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Tax credits checker

Two tax credits help many working families: the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)A tax credit for people who work and have low to moderate incomes. It can pay you money even if you owe no tax.More in the glossary (EITC) and the Child Tax CreditA tax credit for families with children under 17. Part of it can come back as a refund, even if you owe no tax.More in the glossary. They can mean money back, even if you owe no tax. But you only get them if you file.

This is a rough check, not a promise. The rules about who counts as a qualifying child are detailed, so use the IRS tool to be sure.

We filled in example numbers. Change them to match your situation.

How will you file?

Count children under 19, or under 24 if a full-time student. Under 17 for the Child Tax Credit.

Wages, tips, and gig income after expenses. Use your W-2 formA form from your employer that shows what you earned last year and how much tax was taken out. You use it to file your taxes.More in the glossary and 1099 formA form that shows money you were paid as a contractor or gig worker, or other income like interest. Usually no tax was taken out.More in the glossary.

Did you have more than $11,950 in investment income (like interest or dividends)?
Do you, your spouse (if filing together), and your children all have Social Security numbers valid for work?

Your results

Earned Income Tax Credit

You may qualify. For 1 child, the credit can be up to $4,328.

Check with the official IRS EITC Assistant

Child Tax Credit

You may qualify for up to $2,200. Up to $1,700 of that could come back as a refund, even if you owe no tax.

This is an estimate. Your actual credit depends on your exact income and situation. Free tax help (VITA) can figure it out with you.

These figures are for 2025 tax returns (filed in 2026). We'll update them when the IRS publishes the numbers for 2026.

Where to get free help

  • IRS EITC Assistant

    Answer questions to see if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, and about how much.

  • Free tax help (VITA and TCE)

    IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file tax returns for free for people with low to moderate incomes, people with disabilities, people who speak limited English, and older adults. Most sites are open during tax season.

  • GetYourRefund

    File for free with help from IRS-certified volunteers, remotely, or use free software to file yourself.

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