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EITC Calculator 2026: Estimate Your Earned Income Tax Credit

Quick answer

The 2026 EITC is worth up to $664 (no children), $4,427 (one child), $7,316 (two), or $8,231 (three or more). It is fully refundable — enter your income below to estimate your credit.

Data: Tax year 2026 (filed early 2027) · verified 2026-10-14 against IRS EITC tables. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent or stored.

How the EITC formula works

The credit has three zones, and the calculator shows which one you are in:

  1. Phase-in: the credit grows as a percentage of earned income — 7.65% (no children), 34% (one child), 40% (two), or 45% (three or more) — until it hits the maximum.
  2. Plateau: you receive the full maximum credit ($664 / $4,427 / $7,316 / $8,231 for 2026).
  3. Phase-out: once the larger of your earned income or AGI passes $10,860 (no children) or $23,890 (with children) for single filers — $18,140 / $31,160 for joint filers — the credit shrinks at 7.65% or about 16–21% per dollar until it reaches $0.

Two hard rules override everything: investment income over $12,200 means no credit, and childless claimants must be 25–64 years old.

Worked example

A single parent with two children earns $28,000 in wages (AGI the same). The phase-in would give 40% × $28,000 = $11,200, capped at the $7,316 maximum. Phase-out: income is $4,110 over the $23,890 threshold, so the credit is reduced by 21.06% × $4,110 ≈ $866. Estimated credit: about $6,450, paid as a refund even if no tax is owed.

Common mistakes

  • Not filing because income is below the filing requirement. The EITC is refundable — you must file a return to get it, even if you owe nothing.
  • Mixing up earned income and AGI. The phase-in uses earned income only; the phase-out uses whichever of earned income or AGI is larger. Unemployment benefits raise AGI but are not earned income.
  • Claiming a child who doesn't meet all four tests. A qualifying child must meet relationship, age, residency (lived with you over half the year), and joint-return tests.
  • Giving up after a disallowance. If the IRS denied your EITC in a prior year, you can usually claim it again by attaching Form 8862.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum EITC for 2026?

For tax year 2026 (returns filed in early 2027): $664 with no qualifying children, $4,427 with one child, $7,316 with two children, and $8,231 with three or more children.

What are the 2026 EITC income limits?

The credit phases out as income rises. For single filers the credit reaches $0 at roughly $19,540 (no children), $51,594 (one child), $58,629 (two), and $62,974 (three or more); joint filers' limits are about $7,270–$7,280 higher. The calculator applies the exact phase-out math for your inputs.

What counts as earned income?

Wages, salary, tips, and net self-employment earnings. Social Security, unemployment benefits, pensions, child support, and investment income do not count as earned income — and you must have at least some earned income to get any credit.

What is the investment income limit?

If your investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income) is more than $12,200 in 2026, you cannot claim the EITC at all, regardless of your earned income.

Can I get the EITC without children?

Yes, but the credit is small (up to $664) and you must be at least 25 and under 65 at the end of the year, and not be claimable as anyone's dependent.

Is the EITC refundable?

Yes, fully. If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, the IRS pays you the difference as a refund. By law, refunds on returns claiming the EITC are held until mid-February.

Why does my IRS amount differ slightly from this estimate?

The IRS computes the official credit from $50-wide income tables rather than the raw formula, so the published amount can differ from this estimate by up to about $25. If your credit was denied before, you may also need Form 8862 to claim it again.

Official sources

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Thomas E. Wright

Built and maintained by Thomas E. Wright, Senior Policy Editor, Housing & Tax. See our methodology and data changelog.

This tool provides estimates for general information only and is not legal, tax, or benefits advice. Final eligibility and amounts are determined solely by the administering agency. Privacy: all calculations run in your browser; we do not transmit, log, or store anything you enter.