Earned Income Tax Credit Toolkit

MCAH created this toolkit for local agencies to promote the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).

Tax Credits Basic Eligibility

Below is a snapshot of tax credit eligibility for state and federal tax credits. For more information regarding qualification, please encourage participants to visit Earned Income Tax Credit (IRS) and What is the EITC? (CalEITC4Me).

Earned Income Tax Credit

State - CalEITC

You're eligible for CalEITC if you:

Are at least 18 years old or have a qualifying child
Make $30,950 or less
Have an ITIN or a SSN
Earn at least $1 to qualify for CalEITC

Federal - EITC

You're eligible for Federal EITC if you:

Are between the ages of 25 and 65
Worked and earned income under
$63,398
Have a valid SSN
Are a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year

Child Tax Credit

State - Young Child Tax Credit

Even if you earned no income, you're eligible for the Young Child Tax Credit if you:

Make $30,931 or less
Have a qualifying child under the age of six
Have an ITIN or a SSN

Federal - Child Tax Credit

You're eligible for the Child Tax Credit if:

Your child is under the age of 17
Your qualifying child is your son, daughter, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or any dependent child

Frequently-Asked Questions

How can I claim these credits?

State

When you file your taxes, you will also need to fill out the California Earned Income Tax Credit Form 3514.

Federal

You just need to file your federal taxes. No additional form is needed.

What if I need help filing my taxes?

State

You may be able to get free tax help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA is available for people with household incomes up to $60,000, people with disabilities, and taxpayers who speak little to no English.

Federal

You may be able to get free tax help through the VITA program. VITA is available for people with household incomes up to $60,000, people with disabilities, and taxpayers who speak little to no English.

What if I have an ITIN instead of a SSN?

State

That’s OK. Starting in 2021, Californians who file their taxes with an ITIN, including undocumented Californians, can qualify for the CalEITC and YCTC.

Federal

Please note, people with ITINs are not eligible for the federal tax credits. You will need a SSN.

How can I find out what amount of money is available via these credits?

State

The amount you get depends on your household status, income, and family size.

For California tax credits, you can visit caleitc4me.org/earn-it to get an estimate of how much you will get back.

Federal

The amount you get depends on your household status, income, and family size.

For federal tax credits, you can visit
bit.ly/IRS-earn-it to get an estimate of how much you will get back.

Am I eligible for tax credits if I don't need to file my taxes?

State

Even if you aren’t required to file your taxes because your income is below the threshold, you may still benefit from these tax credits, but you will need to file your taxes.

Federal

Even if you aren’t required to file your taxes because your income is below the threshold, you may still benefit from these tax credits, but you will need to file your taxes.

Am I eligible for tax credits if I'm a student whose parents claim me as a dependent?

State

No. If your parents claim you as a dependent you’re not eligible for these credits.

Federal

No. If your parents claim you as a dependent you’re not eligible for these credits.

Am I eligible for tax credits if I'm protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program?

State

Yes. If you meet the other qualifications. If you participate in DACA and have a valid SSN, you can use that number to claim any of these credits. If you have not applied for a SSN, but have an ITIN, you can use an ITIN to claim the California state tax credits.

Federal

Yes. If you meet the other qualifications. If you participate in DACA and have a valid SSN, you can use that number to claim these credits.

Will my benefits (such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, or disability) count as income?

State

No. Claiming tax credits won't affect the income you claim to receive any other public benefits. Tax credits like the CalEITC and federal EITC aren’t considered public benefits under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services public charge rule.

Federal

No. Claiming tax credits won't affect the income you claim to receive any other public benefits. Tax credits like the CalEITC and federal EITC aren’t considered public benefits under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services public charge rule.

MCAH offers a variety of prewritten messages to help raise awareness about the earned income tax credit.

Copy and paste the text to share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. To use corresponding graphics, click on photo to enlarge the image, then right click and "save as". You will now be able to upload this higher resolution image to your social media site.