The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a credit that can lower the amount you have to pay in federal taxes or give you money back at tax time. It is so important for low- to moderate-income workers, with or without children, to increase their income and lift millions above the poverty line.
Tax filing season began on January 26th. To avoid delays, it is best to file as soon as possible.
For information on how to claim your EITC and the forms to file, visit this link.
You can click here to find out if you qualify and get tax preparation help here.
For the 2025 tax year (the tax return you will file in 2026), the maximum amount of credit can range from $649 to $8,046, depending on your filing status and how many children you have.
If you are eligible, be sure to claim it on your return when filing your taxes. If you didn’t claim the tax credit for the past three years but think that you were eligible, you can file an amended tax return to get that money back.
The main requirement for EITC is that you earn money from a job during the tax year. Unemployment and social security benefits do not count. To see the different types of earned income and the income limits, visit this link. Additionally, your investment income must be $11,950 or less.
Other requirements include having a valid social security number, being a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year, and not filing Form 2555 Foreign Earned Income.
There are also special qualifying rules for military members, clergy members, and those who have a disability or have a relative with a disability.
It is also important to remember that if you are claiming EITC without any qualifying children, you must be between the ages of 25 and 65. If you’re married and filing jointly, only one spouse needs to meet the age requirement.
If you have a child, you may still qualify for EITC, even if you’re separated from your spouse but still married. You cannot file a joint tax return, and your child must have lived with you for more than half the year and still live with you at the end of the year. You also must not have lived with your spouse for the last six months or you can have a separation agreement or decree and did not live together at the end of the year.
Looking to the future, the Pennsylvania approved budget includes the first state EITC, which will be available when you file your tax return in 2027. It will be available to those who qualify for the federal EITC and provide 10% of the federal credit, to be used to offset taxes or increase the refund on the state return.
