Earned Income Tax Credits

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• What qualifies as income according to EITC eligibility guidelines?

  To qualify for EITC, you must have one of the following:​

  • Income from wages, salary, or tips; or
  • Money from self-employment; or
  • Benefits from a union strike; or
  • Disability benefits or combat pay which includes all military pay—including wages earned as well as any reenlistment or other bonuses, etc.
• What determines the credit amount I qualify for?

  Your eligibility is determined by your income and family size. 

  There are two EITCs: the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Parents may qualify for other credits, too, such as the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). 

  Check your eligibility by visiting: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eitc.

• Do you only qualify for EITC if you have children? What if they aren't your own children, but you are their primary guardian?

  No, you can still qualify for EITC with or without children. A child qualifies for EITC if they meet all four of the following requirements:

  • Relationship – Child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child or foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepsister or stepbrother, grandchild, and niece or nephew; and
  • Residency –Child must live in the same home as you in the United States for more than half of the tax year; and
  • Age- Child is under age 24 and a full-time student and younger than the taxpayer (or spouse if filing jointing), or any age and permanently and totally disabled
  • Joint return tests - If your child can file a joint return with another person (for example, their husband or wife), you may not be able to claim them.
• If you're not an American citizen, can you still receive money back from the EITC?

  You may be eligible for EITC even if you're not a U.S. citizen. 

  If you have a Social Security Number (SSN), you can also get an income boost through EITC when you file your taxes. If you don’t have an SSN and your child/children do, you could get a Child Tax Credit worth up to $3,600 per child. In this case, you will need to file your tax return with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is a number from the IRS that is given to individuals who do not have, and or are not eligible to obtain an SSN to file their taxes. With ITIN you can qualify for CalEITC, a separate tax credit, that is open to individuals without an SSN. 
  

• Does EITC affect my other public benefits?

  Generally, EITC has no effect on most public benefits and is not used to determine eligibility. 

  If you apply for or get benefits or assistance using a program that uses federal funds, the refund you get when you claim the EITC does not count as income. 

• How do you claim the credits that you are eligible for?

  You need to file your taxes by Monday, April 18, 2022, to claim your credits.

  If it is your first-time filing taxes and you would like help filling out forms, there are FREE resources and volunteers who can assist you! Learn more at myfreetaxes.org

• What should I bring to my tax preparation appointment?

  You should bring:

  • Photo ID 
  • Social Security Card or ITIN for yourself and any dependents
  • Income documents including any W2s or 1099s
  • Bank account information for direct deposit
  • School tuition or student loan interest statements
  • Dates and proof of health coverage for yourself and any dependents
• How can I become a volunteer tax preparer?

  The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program provides free tax-preparation services for households with low to moderate incomes.

  WHY VOLUNTEER?

  • Help low-income families avoid expensive tax preparation fees
  • Learn a new and useful skill to add to your resume
  • Training materials and class training are provided to ensure you are ready to volunteer
    

  VOLUNTEER ROLES

  • Tax Preparation Volunteer
  • Program Intake and Support Volunteer

  Volunteer opportunities are available 7 days a week, throughout San Diego County at various times. Email volunteer@dreamsforchange.org or call 619-497-0236 to learn more.