Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Estimated EITC amount
$3,823
Maximum possible credit for this family size
$4,213
Income where phase-out begins
$21,560
Phase-in rate applied to early income
34.00%
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How to use this
- 1Enter earned income ($).
- 2Enter qualifying children.
- 3Enter filing status.
- 4Read your estimated eitc amount on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
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.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Earned income: 24000 $
- Qualifying children: 1 child
- Filing status: Single / head of household
Results
- Estimated EITC amount: $3,823
- Maximum possible credit for this family size: $4,213
- Income where phase-out begins: $21,560
- Phase-in rate applied to early income: 34.00%
What each field means
Inputs
- Earned income ($)
- The earned income used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 24000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Qualifying children
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: 0 children, 1 child, 2 children, 3+ children.
- Filing status
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Single / head of household, Married filing jointly.
Results
- Estimated EITC amount
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Maximum possible credit for this family size
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Income where phase-out begins
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Phase-in rate applied to early income
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Is the EITC refundable?
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.
What disqualifies me from claiming the EITC?
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.
Do I need children to qualify?
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.
Why would earning slightly more reduce my EITC?
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.
Accuracy and 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.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Earned Income Tax Credit Estimator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/eitc-estimate
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/eitc-estimate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earned Income Tax Credit Estimator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Earned Income Tax Credit Estimator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/eitc-estimate) (2026).