes your return and, if you are owed a refund, sends it to you by direct deposit or check — typically within 21 days of accepting your return if you file electronically.
You do not need to contact the IRS or take any action beyond filing your return. The credit is not something you activate or request separately; it is calculated as part of your tax filing. If you made a mistake on a prior year's return and did not claim the EITC then, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) going back up to three years.
The Difference Between the EITC and the Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is a separate credit that also helps working families, and you may be able to claim both in the same year. The Child Tax Credit provides up to $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17. The main difference is that the Child Tax Credit is not fully refundable — you can only receive back a portion of it if you owe no taxes — while the EITC can be fully refundable.
A child can count toward both credits if they meet the requirements for each. The requirements are similar but not identical: both require the child to be under 17, have a valid Social Security number, and live with you for more than half the year. When you file your return, you list your children once, and the tax software or IRS determines which credits apply based on your income and filing status.
What Happens If Your Income Changes During the Year
The EITC is based on your total income for the entire year 2024, not on what you earned in any single month. If you worked part of the year, took time off, changed jobs, or had variable income, you still report your total earnings for the year when you file. The credit is calculated on that annual total.
If you expect to receive a large EITC refund, you cannot claim it in advance or receive it before you file your return. Some employers offer a special form (Form W-5) that allows you to receive part of the EITC in your paycheck throughout the year, but this is rare and requires your employer to participate. Most people claim the full credit when they file their return in early 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file a tax return if I only earned a small amount in 2024?
If your only income was wages and it was below the filing requirement for your age and filing status, you are not required to file. However, you should file anyway if you think you might be owed the EITC, because the credit can result in a refund even if you owe no taxes. Filing takes a few minutes with free tax software.
Can I claim the EITC if I am self-employed?
Yes. Self-employment income counts as earned income for the EITC. You will report your net self-employment income (after business expenses) on Schedule C, then claim the credit on your return. You must also pay self-employment tax, but the EITC is separate and available to self-employed workers who meet the income limits.
What if I have a child who does not have a Social Security number?
You cannot claim that child for the EITC. The child must have a valid Social Security number issued by the Social Security Administration. If your child was born in 2024 and does not yet have a number, you can still file your return; you would just claim the credit for any other may have access to children and the credit for workers without children if you have no other may have access to children.
Can I claim the EITC if I am married but file separately?
No. If you are married, you must file jointly to claim the EITC. Filing separately disqualifies you from the credit entirely. This is one of the few tax situations where filing status directly determines whether you can claim a benefit.
What if the IRS says I claimed the EITC incorrectly in a prior year?
The IRS may contact you if there is a discrepancy — for example, if a child no longer meets the requirements or if your income was reported differently. You can respond to the notice, provide documentation, or file an amended return if you agree there was an error. The IRS will explain what they found and give you a chance to respond before taking action.