Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Analyzer
Check your eligibility for the EITC, America's largest support program for working families, and calculate your estimated 2024 credit.
EITC Estimated Credit Calculator (2024 Tax Year)
Adjust the options below to see how your EITC changes with income. The chart visualizes your current income position and the credit curve.
Use the slider or enter an amount. (The credit is based on the greater of your earned income or AGI for the phase-out.)
EITC Eligibility Checklist
You must meet several requirements to claim the EITC. Use the accordion menu below to check the main eligibility rules.
Rules for All Filers
+- Valid Social Security Number (SSN): You, your spouse, and any qualifying children must have an SSN valid for employment. (ITINs are not eligible).
- Filing Status: Married Filing Separately (MFS) is generally not allowed (with exceptions for certain separated spouses).
- Investment Income: For 2024, your investment income must be $11,600 or less.
- U.S. Residency: You must have a main home in the United States for more than half the year.
- **Cannot be a Qualifying Child:** You cannot be claimed as a qualifying child on someone else's tax return.
The 4 Tests for a "Qualifying Child"
+For a child to be a "Qualifying Child" for the EITC, they must pass all four of these tests. This is a primary focus of IRS audits.
- Relationship Test: The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, or a descendant of one of these.
- Age Test: At the end of the tax year, the child must be under 19, or a full-time student under 24. There is no age limit for a child who is permanently and totally disabled.
- Residency Test: The child must have lived with you in the United States for more than half of the tax year.
- Joint Return Test: The child cannot have filed a joint return with their spouse for the tax year, unless it was only to claim a refund of taxes paid.
Rules for Workers Without a Qualifying Child
+- Age Requirement: You must be at least 25 but under 65 at the end of the tax year.
- Cannot be a Dependent: You cannot be claimed as a qualifying child or dependent of another person.
The Powerful, Hidden Benefits of EITC
Beyond the cash refund, the EITC plays a crucial role in protecting eligibility for other social benefits—one of its most powerful features.
Protects Asset-Tested Program Eligibility
By federal law, your EITC refund is not counted as income or assets when determining eligibility for federal programs like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, and TANF (for at least 12 months after receipt).
Reduces the "Benefit Cliff"
While a raise might reduce other benefits, the EITC provides a pure boost to household income without triggering those same reductions, creating a "super-buoyancy effect" that rewards work.
Additional State-Level Credits
Over 30 states offer their own EITC on top of the federal credit, providing an extra layer of cash support to low-income working families. Check if your state offers an additional credit.
