Earned Income Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.

To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.

The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.

You must meet the following EITC requirements:

Must have a valid Social Security Number
You must have earned income from employment or from self-employment.
Your filing status cannot be married, filing separately.
You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year, or a nonresident alien married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien and filing a joint return.
You cannot be a qualifying child of another person.
If you do not have a qualifying child, you must:
be age 25 but under 65 at the end of the year,

live in the United States for more than half the year, and
not qualify as a dependent of another person

Cannot file Form 2555 or 2555-EZ (related to foreign earn income)

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