EITC key communication messages

2026 filing season EITC key messages

• Are you a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a valid Social Security number issued by the due date of your tax return (including extensions)? Check out the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. For basic eligibility rules, visit our tax benefits eligibility chart for families and individuals on IRS.gov.
• To qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, your qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number and meet the residency, age, relationship, and joint return tests. For more information, visit the qualifying child rules on IRS.gov.
• To qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, your qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number and live in the same home as you for more than half the tax year. For more information on residency requirements, visit qualifying child rules on IRS.gov.
• Do you know that if your Earned Income Tax Credit claim has errors, IRS may delay, deny or audit your return? Visit IRS.gov to learn about the five common errors you need to avoid.
• Earned Income Tax Credit errors can cost you. Choose your tax preparer wisely.
• Make sure you report the correct amount of income when claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). If you earned less than $68,675 then you may be eligible for the credit. Use the EITC Assistant for an estimate on your potential refund amount.
• Do you have a child that qualifies you for the Earned Income Tax Credit? Check out the Interactive Tax Assistant to see whether you also qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents.
• Even if you do not have a child, you may still qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Check out the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify.
• Did you know that working adults at least age 25 and under age 65 without a qualifying child may be eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if they have income below $19,104 ($26,214 for a married couple)? If filing a joint return, only one spouse must meet the age requirement. Use the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify.
• Only one person can claim a child as a qualifying child for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Apply the tiebreaker rules when a child is the qualifying child of more than one person.
• Don’t miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In tax year 2024, eligible workers and families received an average EITC amount of $2,916. Use the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify.
• Even if you didn’t earn enough money that required you to file a tax return, you should file if you’re eligible to claim Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Use the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify.
• Married and not filing a joint return? If you have a qualifying child who lived with you more than half the year, you might be eligible to claim Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Use the EITC Assistant to see whether you qualify.
• Did you experience a major life event in 2025 such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, job loss or decrease in income? If so, use the EITC Assistant to see whether you are eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Include the full amount of tip and overtime income in the calculation of earned income when determining eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, even if all or part is deductible. Visit Earned income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) tables on IRS.gov.
• Are you currently under audit for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)? Use 886-H-EIC Toolkit to find out what acceptable documents to submit in order to substantiate your claim.
• For more information on the Earned Income Tax Credit, see Publication 596.