The most critical and best benefit available to help working families and low- to moderate-income individuals is the EITC. Not only does it reduce the taxable amount, but it can sometimes be quite a handy refund, and thus becomes an important source of cash for many individuals.
$632 EITC payment
For 2024, this will extend the tax credit to individuals who do not have qualifying children; it will increase to $632. This would then allow low-income workers to have no trouble paying bare living expenses during their lifetime.
The EITC is structured to pay more to families with children because they bear a greater burden of financial responsibilities. Eligible families with one child can receive up to $4,213, those with two children up to $6,960, and families with three or more eligible children can receive up to $7,830.
$632 EITC Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit for tax year 2024, follow the guidelines below:
- You had income for the year.
- Income thresholds:
- The EITC has income limits based on your filing status and the number of eligible children.
- Income limits for 2024
- No eligible children:
- Individual filers: $18,591 in adjusted gross income
- Joint filers: $25,511 in adjusted gross income
- One qualifying child:
- Individual filers: Maximum AGI is $49,084
- Married filing jointly: Maximum AGI is $56,004
- Two qualifying children:
- Individual filers: Maximum AGI is $55,768
- Married filing jointly: Maximum AGI is $62,688
- Three or more qualifying children:
- Individual filers: Maximum AGI is $59,899
- Married filing jointly: Maximum AGI is $66,819
- You cannot be married and file separately to qualify for the EITC.
- To claim a child on your EITC, the child must meet the age requirement, the relationship requirement, and the residency requirement.
- Age: The child must be under 19 by the end of the year or under 24 if a full-time student.
- Relationship: The child must be your biological or adopted child, a stepchild, an adopted child or a sibling or half-sibling who has lived with you for more than half a year.
- The child must live with you for more than half a year.
- You are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. citizen, or a resident alien for at least six months in the tax year.
- Your investment income, including interest and dividend income, is $10,300 or less.
How do I claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
The EITC is a big tax credit for eligible individuals and families. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to file the EITC for the 2024 tax year.
- There are several good tax preparation software packages, most of which have free filing for individuals who qualify for the EITC.
- These services guide you through the filing process and will automatically calculate your EITC amount.
- You’ll need to collect your W-2 forms from your employers, 1099 forms if you’re self-employed, Social Security numbers for yourself and any dependents, and any other relevant income documentation.
- Log in to your favorite tax software and start entering your information into it. The software will ask you various questions about income, deductions and dependents.
- As you navigate through the software, find the section that deals directly with tax credits.
- Select “Earned Income Tax Credit” and follow the remaining questions if you have eligible children.
- Before submitting your return, you must ensure that all information entered is correct. You need to check if you qualify for the EITC and how much it cost you.
- After you have confirmed that the entered data is correct, you continue with the e-submission of your tax return.
EITC payment amount for 2024
Tax year 2024 allowed for a maximum EITC payment of $632 to taxpayers who do not have qualifying children. It aims to help low-income workers make ends meet.
EITC payments by number of eligible children
The EITC provides more generous levels of support to families with eligible children:
| Number of eligible children |
Maximum EITC |
| 0 |
632 dollars |
| 1 |
4213 dollars |
| 2 |
6960 dollars |
| 3 or more |
7830 dollars |
Effects of the EITC
The EITC has a major impact on reducing poverty and achieving economic stability. It has proven to be a useful tool in:
- Poverty Reduction: The EITC lifts millions of Americans out of poverty each year.
- Paying for Work: The EITC rewards work by paying a significant amount of money for work.
- Benefits for families: The EITC helps families cover basic housing, food, and health care needs.
EITC Eligibility and Income Limits
To qualify for the EITC, taxpayers must meet established income and filing status requirements. The income limits for the tax year 2024 are structured as follows:
| Qualifying children |
Single/head of household |
Joint registration in marriage |
| 0 |
18,591 dollars |
25,511 dollars |
| 1 |
49,084 dollars |
56,004 dollars |
| 2 |
55,768 dollars |
62,688 dollars |
| 3 or more |
$59,899 |
66,819 dollars |
Investment income limit
- Investment income also does not include interest, but dividends other than interest, and these must be at or below $11,600 to qualify for the EITC.
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