If in case you have a low- or moderate-income employee, they might be eligible for the earned earnings tax credit score (EITC). Learn on to study all in regards to the earned earnings credit score, together with who’s eligible for it and the way staff can declare the credit score.
Earned earnings tax credit score overview
The earned earnings tax credit score, or earned earnings credit score (EIC), is a refundable tax credit score for low- and moderate-income staff. The credit score quantity a employee receives relies on earnings, submitting standing, and the variety of youngsters the employee has. In case your worker qualifies for the credit score, they will declare it on their tax return.
Usually, the much less an worker earns, the bigger the credit score. And households with extra youngsters are inclined to obtain a bigger credit score.
To seek out out extra in regards to the EIC and the way it impacts your workers and payroll, learn the Q&As beneath.
What does the credit score do?
The EITC offsets some or all of a employee’s federal earnings taxes. For a lot of staff, it gives a supplemental supply of earnings to assist offset different taxes, comparable to payroll taxes.
Who qualifies for the EITC?
A person can qualify for the EITC in the event that they meet all three of the next necessities:
- Have earned earnings and adjusted gross earnings (AGI) inside sure limits
- Meet sure primary IRS guidelines
- Both meet the foundations for these and not using a qualifying youngster or have a toddler that meets all of the qualifying youngster guidelines
So, what counts as a qualifying youngster? If a employee has a toddler who lives with them, they might be eligible for the EITC. Every youngster claimed should cross the connection, age, residency, and joint return exams to be thought-about a qualifying youngster. Employees can evaluation the IRS’s Qualifying Baby Guidelines for extra data.
Fundamental IRS guidelines embody having a sound Social Safety quantity (employee, employee’s partner, and qualifying youngsters) in addition to utilizing one of many following submitting statuses:
- Married submitting collectively
- Head of family
- Qualifying widow or widower
- Single
Employees can not declare the credit score if their submitting standing is married submitting individually.
Along with the fundamental guidelines above, staff should additionally meet the next necessities for tax yr 2025:
- Funding earnings should be $11,950 or much less for the yr
- Can’t file Kind 2555, Overseas Earned Earnings or Kind 2555-EZ, Overseas Earned Earnings Exclusion
- Whole earned earnings should be no less than $1
- Earned earnings and AGI should be not more than the thresholds set by the IRS (see beneath)
For tax yr 2025, earned earnings and AGI can not exceed the thresholds listed beneath:
| 0 Qualifying Youngsters | 1 Qualifying Baby | 2 Qualifying Youngsters | 3+ Qualifying Youngsters | |
| Single, Head of Family, or Qualifying Widow(er) | $19,104 | $50,434 | $57,310 | $61,555 |
| Married Submitting Collectively | $26,214 | $57,554 | $64,430 | $68,675 |
Employees can use the IRS’s EITC Assistant to see in the event that they qualify for the credit score.
Are there any exceptions?
Particular guidelines apply for staff who’re members of the navy, ministers, and members of the clergy. Employees who’ve been impacted by a catastrophe and taxpayers with sure varieties of incapacity earnings or youngsters with disabilities may additionally be eligible for the credit score.
Test with the IRS to see if you happen to qualify for the EITC primarily based on the exceptions above.
How a lot is the credit score?
Once more, the credit score varies relying on the employee’s earnings, submitting standing, and variety of youngsters.
For the 2025 tax yr, the earned earnings credit score ranges from $649 to $8,046 relying on the above elements.
Take a look at a breakdown of the utmost earned earnings tax credit score quantities for tax yr 2025.
| Variety of Qualifying Youngsters | Max Earned Earnings Tax Credit score 2025 |
| 0 | $649 |
| 1 | $4,328 |
| 2 | $7,152 |
| 3+ | $8,046 |
How do staff declare the credit score?
Employees can declare an EITC by submitting a federal tax return. To say the credit score on a tax return, staff should present data comparable to their Social Safety quantity, information of bills, and earnings statements. Employees can study extra about claiming an EITC by going to the IRS’s web site.
Do I have to notify workers in regards to the credit score?
As an employer, you’re answerable for notifying your staff in regards to the EIC. And if in case you have workers who don’t have federal earnings tax withheld, the IRS requires you to tell them in regards to the credit score.
Employers are inspired to inform each worker whose wages for the previous yr are lower than the edge quantity that they might be eligible for the credit score, particularly staff who didn’t have federal earnings tax withheld from their pay.
What else do I have to know?
As of January 1, 2011, the choice for superior EIC funds has been eradicated. Prior to now, employers had been in a position to advance a portion of the credit score with every paycheck. This feature is not accessible for employers. Once more, people should declare the credit score once they file their federal tax return.
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This text has been up to date from its authentic publication date of July 14, 2010.
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