Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tables
To claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you must have what qualifies as earned income and meet certain adjusted gross income (AGI) and credit limits for the current, previous, and upcoming tax years. This article will provide you with information on how to determine if you qualify for the EITC and the maximum credit amounts for each tax year.
Earned Income
Earned income includes all the taxable income and wages you receive from working for someone else, yourself, or from a business or farm you own. Here are some types of earned income:
- Wages, salary, or tips where federal income taxes are withheld on Form W-2, box 1
- Income from a job where your employer didn't withhold tax (such as gig economy work) including:
- Driving a car for booked rides or deliveries
- Running errands or doing tasks
- Selling goods online
- Providing creative or professional services
- Providing other temporary, on-demand, or freelance work
- Money made from self-employment, including if you:
- Own or operate a business or farm
- Are a minister or member of a religious order
- Are a statutory employee and have income
- Benefits from a union strike
- Certain disability benefits you received before you reached the minimum retirement age
- Nontaxable Combat Pay (Form W-2, box 12 with code Q)
- If you claim nontaxable combat pay as earned income, it may increase or decrease the amount of your EITC. For more information, see Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide.
Earned income does not include:
- Pay you received for work when you were an inmate in a penal institution
- Interest and dividends
- Pensions or annuities
- Social Security
- Unemployment benefits
- Alimony
- Child support
EITC Tables
You can use the EITC tables to look up the maximum credit amounts by tax year. These tables provide information on adjusted gross income (AGI), investment income limits, and the credit amount you can claim. Here are the EITC tables for the current and previous tax years:
Tax Year 2023
Find the maximum AGI, investment income, and credit amounts for tax year 2023.
| Children or Relatives Claimed | Filing as Single, Head of Household, or Widowed | Filing as Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | $17,640 | $24,210 |
| One | $46,560 | $53,120 |
| Two | $52,918 | $59,478 |
| Three | $56,838 | $63,398 |
Investment income limit: $11,000 or less
Maximum Credit Amounts:
- No qualifying children: $600
- 1 qualifying child: $3,995
- 2 qualifying children: $6,604
- 3 or more qualifying children: $7,430
Tax Year 2022 (Current Tax Year)
Find the maximum AGI, investment income, and credit amounts for tax year 2022.
| Children or Relatives Claimed | Filing as Single, Head of Household, or Widowed | Filing as Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | $16,480 | $22,610 |
| One | $43,492 | $49,622 |
| Two | $49,399 | $55,529 |
| Three | $53,057 | $59,187 |
Investment income limit: $10,300 or less
Maximum Credit Amounts:
- No qualifying children: $560
- 1 qualifying child: $3,733
- 2 qualifying children: $6,164
- 3 or more qualifying children: $6,935
Tax Year 2021
Find the maximum AGI, investment income, and credit amounts for tax year 2021.
| Children or Relatives Claimed | Maximum AGI (filing as Single, Head of Household, Widowed or Married Filing Separately*) | Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | $21,430 | $27,380 |
| One | $42,158 | $48,108 |
| Two | $47,915 | $53,865 |
| Three | $51,464 | $57,414 |
Investment income limit: $10,000 or less
Maximum Credit Amounts:
- No qualifying children: $1,502
- 1 qualifying child: $3,618
- 2 qualifying children: $5,980
- 3 or more qualifying children: $6,728
- Taxpayers claiming the EITC who file Married Filing Separately must meet the eligibility requirements under the special rule in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
Tax Year 2020
Find the maximum AGI, investment income, and credit amounts for tax year 2020.
| Children or Relatives Claimed | Maximum AGI (filing as Single, Head of Household, or Widowed) | Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | $15,820 | $21,710 |
| One | $41,756 | $47,646 |
| Two | $47,440 | $53,330 |
| Three | $50,594 | $56,844 |
Investment income limit: $3,650 or less
Maximum Credit Amounts:
- No qualifying children: $538
- 1 qualifying child: $3,584
- 2 qualifying children: $5,920
- 3 or more qualifying children: $6,660
Tax Year 2019
Find the maximum AGI, investment income, and credit amounts for tax year 2019.
| Children or Relatives Claimed | Filing as Single, Head of Household, or Widowed | Filing as Married Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | $15,570 | $21,370 |
| One | $41,094 | $46,884 |
| Two | $46,703 | $52,493 |
| Three | $50,162 | $55,952 |
Investment income limit: $3,600 or less
Maximum Credit Amounts:
- No qualifying children: $529
- 1 qualifying child: $3,526
- 2 qualifying children: $5,828
- 3 or more qualifying children: $6,557
Other Credits You May Qualify For
If you qualify for the EITC, you may also qualify for other tax credits. Some of these credits include:
- Child Tax Credit and the Credit for Other Dependents
- Child and Dependent Care Credit
- Education Credits
For more information on the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits, visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.