Skip to main content

This site is a work in progress. If you can’t find what you need, visit IRS.gov.

Can I get the Earned Income Tax Credit?

If you worked and made less than $53,000 last year, you may be able to get some money from the IRS through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

In 2014, the average person getting EITC received over $2,400.

Do you meet the basic requirements for getting this credit?

Only certain people qualify for this credit.

To get this credit, you must:

Have made less than $53,267 in 2015
Have a social security number
Have worked during 2015 and earned money from things like taxable wages, salaries, tips, or income from running a farm or business. What else counts as earned income?
What counts as earned income?

Earned income includes
- Taxable wages, salaries, tips
- Money earned from self-employment if you run a business or farm
- Money earned as a clergy member
- Union strike benefits
- Long-term disablity benefits received before minimum retirement age
What does not count as earned income
- Interest and dividends
- Retirement income
- Social security
- Unemployment benefits
- Alimony
- Child support
Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the entire year
File your taxes as either:
- Single
- Married filing jointly (not as "married filing separately")
  
  Married filing separately vs. married filing jointly
  
  You can choose married filing jointly as your filing status if both you and your spouse agree to file a joint return. On a joint return, you and your spouse report your combined income and deduct your combined allowable expenses. You can file a joint return even if one of you had no income or deductions.
  
  You can choose married filing separately as your filing status if you want to be responsible only for your own taxes or if it results in less tax than filing a joint return.
- Widow or widower
- Head of household

Even if you don’t normally file taxes, you will need to file them to recieve the credit.

You cannot get this credit if you:

File your taxes as "married filing separately"
Are listed as a dependent on someone else's taxes
Have income earned in another country (meaning you complete IRS Form 2555 or 2555-EZ)
Made more than $3,400 in investment income in the year you’re filing for

Find how much you can get back

Resources

Find other credits and deductions.

If you haven't filed taxes for the last few years, find the EITC rules for 2013 and 2014.

Get help understanding a letter or notice from the IRS about EITC.

Page last updated: 9/19/2016

Show Menu