Maximum EITC without kids
| Tax year | Maximum credit | Income limit (single/HOH/MFS) | Income limit (MFJ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $649 | $19,104 | $26,214 |
| 2026 | $664 | $19,540 | $26,820 |
Source: Internal Revenue Service (1,2)
You can also use the EITC Assistant tool to double-check that you’re eligible before you file.
Who qualifies for the EITC without kids
- You’re 25 to 64 years old at the end of the tax year (only one spouse needs to meet this if you file jointly).
- You lived in the US for more than half the year and were a US citizen or resident alien all year.
- You have a valid Social Security number (SSN) by the return due date (including extensions).
- No one else can claim you as a dependent or qualifying child.
- Your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) fall under the limit for your filing status.
- You have investment income below $11,950
- You did not file Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income
Why the EITC is smaller without kids
Since the EITC scales with family size, the maximum is much smaller for filers without children.
Additionally, a temporary expansion during the pandemic lowered the minimum age and raised the maximum EITC for filers without kids. That expansion expired, and the rules reverted to the smaller, pre-2021 version.
What counts as earned income
- Wages, salaries, and tips reported on a W-2.
- Net income from self-employment or gig work.
- Union strike benefits and nontaxable combat pay.
- Medicaid waiver payments
Income that’s typically excluded includes:
- Unemployment benefits
- Social Security
- Alimony and child support
- Investment income, like interest or dividends
How to claim the EITC without kids
- Confirm your eligibility. You can use the EITC Assistant tool.
- File Form 1040, even if your income is low enough that you’re not otherwise required to file.
- File as early as you can, since refunds that include the EITC are held until mid-February under federal law.
Note: You’ll skip Schedule EIC, since it’s only required if you’re claiming a qualifying child.
Common situations that trip people up
- Married filing separately generally disqualifies you, with narrow exceptions for separated spouses.
- Being claimed as someone else’s dependent rules you out, even if you otherwise meet the income limits.
- Full-time students under 24 often don’t qualify under the childless rules, since they may still count as a dependent.
