Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Calculator
Estimate your 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Enter your earned income, AGI, filing status, and number of children to see your credit -- max $8,231 for 3+ kids.
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Estimated 2026 EITC
$4,250.00
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How This Calculator Works
Calculation methodology and assumptions
The Earned Income Tax Credit (26 U.S.C. Sec. 32) is a refundable federal credit for low-to-moderate-income workers, especially those with children. It works in three stages: the credit phases IN at a fixed rate as your earned income rises (34% for 1 child, 40% for 2, 45% for 3+, or 7.65% with no children), plateaus at a maximum once your earned income reaches the "earned income amount" for your family size, and then phases OUT at a second fixed rate once the greater of your earned income or AGI exceeds a threshold -- reaching $0 at the "completed phaseout amount." For 2026, the maximum credit is $664 (no children), $4,427 (1 child), $7,316 (2 children), or $8,231 (3 or more children), all from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Married couples filing jointly get a higher phase-out threshold (about $7,300-$8,700 more, depending on family size) than single filers, head of household filers, or qualifying widow(er)s. The credit is completely disallowed, no matter how low your earned income is, if your investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, or passive rental/royalty income) exceeds $12,200 for 2026. This calculator applies the continuous statutory formula rather than the IRS's official $50-wide EIC lookup table (Form 1040 instructions / Publication 596), so results should land within a few dollars of your actual credit -- close enough for planning, though the IRS table itself remains authoritative for filing.
How to Use This FSA Calculator Calculator
- 1
Enter your information
Input the required values. The calculator is pre-filled with your state's data where applicable — adjust to match your specific situation for accurate results.
- 2
Review default values
Check that the pre-filled state-specific data (tax rates, median values, etc.) matches your local situation. You can override any value to customize the calculation.
- 3
Analyze your results
Review the calculated outputs. Use the breakdown table to understand exactly how each factor contributes to the final result.
- 4
Compare across states
Use the related state calculators linked below to compare results across different states — useful for relocation planning and financial comparison.
Example Calculation
Here's a practical example using this state's data.
The calculator uses state-specific public data and documented estimates where available — including tax rates, median values, and cost benchmarks — to produce a personalized estimate for the inputs you provide.
Result: Results will vary based on your individual inputs. Use this calculator as a starting point, then adjust the values to test different scenarios. The methodology section below explains exactly how each result is calculated.
What Affects Your Results
State-Specific Inputs
Each state has unique rates, fee schedules, and regulatory requirements that can affect results. This page's methodology and source card identify which inputs are sourced, modeled, or user-adjustable.
Income Level
Many calculations are income-dependent due to progressive tax brackets, phase-outs, or income-based eligibility thresholds. Higher income doesn't always mean proportionally higher costs.
Local Variations
State averages may not reflect your specific city or county. Local taxes, fees, and market conditions can vary ±20% from state averages.
Annual Changes
Tax rates, fee schedules, and regulations change. Check the recorded source-review date and verify critical numbers with the relevant agency.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always verify pre-filled values against your actual data. State averages are a good starting point but your situation may differ significantly.
- Run multiple scenarios by adjusting key inputs to see how changes affect your results. This helps with planning and decision-making.
- Compare your results across states using the related calculators linked below — especially valuable if you're considering relocating or doing business in another state.
- Bookmark this page to recalculate periodically as rates change. Check the page source card and review date before relying on a pre-filled value.
- Consult a qualified professional for major financial decisions. These calculators provide estimates based on standard formulas — a CPA or financial advisor can factor in your complete financial picture.
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StateCalc Team
Editorial Team
The StateCalc team builds free financial calculators using data from official government sources including the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and state revenue departments. All formulas are validated by an automated test suite and cross-referenced against published data.
Our editorial standardsFrequently Asked Questions
How much is the Earned Income Tax Credit for 2026?
For the 2026 tax year, the maximum EITC is $664 with no qualifying children, $4,427 with 1 child, $7,316 with 2 children, or $8,231 with 3 or more children (up from $649/$4,328/$7,152/$8,046 in 2025). These are the maximums -- your actual credit depends on your earned income, AGI, and filing status, and phases in and back out around that peak.
What are the 2026 EITC income limits?
For 2026, the credit starts phasing out once the greater of your earned income or AGI exceeds $18,140 (no kids), $31,160 (1, 2, or 3+ kids) for joint filers, or $10,860 (no kids) / $23,890 (1, 2, or 3+ kids) for single/HOH filers -- and is completely phased out (reduced to $0) at $26,820 / $58,863 / $65,899 / $70,244 for joint filers, or $19,540 / $51,593 / $58,629 / $62,974 for single/HOH filers (by 0/1/2/3+ children, respectively).
Does investment income affect my EITC eligibility?
Yes -- and it's an all-or-nothing test, separate from the regular phase-out. If your investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains, or net passive rental/royalty income) exceeds $12,200 for 2026, you cannot claim the EITC at all that year, even if your earned income and AGI are otherwise low enough to qualify.
Can I claim the EITC if I file Married Filing Separately?
Generally no -- Sec. 32(d) disallows the EITC for taxpayers using the Married Filing Separately status. There is one narrow exception, made permanent after originating in the American Rescue Plan Act: if you lived apart from your spouse for the last 6 months of the year and maintain a home that is the main residence of a qualifying child for more than half the year, you can still claim the EITC while filing separately, using the same income limits as Single/Head of Household filers (not the higher joint-filer limits).
Why might my actual EITC differ from this estimate?
This calculator applies the underlying statutory formula (fixed phase-in and phase-out percentages applied to your exact income) as a close approximation. The IRS itself calculates the credit using an official lookup table in the Form 1040 instructions and Publication 596, which groups earned income into $50-wide bands and assigns each band a single rounded dollar figure. Because of that rounding, your actual credit from the official IRS table can differ from this estimate by a few dollars. Always use the IRS EIC Table, the IRS EITC Assistant, or tax preparation software to determine your exact credit when filing.
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