Who is Eligible?
Eligibility for both the federal and state EITC is based on your earned income and you must file a tax return to qualify, whether you are required to or not. For tax year 2021, families and individuals who earned wages or self-employment income up to $30,000 may qualify for CalEITC. If your wages are more than $30,000, you may still be eligible for the federal EITC.
- Workers with incomes up to $30,000
- Individuals and families whose income does not require them to file taxes
- Families with children age six and under
- Working older adults ages 65+
- Young adults ages 18-24
- Self-employed workers
- Undocumented ITIN filers who are otherwise eligible
Review the chart below to see how much you may get when you file your tax year 2021 return.
2021 EITC
Number of qualifying children |
California maximum income |
CalEITC (up to) |
IRS EITC (up to) |
None |
$30,000 |
$255 |
$1,502 |
1 |
$30,000 |
$1,698 |
$3,618 |
2 |
$30,000 |
$2,809 |
$5,980 |
3 or more |
$30,000 |
$3,160 |
$6,728 |