The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax benefit that helps low- to medium-income families reduce the amount they pay in taxes. This means that if the EITC amount exceeds the amount due in taxes, taxpayers can get a refund of the extra amount.
However, to get this benefit, your income must be below $18,591 if you are single-person household. Also, you have to meet the eligibility criteria listed below.
How much is 2024 Earned Income Tax Credit?
Earned Income Tax Credit for the 2024 tax year (to be filed in 2025) will range from $632 to $7,830. Your credit amount will depend on your annual income, your filing status, and your household size.
Here’s a breakdown of the maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amounts for the 2024 tax year and the earned income limits as a single or joint filer above which you will not be qualified for an EITC.
| No. of Children | Max. Earned Income Tax Credit | Max. Income for Single Filers | Max. Income for Joint Filers |
| 0 | $632 | $18,591 | $25,511 |
| 1 | $4,213 | $49,084 | $56,004 |
| 2 | $6,960 | $55,768 | $62,688 |
| 3 and more | $7,830 | $59,899 | $66,819 |
EITC eligibility & qualifications
To qualify for Earned Income Tax Credits, you must be a low- to medium-income earner with or without a qualifying child. Generally, you must:
- Have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) by the due date of your 2024 tax returns.
- Be a US citizen with a valid SSN, or a resident alien with a valid SSN who has lived in the US at least 6 months in 2024.
- Have worked in the 2024 tax year, and earned a maximum income of $59,899 as a single household filer and $66,819 as a joint household filer.
- Have a maximum investment income of $11,600.
- NOT file a Foreign Earned Income Form 2555.
It is also possible to qualify for the EITC without claiming a qualifying child on your tax return. However, you must meet the following requirements in addition to the general eligibility criteria listed above:
- You must be at least 25 years of age (but not older than 65) if you’re filing singly. Only one spouse is required to meet this age requirement ifs you’re filing jointly.
- You must have lived in the United States for more than half of the 2024 tax year.
- You must NOT be claimed as a qualifying child on another filer’s tax return.
Who is a qualifying child?
To be claimed as a qualifying child, your child must:
- Have an SSN
- NOT be claimed by another person
- Pass all 4 tests by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Age test. Your child must be under 19 years of age at the end of 2024, and younger than you (or your spouse, if you file a joint return). Or, they must be less than 24 years by the end of 2024 and a full-time student for at least 5 months of the year. They must also be and younger than you (or your spouse, if you file a joint return)
- Relationship test. They must be your son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child or foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepsister or stepbrother, grandchild, niece or nephew.
- Residency test. Your child must live in the same house as you in the US for more than half of 2024.
- Joint Return. For you to claim your child as qualifying child, they must not have filed a joint tax return with another person.
How to claim 2024 EITC
To claim the EITC, confirm and ensure you qualify for the tax credit, then go ahead and file your tax return.
If you’re filing an Earned Income Tax Credit with a qualifying child, first ensure your child meets the necessary criteria. Then fill out a Schedule EIC—this will allow you submit information about their child, including their Social Security number, birth year and more.
Use this tool by the IRS, to check your EITC eligibility, your filing status, and your estimated amount of credits.
