<p>The <strong>Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)</strong> is a refundable federal tax credit for working individuals with low to moderate income. It can reduce your tax bill to zero and result in a refund even if you owe no tax.</p><h2>2024 Maximum EITC Amounts</h2><ul><li>No qualifying children: $632</li><li>1 qualifying child: $4,213</li><li>2 qualifying children: $6,960</li><li>3 or more qualifying children: <strong>$7,830</strong></li></ul><h2>2024 Income Limits (Single / Head of Household)</h2><ul><li>No children: $18,591</li><li>1 child: $49,084</li><li>2 children: $55,768</li><li>3+ children: $59,899</li></ul><h2>Basic Eligibility Rules</h2><ul><li>Must have <strong>earned income</strong> (wages, self-employment, or farming)</li><li>Investment income must be $11,600 or less</li><li>Must have a valid Social Security number</li><li>Cannot file Married Filing Separately</li><li>Must be a US citizen or resident alien all year</li></ul><h2>Common Mistake: Forgetting to Claim It</h2><p>The IRS estimates that 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers does not claim the EITC. If you think you may qualify, use the EITC Assistant at IRS.gov to check eligibility in minutes.</p><p><em>Source: IRS Publication 596; IRS EITC Central at irs.gov/eitc</em></p>