IRS joins national partners to launch 20th Annual Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day

One in five eligible taxpayers in the District of Columbia don’t claim this credit worth up to $8,046

DC-2026-01, Jan. 23, 2026

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and partners nationwide today launched the annual Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day outreach campaign to help millions of eligible low-to-moderate income, working Americans claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

For the past 20 years, the IRS has invited community organizations, elected officials, state and local governments, schools, employers, and other interested parties to join this national grassroots effort. This year, IRS leaders and partners across the nation are participating in local events highlighting the importance of the EITC, which helps millions of taxpayers each year.

In the District of Columbia, more than 42,000 workers and families received about $115.3 million in EITC for tax year 2024. On average, taxpayers in the District of Columbia received $2,738.

For the tax year 2024, approximately 23.5 million workers and families received around $68.5 billion in EITC payments across the country. The average EITC amount received nationwide for this tax year was $2,916.

To get the EITC, workers must file a tax return and claim the credit. The IRS also reminds taxpayers that the quickest way to get a tax refund is to file an accurate tax return electronically and choose direct deposit.

The IRS encourages workers to use the EITC Assistant to check eligibility or to visit the child-related tax benefits comparison for basic eligibility rules. Most EITC or Additional Tax Child Credit related refunds should be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2, 2026, if there are no issues with a taxpayer’s return and they chose to receive their refund by direct deposit.