2026 Earned income tax credit
Earned income credit maxima and income phase-out amounts by qualifying-child count.
Primary reference value
$8,231| Qualifying children | Maximum credit | Other returns: income ceiling | Joint: income ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,427 | $51,593 | $58,863 |
| 2 | $7,316 | $58,629 | $65,899 |
| 3 or more | $8,231 | $62,974 | $70,244 |
| 0 | $664 | $19,540 | $26,820 |
- Announced
- 2025-10-09
- Effective
- 2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31
- Next usual release
- October–November
Who this applies to.
Eligibility depends on earned income, adjusted gross income, investment income, filing status, residency and valid SSNs. Published credit tables may differ slightly from continuous estimates.
Published by IRS. The table uses tax year dates. Check the source for eligibility, elections and exceptions.
Use the 2026 number.
Assumes qualifying children, residency, valid SSNs, age rules and other eligibility requirements. The IRS income-band lookup table can differ. Separated-spouse and special disability cases are not modeled.
Earned income tax credit history.
| Year | Reference value | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $6,728 | — | Official |
| 2022 | $6,935 | +$207 | Official |
| 2023 | $7,430 | +$495 | Official |
| 2024 | $7,830 | +$400 | Official |
| 2025 | $8,046 | +$216 | Official |
| 2026 | $8,231 | +$185 | Official |
| 2027 | $8,487 | +$256 | Projected |
History compares the primary reference value; use each year’s full table for other filing statuses, regions or limits.
Questions about earned income tax credit.
What is the 2026 earned income tax credit?
The sourced table above shows the 2026 values. Its status is official. The primary reference is $8,231; other statuses or categories may differ.
When will the next number be announced?
The usual publication window is October–November. This is a typical schedule, not a promised date. The calendar distinguishes published values from pending releases.
Is this official or projected?
The displayed 2026 record is official. Official means a primary agency document or statute supports the value. A projection states its formula, inflation data and assumptions and changes when an official source becomes available.
How does it compare with last year?
The primary reference changed from $8,046 in 2025 to $8,231 in 2026. Each table should be compared using the same filing status, region and effective period.
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