Do I Qualify for the Earned Income Credit (EIC or EITC)?

The Earned Income Credit (EIC), or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), is a refundable tax credit aimed at helping families with $50,270 or less of earned income. The Earned Income Credit will reduce the taxes you owe and will even be refunded to you if you owe no tax.

The Earned Income Credit lifted about 6.6 million people (including 3.3 million children) out of poverty in 2011.
The average Earned Income Tax Credit in 2011 was $2,200.
Only about 80% of taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Credit claim it. Don't miss out on the money you deserve!

Find out now if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Maximum Adjusted Gross Income for the EIC for Tax Year 2012
Before you start the EICucator, you may want to make sure your income is not over the maximum:	With 0 Qualifying Children	With 1 Qualifying Child	With 2 Qualifying Children	With 3 or More Qualifying Children
Single or Head of Household	$13,980	$36,920	$41,952	$45,060
Married Filing Jointly	$19,190	$42,130	$47,162	$50,270

The "EICucator" or Earned Income Tax Credit Educator

Simply answer the "Yes" or "No" questions until the "EICucator" provides you with your final answer.

Start the "EICucator" (Earned Income Tax Credit Educator)
Do you, your spouse (if filing jointly), AND all Qualifying Children have a valid SSN?	Yes No
Do you have earned income, such as taxable wages, salaries, tips, or net self-employment earnings?	Yes No
Is your filing status Married Filing Separately?	Yes No
Were you a U.S. citizen or resident alien for ALL of the tax year? OR Are you a nonresident alien married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien with whom you are filing jointly?	Yes No
Are you able to be claimed as the Qualifying Child of another taxpayer for the purpose of the Earned Income Credit?	Yes No
Are you filing Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income)? OR Are you filing Form 2555-EZ?	Yes No
Is your investment income for the tax year less than $3,200?	Yes No
If you do NOT have a Qualifying Child: (Answer "Yes" if you DO have a Qualifying Child) -Were you older than 25 AND younger than 65 on the last day of the tax year? AND -Did you live in the U.S. for more than half of the tax year? (If you DO have a Qualifying Child, answer "Yes")	Yes No
Is your adjusted gross income MORE than: - $13,980 if you have no Qualifying Children ($19,190 if Married Filing Jointly)? - $36,920 if you have 1 Qualifying Child ($42,130 if Married Filing Jointly)? - $41,952 if you have 2 Qualifying Children ($47,162 if Married Filing Jointly)? - $45,060 if you have 3 or more Qualifying Children ($50,270 if Married Filing Jointly)?	Yes No
No. According to the information you have provided, you do not qualify for the Earned Income Credit. There may be other tax credits available for you. When you prepare your tax return on efile.com, the online tax software will identify and calculate every credit for which you qualify. Start Over
Yes, based on the information you entered, it looks like you qualify for the Earned Income Credit! Start a tax return on efile.com to find out how much your credit will be! Start Over

See all of the requirements for the EITC or Earned Income Tax Credit.

How Do I Claim the Earned Income Credit on My Tax Return?

Claiming the EIC is easy if you prepare your tax return on efile.com! The online tax software will automatically determine if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit. If you qualify, the software will calculate the correct amount of your credit and fill out the right forms for you to claim it.

Once you have determined your EITC eligibility we suggest you use the FREE Tax Calculator, or "TaxStimator", to calculate and estimate your tax refund (or taxes owed) for the current tax year.

Other Free Tax Toys & Tools:

FREE tax toys and tools! Play around and educate yourself!

Does your child qualify as a dependent? Use the DEPENDucator!

Does a relative or friend count as a dependent? Find out with the RELucator!

Can you claim the Earned Income Credit? The EICucator will let you know!

Estimate your taxes and tax refund with the free and easy-to-use TaxStimator!

Use our Braxtimator, the tax bracket estimator tool!