Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator
Estimate the 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit using AGI, earned income, filing status, qualifying children, investment income, Social Security number eligibility, and the IRS phaseout table.
Last Updated: May 24, 2026
Filing status controls the EITC phaseout range.
Use the EITC child count, capped at the 3-or-more table.
The EITC phaseout uses AGI or earned income, whichever is higher.
Wages, self-employment earnings, and other earned income for EITC.
EITC is blocked if 2026 investment income is above the IRS cutoff.
EITC generally requires valid Social Security numbers by the return due date.
A taxpayer claimed as a dependent generally cannot claim EITC.
Only relevant for married filing separately taxpayers who may meet the EITC separated-spouse exception.
Recommended Outcome
Credit partially reduced by income phaseout
Estimated EITC
$4,344
Maximum 2026 Credit
$7,316
Phaseout Reduction
$2,972
EITC income curve
- Phase-in credit from earned income
- $7,316
- Phase-in rate
- 40.00%
- Income used for phaseout
- $38,000
2026 table used
- Filing status
- Head of household
- Qualifying children
- 2
- Phaseout begins
- $23,890
- Credit reaches zero
- $58,629
Room before phaseout
$0 before the modeled EITC phaseout starts.
Investment-income cutoff
2026 EITC is blocked above $12,200 of investment income.
Eligibility note
The estimate uses the 2 qualifying child 2026 EITC table.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation. CalculatorWallah is not responsible for any decisions made based on calculator results.
Reviewed For Methodology, Labels, And Sources
Every CalculatorWallah calculator is published with visible update labeling, linked source references, and review of formula clarity on trust-sensitive topics. Use results as planning support, then verify institution-, policy-, or jurisdiction-specific rules where they apply.
Reviewed by Iliyas Khan, Chief Operating Officer. Page updated May 24, 2026. Tax, sales tax, insurance, and health calculators are reviewed when rules, rates, eligibility assumptions, healthcare standards, or source references change. Topic ownership: Tax calculators, Sales tax calculators, Insurance calculators, Health calculators.
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How To Use The EITC Calculator
Step 1: Choose filing status
Filing status controls the phaseout range and married filing separately restrictions.
Step 2: Select EITC qualifying children
Use the number of qualifying children for EITC. The IRS table groups three or more children together.
Step 3: Enter AGI and earned income
Earned income phases the credit in, while the higher of AGI or earned income drives the phaseout.
Step 4: Add investment income
EITC is blocked if investment income exceeds the 2026 IRS cutoff.
Step 5: Check eligibility toggles
Confirm valid SSNs, dependency status, and any separated-spouse rule before using the estimate.
How This Calculator Works
The calculator uses the 2026 IRS EITC table structure. It first computes a phase-in amount from earned income and the maximum credit for the selected qualifying-child count. It then compares adjusted gross income and earned income and uses the higher amount for the phaseout test.
If income is below the phaseout start, the credit can remain at the maximum for that table. If income is between the phaseout start and completed phaseout amount, the calculator reduces the credit proportionally. If income reaches the completed phaseout amount, the estimated EITC is zero.
EITC is refundable, so the result is shown as a refundable credit estimate. The page also shows the table used, phase-in rate, phaseout start, completed phaseout amount, and eligibility blockers such as investment income or married filing separately status.
Earned Income Tax Credit Planning: 2026 Income Limits And Eligibility
EITC rewards earned income, then phases out
The Earned Income Tax Credit is designed around work income. At low earned-income levels, the credit phases in as earned income rises. It then reaches a maximum range. After the phaseout threshold, the credit falls until it reaches zero at the completed phaseout amount.
This is why AGI and earned income both matter. A taxpayer can have enough earned income to reach the maximum credit but still lose some or all of it if AGI or earned income is above the phaseout range.
The qualifying-child count changes the whole table
The IRS EITC table has four child-count groups: no qualifying child, one qualifying child, two qualifying children, and three or more qualifying children. Each group has its own maximum credit, phase-in plateau, and phaseout range. This calculator caps the input at the three-or-more table because that is how the IRS publishes the EITC maximum.
| 2026 EITC table | Maximum credit | MFJ phaseout ends | Other phaseout ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifying child | $664 | $26,820 | $19,540 |
| One qualifying child | $4,427 | $58,863 | $51,593 |
| Two qualifying children | $7,316 | $65,899 | $58,629 |
| Three or more qualifying children | $8,231 | $70,244 | $62,974 |
When to combine this with other tax tools
Use this page when your main question is EITC. For a broader credit stack, use the US Tax Credits Calculator. If you are estimating the final refund after withholding and other payments, combine the result with the Tax Refund Calculator.
Keep the research moving with US Tax Credits Calculator, Child Tax Credit Calculator, Tax Refund Calculator 2026, and FICA Tax Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Read guideSources & References
- 1.IRS - Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)(Accessed May 2026)
- 2.IRS - Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit(Accessed May 2026)
- 3.IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, 2026 Inflation Adjustments(Accessed May 2026)
- 4.IRS - EITC Tables and Worksheets(Accessed May 2026)