{
  "slug": "eitc-estimate",
  "title": "Earned Income Tax Credit Estimator",
  "heading": "EITC Estimator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/eitc-estimate",
  "summary": "Estimate your Earned Income Tax Credit based on income and qualifying children.",
  "description": "The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable federal tax credit for low-to-moderate income working people, meaning it can produce a refund even larger than what you paid in taxes. The credit phases in as a percentage of earned income up to a maximum, plateaus at that maximum through a range of income, then phases out as income keeps climbing, with completely different maximum credits and phase-out points depending on how many qualifying children you have (zero, one, two, or three-plus). Investment income above a set limit disqualifies you entirely regardless of earned income level. This calculator applies simplified 2024-style phase-in rates, maximum credit amounts, and phase-out thresholds by number of qualifying children to estimate your credit, useful for rough tax planning before your actual return is prepared with exact current-year IRS tables.",
  "formula": "Credit phases in at a rate × earned income up to max, plateaus, then phases out at a rate × (income − phase-out start), floor of $0.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=eitc-estimate",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "earnedIncome",
      "label": "Earned income",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 24000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "children",
      "label": "Qualifying children",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "1",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "0",
          "label": "0 children"
        },
        {
          "value": "1",
          "label": "1 child"
        },
        {
          "value": "2",
          "label": "2 children"
        },
        {
          "value": "3",
          "label": "3+ children"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "filing",
      "label": "Filing status",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "single",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "single",
          "label": "Single / head of household"
        },
        {
          "value": "joint",
          "label": "Married filing jointly"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "credit",
      "label": "Estimated EITC amount",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "maxCredit",
      "label": "Maximum possible credit for this family size",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "phaseoutStart",
      "label": "Income where phase-out begins",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "phaseInRate",
      "label": "Phase-in rate applied to early income",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Earned income: 24000 $",
      "Qualifying children: 1 child",
      "Filing status: Single / head of household"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated EITC amount: $3,823",
      "Maximum possible credit for this family size: $4,213",
      "Income where phase-out begins: $21,560",
      "Phase-in rate applied to early income: 34.00%"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter earned income ($).",
      "Enter qualifying children.",
      "Enter filing status.",
      "Read your estimated eitc amount on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "earnedIncome": 14500,
        "children": "1",
        "filing": "single"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "earnedIncome": 24000,
        "children": "1",
        "filing": "single"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "earnedIncome": 38500,
        "children": "1",
        "filing": "single"
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Is the EITC refundable?",
      "a": "Yes, it's fully refundable, meaning if the credit exceeds your tax liability, the IRS pays you the difference as a refund rather than just zeroing out what you owe. This makes it one of the most effective anti-poverty tools in the tax code for working families."
    },
    {
      "q": "What disqualifies me from claiming the EITC?",
      "a": "Investment income above roughly $11,600 (2024 figure, adjusted annually) disqualifies you regardless of earned income, as does filing as married filing separately in most cases, or not having a valid Social Security number for work. Being claimed as a qualifying child on someone else's return also disqualifies you."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I need children to qualify?",
      "a": "No, workers without qualifying children can still claim a much smaller EITC, but the age range and income limits are tighter, and the credit amount is dramatically smaller than for filers with one or more qualifying children — the presence of children is the single biggest driver of credit size."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why would earning slightly more reduce my EITC?",
      "a": "Once your income passes the phase-out threshold, the credit shrinks gradually as income rises, at rates from about 8% to 21% depending on family size, until it reaches zero. This is a gradual phase-out rather than a cliff, so unlike some benefit programs, an extra dollar of income never costs you more than it's worth here."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fpl-percentage-calculator",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/snap-allotment-estimate"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Earned Income Tax Credit Estimator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/eitc-estimate)"
}