The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a valuable credit for lower-income taxpayers who work. It can be worth up to $6,318 for 2018, depending on your:

• Filing status

• Income

• Number of qualifying children

 

The EIC is refundable, so you can receive the credit as part of your refund — even if your tax has been reduced to $0. You can qualify for the EIC even if you don’t have qualifying children. However, the rules are slightly different than for someone with qualifying children.

 

Taxpayers without qualifying children

 

If you don’t have qualifying children, to qualify for the EIC you must:

• Be at least 25 years old but younger than 65 at the end of the 2017 tax year

• Not be a dependent of another taxpayer

• Not be a qualifying child of another taxpayer

• Live in the United States for more than half the year

• Have earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than:

  • $15,010 if filing single

  • $20,600 if married filing jointly

 

Taxpayers with qualifying children

 

If you have one or more qualifying children, to qualify for the EIC you must:

• Have a qualifying child who meets the relationship, age, residency, and joint return tests:

  • The child must be your:

    • Child or adopted child

    • Stepchild

    • Eligible foster child

    • Sibling, half-sibling, or step-sibling

    • Descendent of any of the above, like a grandchild or your niece

  • The child must be younger than you and either:

    • Under age 19 or a full-time student under age 24 at the end of 2017

    • Younger than EIC-claiming taxpayer

    • Any age if permanently and totally disabled in 2017

  • The child must have lived with you in the United States for more than half of 2017.

• Have a qualifying child who isn’t claimed by another taxpayer for child-related benefits. However, there are exceptions for children of divorced or separated parents

• Have earned income and AGI less than these limits:

  • With one qualifying child: $39,617 — or $45,207 if married filing jointly

  • With two qualifying children: $45,007 — or $50,597 if married filing jointly

  • With three or more qualifying children: $48,340 — or $53,930 if married filing jointly

 

Additional rules for all taxpayers

 

To qualify for the EIC, you must:

• Have a valid Social Security number (SSN)

• Not file as married filing separately

• Be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year

• Not file a Form 2555 or Form 2555-EZ

• Have investment income of $3,500 or less

• Not be a dependent or qualifying child of another taxpayer

• Have earned income