Am I Eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax break for people who work and have low-to-moderate income. If you qualify, it could lower the taxes you owe — and it could give you a tax refund worth hundreds of dollars.

You may be surprised to learn that working adults between the ages of 25-64 without children at home can qualify for the EITC. People without a qualifying child or grandparents raising grandchildren are more likely to not claim this tax credit, according to the IRS.

A tax refund can be a big help with daily expenses like groceries, housing, and healthcare. Here’s what you need to know about claiming this tax credit — and how to get free help with filing your taxes.

Please Note: This article provides general information. AARP Foundation does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.

Rules for the Earned Income Tax Credit

To get this tax break, you generally must meet a few simple rules:

You are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident all year.
You earned money from work during the year.
You have a valid Social Security number.
You don’t file your taxes as “married filing separately.”
Your total income falls below the IRS limit for your household.
If you have investment income (like interest from savings), it must be under the allowed amount.
You meet the age rules – if you don’t have qualifying children at home, you must be between the ages of 25 and 64, and must not be the dependent of another person.

Income limits and cash-back amounts change every year. You can use the EITC Assistant from the IRS to learn if you qualify this year.

What Money Counts as Earned Income?

To qualify for this tax credit, your income must come from work — money you earned by having a job or being self-employed.

Money that counts includes:

Pay from a job (wages, salaries, or tips)
Money made from self-employment, freelance, or “gig” work (like driving rideshare or doing side jobs)
Certain disability benefits

Money that does NOT count includes:

Social Security benefits
Unemployment benefits
Pensions or annuities
Bank interest, dividends, or gifts

Will Claiming the Credit Hurt My Other Benefits?

In most cases, no. Claiming this credit won’t lower or reduce your other federal government benefits. Getting a tax refund from this credit doesn’t count as income for programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, housing assistance, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Other Tax Breaks to Consider

Even if you don’t qualify for this credit, you might still be able to save money on your taxes. Depending on your situation, you could get help through:

Property tax relief programs
Deductions for self-employment expenses
Credit for older adults or people with disabilities
Student loan interest deduction

Read these 5 tax tips for those living on a low income from AARP Foundation to find more ways to save.

Do I Need to File a Tax Return to Get the Earned Income Tax Credit?

Yes. Even if your income is low and you don’t owe any taxes, you must file a tax return to get the credit.

The IRS only sends refunds to taxpayers who claim the EITC on their tax returns. The IRS doesn’t send them automatically. Filing a return is the only way to get the credit and possibly receive a refund.

How Do I Claim the Earned Income Tax Credit?

You can only get this credit after filing a federal tax return. Even if your income was low and you don’t usually file, you must file a return to get the credit and possibly receive a refund.

Don’t worry if filing taxes feels confusing or stressful! You can get free help from AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest free volunteer tax prep service. Trained, IRS-certified volunteers can help you prepare and file your return at no cost — and you don’t need to be an AARP member to get help.

Tax-Aide can also help you claim EITC for past years. You have three years to file and claim a refund from the due date of your tax return.

Want a reminder when Tax-Aide locations open near you? Fill out the form below to get notified as soon as free tax prep sites open for the upcoming season. Subscribing also brings you helpful ways to save money throughout the year.