Am I eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is designed to help lower the tax burden for lower income individuals. To qualify for the EITC, you must meet income requirements based on your household size and filing status. You also must be between 25 and 65 years old and have a valid Social Security number.

Earned Income Tax Credit income qualifications change every year to adjust for inflation. For 2022, here are the income limits to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit:

You also cannot earn more than $10,300 through investment income to qualify for the EITC.

The credit amount you can claim through the Earned Income Tax Credit also varies, depending on your income and the number of credits you claim. Here’s the maximum credit you can qualify for in 2022, based on your number of dependents:

• No dependents - up to $560
• 1 dependent - up to $3,733
• 2 dependents - up to $6,164
• 3 or more dependents - up to $6,935

Temporary changes to the EITC in 2021 allowed single filers with no dependents to claim more money. This expanded benefit has expired, reducing the amount single filers without children can claim in 2022.

The  is a refundable credit, which means it can lower your tax bill and/or boost your refund amount. Claiming this credit could delay your refund. The IRS must wait until mid-February to release refunds for tax filers claiming the EITC.

Column Tax does not support claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit for children that are not claimed as a dependent on your return.